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The minor cold front that dipped into the U.S. over the past week from Canada brought heavy flights of Cackling (Hutchinson’s) geese to the upper Mississippi Flyway. Divers are slowly moving into the upper parts of the Central and Mississippi Flyways – with the most notable activity from red heads and ring-necked ducks.

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The anticipated cold front arrived this past week but did little to fuel any massive migration of ducks as many had hoped. Continued hunting pressure and harvest continue to thin duck numbers in the north and the great “trickle” migration is underway until the next major cold front. Continue reading

The 2011 waterfowl migration is in constant motion. Ring-necked ducks are beginning to appear in the northern border-states in greater numbers and each weekend greets another opening day in an addition state – including parts of Illinois, Indiana and Washington this weekend. Green-winged teal activity has also increased across the north along with continued Canada goose numbers in most areas.

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The next cold front is developing expected to push down from Canada early next week. Cooler temperatures in the north this weekend are expected to help in crease waterfowl activity and improve hunter success as a result in the western and central parts of the United States. Soggy conditions in the Mid-Atlantic and New England states will likely result in low hunter success over the weekend in areas with constant rainfall. Rain showers will likely plague hunter success on Sunday in parts of the Mississippi Flyway but the steady precipitation will be welcome by hunters who are struggling with low water conditions. Continue reading

The first flights of sandhill cranes arrived in North Dakota this past week, and the great brown duck shoot is underway in many northern states. Hunters in Minnesota and Wisconsin are reporting a primary bag of wood ducks and teal, with green-winged teal numbers increasing over the previous weeks.

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As we approach the first weekend in October cool, wet weather in the upper Midwest has brought rain to many areas in need of water. While the few inches that fell over the Great Lakes region will improve conditions slightly, most areas in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa remain below normal water levels. Hunters using mud motors and shallow running boats are reaping the harvest in areas where access is limited by low water. While bird numbers are fair to good in most areas, hunter success has varied greatly due to habitat conditions. Continue reading

The series of cold fronts that sparked the first flights of the teal migration provided good to excellent shooting from Iowa to Louisiana and Texas. Hunters that hunted in areas holding ducks found quick limits, while others struggled to scratch a out a few birds. As hunters in Minnesota prepare for their earliest opener in decades, the stage is set for what could be one of the best openers the state has seen in years.

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While the abundance of teal this year has consumed the headlines and hunter reports at Waterfowler.com, resident goose hunters have been cleaning up in the north throughout their early seasons. Cooler temperatures contributed to increased goose activity from the central plains to the eastern seaboard. Hunter success and participation varied greatly this year as delays in local harvests impacted the number of fields available for hunter access. Much like the teal season has been, hunter success has been greatly influenced by habitat more than bird numbers for many goose hunters. Continue reading

A brisk north wind and Frost Advisory for Alberta, Manitoba and northern Minnesota have ignited another early migration event in the Central and Mississippi Flyways. Blue-winged teal continue to hopscotch down the Flyways, along with scattered reports of pintail and widgeon numbers increasing in the far north.

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While it may be difficult to imagine a frost and even snow flurries after the summer most have just endured, colder temperatures are griping the Prairie Pothole region of Canada this week and the annual migration has begun. At this time blue-winged teal are present and on the move from the far north to costal Louisiana and Texas.

Hunters who happen to reside in states that offer an early teal season have experienced good to excellent hunting the past week, thanks to back-to-back fronts that have kept a steady flow of birds traveling south. Continue reading

Resident goose and teal hunting has begun in a number of northern states and dove shooting is underway across most of the nation. The first cold front of the season has brought welcomed relief from the heat and clear end to the dog days of summer. Blue-winged teal are on the move in the upper Mississippi Flyway, with hunters reporting increased activity over the past few days as the cold front has pushed south.

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Weather is a funny thing. After a long, almost endless summer of temperatures dancing near the one hundred mark from the far north to the Deep South, the first puff of arctic air could not have arrived at a more perfect time for early season hunters. If you spent the weekend in a layout blind chasing resident geese or sitting on a bucket along the edge of a dove field, the chill on the air surely made it feel like autumn had arrived. Continue reading

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife announced the proposed waterfowl season frameworks with a liberal season framework for all four Flyways and a nation wide daily bag limit of two pintail, as well as a full season on canvasback with a daily bag limit of one. While the great news will offer little relief from the above average temperatures across the nation, the dog days of summer will end with a bang in the coming weeks as northern states kick off their early resident goose seasons.

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The count down to back-to-school and the opening day of early waterfowl seasons continue, with the pace of the clock seeming to quicken each day. For many hunters in the north the goose decoys are about to come out of storage and be prepared for another season. It should come of no surprise to readers that we consider the early-season goose hunter an odd species themselves. Really, who else would venture into the field on a hot, humid summer morning in shorts to break a severe sweat setting out decoys, only to stuff their sweaty body into a mosquito infested, sauna-cooking layout blind for a liberal crack at the one of waterfowl’s most majestic species? Continue reading

The results are in from the 2011 Waterfowl Breeding and Habitat Survey and the estimated results represent an overall 11% increase in breeding pairs over 2010, with mallards up 10% and pintail up a whopping 26% over 2010 estimates. Blue-winged teal numbers topped the charts with a 41% increase over 2010. With early teal seasons in northern states just over a month and a half away in northern states, this is indeed great news for early season hunters.

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The dog days of summer are upon us and extreme drought conditions persist across much of the south. Climate prediction models are showing very little relief in the near future hunters should expect the dry conditions to have a severe impact on the early teal migration in the months ahead. While a number of states do not offer a special teal season, hunters are encourage to do their scouting during this migration, as the habit used by teal will likely hold a number of big ducks during the general waterfowl season – especially if habitat conditions do not improve in drought stricken areas in the coming months.

Dog owners are reminded hydration is extremely important during late summer training and the early season for both you and your dog. Be sure to pack ample amounts of water and a serving bowl when heading to the field for training or early season hunting. As you prepare for the coming season and consider nutrition options for your canine companion, be sure to check out INUKSHUK Professional Dog food, which offers an unparalleled, industry leading formula that contains 32% fat and protein. INUKSHUK offers an innovative “buy direct” program that offers substantial savings on their high-performance products. Be sure to visit them today at: http://www.inukshukdogfood.ca

With dove season just around the corner it’s time to blow the dust off the gun and get your swing back in action. As you head out for a day of trap, skeet or sporting clays, Waterfowler.com encourages you to join Federal Ammunition in the fight against breast cancer by going “pink.” The special edition Top Gun® Target—12-gauge Pink Hull 12-gauge 2-3/4-inch #8 target loads are part of an important mission to find a cure. A portion of the sale of Federal Top Gun® shot shell go directly to the search for a cure. For more information, visit: http://www.federalpremium.com

Early season goose and teal hunters can revitalize their spreads this season with the latest offerings From G&H decoys. The new green-winged teal decoys feature five new head positions and a new paint styling that enhances their life-like appearance. Goose hunters will appreciate the new Weather-Vane Goose decoys that offer incredible movement and the convenience of a stackable decoy with a full-body appearance. They are truly a must have for any spread that proves AMERICAN MADE long-lasting quality and innovation are alive and well in the good old U.S.A. For more information or to order online, visit G&H Decoys at: http://www.ghdecoys.com

The new Upland Fasteel® from Kent Gamebore is sure be an early season favorite for dove hunters who are hunting in areas that require non-toxic shot. The same technology introduced Fasteel® Waterfowl loads over 10-years ago fuels these high performance Upland game loads in shot sizes, 5, 6 and 7. For more information on this non-toxic alternative, visit Kent online at: http://www.kentgamebore.com

Hunters who rely on an electronic collar for dog training and handling can take advantage of the latest and greatest in innovative technology from Hawx Dog and Gun this season. The new, GUN MOUNTED remote relay device put’s dog control at your finger tips, without having to take your hands off of the gun and fumble for a remote. The stock or barrel mounted device operates in a similar manner to BlueTooth® Technology by sending signals from the gun-mounted button to your collar’s remote – allowing for safe, instantaneous correction. For more information on this long-over-due feature to the realm of electronic collars, vist: http://www.hawxdoggun.com

As the start of the general waterfowl season quickly approaches, Waterfowler.com reminds our readers to renew their annual membership today by clicking the JOIN button above. Your continued support is vital to our continued services and we look forward to another great season of migration reporting to enhance your waterfowl hunting experience.