In less than a week’s time the waterfowl season of 2002 – 2003 will be underway. All but the last few states have set their regulations and after an off-season filled with rumor and speculation the truth of what this year’s waterfowling will look like will begin to unfold.
Hello, folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
With early goose season opening in many states across the US this weekend, and general waterfowl hunting opening up in Alaska and portions of Canada, we are pleased to announce the addition of State Discussion Forums to the list of new features here at Waterfowler.com. Links to State Forums can be found just above individual State Field Reports on that State’s page.
Also, the Private Message system has been reinstalled and can be found at the top of the Forums Page. Please take a moment to read the message regarding the new format found in the New Site Bug Reports Forum under the heading Private Messages – New Format.
And now, on to the Migration Report.
The series of fronts that pushed through the Mississippi river valley last week brought teal migration into full swing. Areas that just weeks ago had been reporting only scattered pockets of the little speed demons now look to be holding solid concentrations of bluewings. Barring any major cold fronts, it looks as though all states where hunters are offered an early teal season should have good numbers of birds by the season opener.
September first marks the opener for regular duck season in Alaska and portions of Canada. A mild cold front moving inland from the coast of Alaska is not likely to start any grand migration just yet but may afford hunters with cooler morning as they kick off the season.
The same cold will move into areas of western Canada in time to drop temperatures back down to normal for the opener, and should moderate temperatures as far west as Minnedosa by the middle of next week.
In the lower forty-eight, resident goose season opens on September first for many states. Early season birds should hold to their summer patterns of early and late movement. Local ponds, reservoirs and green fields are the best bet for success with resident geese though some birds have take advantage of waste grain on harvested grain fields. Here again, weather will be the determining factor for locating birds. With long range forecasts showing little in the way of change for the next ten days, hunters who have done their homework should be able to count on the birds staying true to patterns observed in pre-season scouting.
The 2002-2003 season is all but upon us, and time has come again for waterfowlers across the US and Canada to load up their gear and return to the marshes and rivers, grain fields and swamps. It’s been a long time coming and will surely go by too fast. With the greatest anticipation and appreciation we will all soon find ourselves back in the wilds with our eyes on the sky and our hearts renewed by the coming of fall. Hope springs eternal in the heart of the waterfowlers. Good luck, be safe, and be sure to report back so that we may all share in the return of “THE SEASON”.
