As weather warms across the U.S., waterfowl activity has slowed in many southern regions. While there is no shortage of ducks in many areas, hunting pressure and warmer temperatures are fueling increased nocturnal activities for many waterfowl.
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The reverse migration is on in the Central and Mississippi Flyways, as waterfowl ride the prevailing southerly winds back north to feed. As snow and ice recede in the north, waterfowl seem to be re-appearing as quickly as they disappeared.
Hardy mallards that remained north along open river systems, are dispersing to thawing marshes and flooded fields as the snow and ice begin to melt. While hunters in the central tier are getting a second chance at late season birds, southern states will struggle for easy bag limits until the next cold front.
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While ducks may be done in the far north, goose hunting action is just heating up for many hunters as they put away their floating decoys and head to the fields. Those willing to put in scouting time and work hard for access are reaping the benefits of an outstanding season. Here is the flyway-by-flyway run dow
PACIFIC FLYWAY:
In Washington, goose hunting is good to excellent with diver shooting along the Snake spotty. Hunting pressure is moderate to high and along the river and hunter success is low. Duck numbers are good to excellent in managed areas with public hunter success fair to good. In Oregon, thawing has increased hunter options and dispersed waterfowl. Hunting is good to excellent on active loafing ponds and feeding areas. Goose numbers are good to excellent in most areas with hunter success low because birds are wary and educated.
In Idaho, hunting action has slowed along the Snake as thawing increase the number of areas where birds can escape hunting pressure. Hunter success is fair to good, along the river and getting better on recently thawed ponds. Hunting action is good to excellent in Nevada for those willing to scout new, un-pressured feeding areas. In California, the Sacramento Valley continues to be the hot spot in the flyway, with goose numbers incredible and ducks excellent. As always, hunter success fluctuates with the weather in southern California. While teal and sprig numbers are up, hunter success is low.
CENTRAL FLYWAY
The drought plagued flyway continues to struggle this season, as the bulk of waterfowl have shifted eastward to find food and water. Hunting continues in Montana with mallards and geese fair to good. In Nebraska, hunting is difficult at best, with mallards low, and geese fair. Colorado continues to be a bright spot in the flyway at this time, with mallards good and goose hunting good to excellent in the eastern portion of the state. Duck activity is on the rise again in South Dakota as birds move north again on prevailing winds. Hunter success is best along the river system, with field hunters having the most success. Hunter success and opportunity is on the rise in Kansas and Oklahoma, as ice thaws and birds return on prevailing winds. Mallard, widgeon and gadwall numbers are fair to good, and geese excellent in many areas. Hunters in Texas are working hard to scrape out a limit and drought conditions continue to hamper hunter success and waterfowl numbers.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY
Goose numbers are good to excellent from southern Minnesota to central Illinois. As snow and ice melt, geese are dispersing from over-crowded areas of open water and hunters running traffic are having the best success. Mallard numbers are good to excellent in Iowa at this time and waterfowl are getting fat and happy in the fields, as duck season is now closed. Goose hunting is good, and numbers fair on Canada geese and Snows. Hunting action is good to excellent throughout Missouri – from Squaw Creek to the Mississippi River – with the state hosting a good number of ducks that normally migrate further west. If you are chasing the flight this year, Missouri is the place to do it. Hunting action is good to excellent in Central and Southern Illinois, with Mallards good and all others excellent. In Indiana, both duck and goose hunting are fair to good in the north and low further south. Duck and goose numbers are good to excellent across Ohio, with the biggest influx of waterfowl arriving this past week. Diver numbers are good to excellent in the western basin of Lake Erie, with hunter success good to excellent. In the southern portion of the flyway, the bulk of widgeon, and gadwall remain in Louisiana and Mississippi and hunter success in the coming weeks will fluctuate with the weather, as hunters in the timber hope for sun and those in the rice look for clouds. In Arkansas persistent drought conditions continue to frustrate hunters, and duck numbers remain extremely low.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY
In Massachusetts mallard and black duck numbers are fair to good in most areas, and hunter success best for those willing to seek out open water. In New York, Canada goose numbers are good and snow goose excellent for this time of year. Sea duck hunting is excellent all along the coast of Maine with Eider and Scoters excellent and Oldsquaw good. In Pennsylvania, goose hunting is good to excellent, and mallard numbers good to excellent for this time of year. Snow goose numbers are good to excellent in Delaware, with Widgeon and pintail high, and mallards and black ducks moderate. In New Jersey, hunters await the second opener with goose numbers good to excellent across the state and duck numbers high. Like most of the east the past few days, fog has hampered hunter success in Virginia, though widgeon, gadwall, pintail and teal numbers are fair to good in most areas. In the Carolinas, gadwall and teal are good to excellent with all other ducks low. In Georgia, ring-necked ducks and wood ducks are good to excellent with gadwall and teal moderate, all others low. Gunning is underway in Florida, with wood ducks and mottled ducks excellent, teal good and all others low.
Until next week, hunt safe and hunt often.
