A series of low-pressure systems have moved across the U.S. this week, bringing much needed rain to many areas. While the southeast remains extremely dry, conditions have improved for many duck hunters in all four flyways.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
A quick study of the U.S. drought Monitor Map (link at right), reveals the frustrations felt by many waterfowl hunters who are suffering through drought conditions. For many hunters this season, hunting “where the ducks are” may require travel plans to states that have received normal to above average precipitation.
The Pacific Northwest, New England states, the Great Lakes Region and most of the Central Flyway are good prospects for the traveling Waterfowler.com member. When making travel plans for your duck hunting adventure, readers are encouraged to monitor the state-by-state hunting reports for detailed information on water and migration reports.
Waterfowler.com readers who JOIN or renew their membership this season will now receive the bonus Stranglehold, DVD from Knock’m Down Productions – a $14.95 value absolutely FREE! WFC is counting on your continued support to provide our National Migration Tracking, Reporting and Mapping Services. So, join or renew today.
CENTRAL FLYWAY:
The first flicks of Snow Geese moved into North Dakota this past week, along with the first appearances of diving ducks. Canvasbacks, scaup and bufflehead are on the move in the northern portion of the flyway and hunter success on big water has improved slightly.
Also in the Dakotas, lesser Canada goose numbers are starting to build as geese slowly trickle down from Canada. In short, with excellent water conditions and ample food in Canada, there is little reason for ducks to push south without weather to move them. With the bulk of waterfowl above the border, hunting remains excellent in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Water conditions in the Dakotas, with the exception of the southeastern portion of the state, remain below average.
In neighboring South Dakota, gadwall, teal and locally breed mallards continue to comprise the primary bag, with giant Canada goose hunting fair to good, until lesser arrive. Water conditions in South Dakota remain better than its brethren state to the north and improved slightly this past week.
While the rain was welcome by many hunters, the harvest has been slowed across the northern portion of the flyway and hunter access lower as a result. Hunters driving off road are reminded to take caution in wet areas to avoid getting stuck and tearing up the roads and fields.
In Nebraska, opening day reports were mixed. Hunter participation was down overall, and hunting success was average. Teal and locally breed mallards provided the top slots in the bag limit with all other species low to fair.
Colorado hunters witnessed an increase in sandhill crane numbers this past week, along with the first arrivals of snow geese. Mallards are good to fair and feeding heavily in the fields during the evening. Teal, widgeon and gadwall numbers are fair to good in most areas and the recent weather systems have improved hunting over all.
As hunters to the south await the opening of their waterfowl season, be sure to invite a kid hunting for the early youth seasons and plan to participate. It’s vital to the continued growth of our sport.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY:
In Minnesota, diving ducks have started to appear in the northern portion of the state, and blue-winged teal and wood duck numbers dropped substantially over the past week and moved further south. The gray ducks (gadwall, widgeon and pintail) are fair to good in most areas with numbers starting to climb. While waterfowl numbers did not improve greatly over the past week, hunter success was up – due to the blustery weather.
In Wisconsin and Iowa the local mallards are getting smarter and more difficult to decoy. Shoveler numbers have increased substantially over the past week, and green-winged teal numbers are on the rise. Wood duck numbers are good in the southern portions of the states, but diminishing. Lesser Canada goose numbers are good and climbing – ringnecks are good and all others fair.
In Illinois, youth hunters experienced an exceptional special hunt with wood ducks and teal excellent. The general waterfowl season opens in the north zone this weekend with wood duck numbers above average, blue-winged teal numbers still strong and the first gadwall, widgeon and pintail arrivals low to fair. Ringed necked numbers are spotty with numbers highest along the river systems.
The first divers are beginning to show up throughout the great lakes region. While not substantial, there is opportunity for the die-hard big water hunter – with bufflehead, scaup, redheads and ring-necked ducks present, but low.
Hunter success has slowed in Michigan as wood ducks and local mallard numbers have diminished. Diver numbers are low and goose hunting is fair to good in most areas as geese become more difficult to decoy.
In Indiana wood duck numbers are good to excellent in areas holding water and hunter success is fair to good on local mallards and geese. Teal numbers are fair to good, and dry conditions in the central and southern portion of the state continue to dampen hunter success.
Prospects for an excellent opening weekend in Ohio are good, with mallards, teal and wood duck numbers good to excellent in most areas. With greater Canada goose numbers reported excellent.
PACIFIC FLYWAY:
Hunting is underway in Washington with mallards and widgeon good to excellent, and all others fair. Goose numbers are on the rise throughout the northern portion of the flyway and hunter success is good to excellent. With temperatures dropping and multiple storm systems moving through the Pacific Northwest this week, hunter success was good to excellent in the northern portion of the flyway.
In Idaho, green-winged teal, gadwall, widgeon and pintail numbers are good to excellent with mallards fair and climbing. In Oregon, green-winged teal filled most of the slots in the opening weekend bag, with widgeon and pintail also high. Local mallard numbers are good to fair across the state, and white-fronted goose numbers are on the rise.
In California, white-fronted goose numbers are good to excellent for this time of year with teal, widgeon and pintail all high. Mallard numbers are fair in the Sacramento Valley, but on the rise as mallards raised in the northern portion of the flyway trickle down from hunting pressure.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY:
In the northeast, wood duck numbers are good to excellent from New York to Massachusetts. Blue-winged teal are excellent and local mallard numbers are good, with all other species low to fair. Resident goose numbers are good to excellent with few migrants yet to arrive from Canada. Along the coast, Eider and scoter numbers are good through southern Maine.
In Delaware, Virginia and Pennsylvania, wood duck numbers are good to excellent, local mallards are good and all others fair to low. The first migratory geese have joined the local greater flocks but heavy flights have yet to arrive.
Low water and lack of precipitation continues to plague hunting areas from Virginia to the Florida Panhandle. While recent rains have helped in some areas, many regions are over 20-inches below their average rainfall. As continued low-pressure systems drift across the U.S., hunters are hoping the systems are fueled by moisture in the Gulf to salvage the dim outlook on the coming season.
Until next week, plan a hunting adventure this season by using the WFC Trade-A-Hunt system. Post your ad and expand your opportunity today!
