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Bluebill at the docks. (c) Steve Davis

While there are many variables in migration but an abundance of snow will always move ducks and geese south. Snow accumulation from western Montana to Wisconsin has finally blanketed the upper third of the flyway and forced ducks and geese south. The concentration of mallards in South Dakota has begun to move south along with mid-continental light geese. Mallard numbers are on the rise from Nebraska to central Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas, with Canada goose numbers ramping up in areas just below the snowline. Continue reading

Winter Greenhead. (c) Steve Davis

As ice builds in the far northern states of the Central and Mississippi Flyways, mallard numbers have increased dramatically along the edge of the freeze line. From the freeze-line south, ducks are dispersed throughout the flyways, with the biggest concentrations along the Gulf coast. In the west, duck numbers from the Klamath Basin to the Sacramento Valley are nearing peak levels, with activity along Atlantic coast slightly below average for this time of year. Continue reading

Hen Mallard Close Up (c) 2002 Steve Davis

The first cold blast from Canada has settled in the upper Mississippi and Central Flyways. While the system was not the usual early November blizzard that moves ducks in mass, migration activity has picked up significantly in the northern portions of the flyway as ducks are compressed along the early freeze line, creating excellent hunting opportunity in the northern states.

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The second week of November traditionally brings the first hard freezes to the north and a Clipper system that moves ducks in mass. Holding to weather tradition the first cold front arrived and ducks have moved. Just over a week ago the mid-continental mallard population was strung out from unfrozen waters in Canada to the Gulf Coast – seemingly everywhere and nowhere all at once in any great concentration. Continue reading

Ringed-necks over Mississippi River. (c) Steve Davis

The first hard push of the migration began this past week as temperatures took a significant dive across the Canadian Provinces. From Oregon to Eastern Michigan, duck numbers have increased rapidly as green-winged teal, gadwall, widgeon, bufflehead, ringed-necks and ruddy ducks begin to hop-scotch down the flyway.

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Migration activity is heating up as temperatures took a dive in Canada and the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region last week. The leading edge of the migration saw rafts of ruddy ducks moving across the Great Lakes Region with a surge of green-winged teal, gadwall and bufflehead moving close behind. Hunters in the drought plagued Central and Mississippi Flyways are reporting record sized-flights along the major river systems and large bodies of water. Continue reading

Goose Hunting Mississippi Flyway

Another weekend approaches and “Opening Day” slides further south along with the migration. Canada goose numbers continue to build in the upper Mississippi Flyway and Pintail numbers are building from the Klamath Basin to the Sacramento Valley. Increased rainfall has supplied much needed moisture to areas to parts of the eastern Central Flyway and The Great Lakes, though much more is needed to recharge the bulk of shallow wetlands.

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It’s mid-October and folks around the office are still wearing shorts here in northern Illinois. Opening Day is less than seventy-two hours away and the marsh where we normally hold the annual WFC Opening Day hunt is a choked with dried canary grass on bed of cracked, dry soil. Continue reading

Member Photo Credit: hannibal

The first cold front of the season ignited migration activity across the north this past week. Early migrating ducks, including, teal, wood ducks, shovelers and pintail numbers were on the rise in many northern states in the Central and Mississippi Flyways. Canada goose numbers increased dramatically in northern Mississippi Flyway and the first flights of White fronted geese are being reported in the Central Flyway.

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As drought conditions continue to persist across the central and western portions of the nation, hunter success continues to suffer in many areas of the north. Even hunters with huge portfolio of access areas are finding themselves high and dry this season, with little relief in sight. Public areas that are holding significant numbers of birds are also attracting a significant number of hunters and competition for space and birds is fierce in many areas. Continue reading

Member Photo Credit: Canman OMaddie

The general waterfowl season is underway in the first northern states. With drought conditions persisting in these states, hunting has been slow and crowded in the limited areas with water. Blue winged teal have been moving steadily and quickly down the Central and Mississippi Flyways, pushing through dry states in search of suitable habitat to the south.

Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.

As we begin to celebrate our 15th year of migration tracking and reporting we are starkly reminded of the constant conundrums that exist for waterfowl hunters. This season, the most ducks ever recorded will migrate through the North American flyways. Of course, this absolute boon in waterfowl numbers will be met by the worst habitat conditions that we can remember – so much for having our cake and eating it too. Continue reading