Yet another powerful cold front is driving across the country. As winter takes an early hold on much of the U.S., it looks like this could be a banner year for southern portions of the flyways.
Hello folks, and as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
With seasons closing in the north and the southern states season in full swing, the first estimates of the 2005 – 2006 season are starting to roll in. It is still way too early to make a judgment call on the overall success of this year’s waterfowl season, but so far it looks to be a good one. There is still a lot of season left for many states and lets not forget late season goose hunting and the conservation order for light geese. So, as the season marches on in mid tier and southern states, keep up to date with the very latest in duck and goose hunting by logging on and joining Waterfowler.com
And now, on to the Migration Report.
PACIFIC FLYWAY
With temperatures expected to remain slightly below normal for the upper flyway this week, the steady migration of birds should continue. Hunting improved last week for both coastal and inland portions of the upper flyway.
In the eastern portion of the upper flyway, open waters of larger rivers are continuing to produce solid mallard shoots, with a surprising number of green wing teal still in the mix. Goose numbers, however, are oddly down for this time of year. Success for goose hunters has been more scattered than might be expected.
Central portions of the flyway also reported a nice increase in overall bird numbers this past week. A rise in the number of mallards and dark geese was a welcome boost to mid flyway hunting over the past three to five days.
Hunter success for the lower flyway was lower than expected with the recent cold weather for their northern neighbors. Although some areas saw a sharp rise in white fronted geese and large ducks, the general picture is of scattered pockets of waterfowl concentration. Some improvement in overall flight abundance should occur this week, particularly for the eastern, interior portions of the flyway.
CENTRAL FLYWAY
Cold fronts, almost back to back, have iced out many areas of the mid tier states. Hunting larger waters and rivers has been the most consistent, with grain fields running a distant second.
With the early arrival of a winter weather pattern many hunters from South Dakota to Kansas are concerned that a fly-over may have happened while they were riding out the winter storms.
Southern parts of the flyway are seeing a dramatic rise in waterfowl numbers. From border to border, Texas duck and goose hunters are talking of flights reminiscent of the late 90’s. With even more frigid weather in the mix for the near term, hunting should continue to be top notch for the southern end of the flyway.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY
An ice out is in store for much of the upper and mid tier of the flyway. Lows ranging from well below zero to just above, stretch all the way to central Illinois today. The cold weather will push south over the weekend with snow falling in portions of Arkansas and potentially even into Louisiana.
Waterfowl numbers are strong from Missouri to the coast and are likely to only improve as more and more waters ice over, farther north in the flyway.
Though several states are in a mid-season split this week, other areas should be in for some fantastic shooting, as the migration moves far into the southlands.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY
Cold weather is again invading the upper flyway. As the weekend draws near the deepening snow and thickening ice could make for tough hunting. But even with the recent onset of unseasonably cold weather, the gunning from New York south to Virginia has been good.
With snowfall and freezing temps pushing south into Virginia by the weekend, the migration along the east coast should be strong over the next week.
Southern portions of the flyway continue to report higher than usual numbers of ducks moving down the flyway. A good concentration of divers and puddle ducks has been noted moving into areas in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. And from the looks of things this patter will continue.
Winter seems to have come early this year, and for those on the southern end of the flyways it is a welcome event. While some mid-tier states are questioning the wisdom of later seasons, as their ducks holes ice over and their field piles deep with snow, it seems as though Mother Nature has once again made up her mind to show who is really in charge of the migrations. We can guess, and plot averages, but when the boss lady speaks, the ducks and geese move.
