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In steep contrast to the abundance of water in the north, extreme drought conditions persist across much of the south. While the start of the 2011 – 2012 Duck Hunting season is a number of months away for southern hunters, water management should already be on the minds of those with private lands. According to the latest climate prediction models, precipitation will remain below average throughout the summer months in the south. With duck production expected to be well above average this year, the difference between success and failure could be directly linked to habitat construction and control.

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The 2011 Waterfowl Breeding and Habitat Survey is expected to be released in the coming weeks. All indications are that the report will bring great news to the waterfowl hunting community. If you were following the biologist and survey team reports on Flyways.us throughout the month of May, you are already aware of the exceptional breeding conditions the teams encountered across the survey zones. If you are not already counting down the days to duck season, you should be, as it will likely provided the best duck numbers we have seen in a decade or more. For a complete recap of the survey team reports, visit FLYWAYS. US today. Continue reading

The May Breeding survey is near completion and with the exception of Central Alberta, conditions were good to excellent in most areas. Survey teams encountered a number of weather delays this year and the Northern Alberta Team conducted various surveys over smoke filled skies from forest fires – proving again this year, there is never a dull moment along the survey transects.

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If you have been following the pilot reports on Flyways.us this year (as we recommended) the good news from waterfowl breeding areas is cause for celebration. Late-winter expectations from the waterfowl community have been confirmed and prime breeding conditions exist across most of the waterfowl survey areas. In a few words, the stage is set for a fantastic year of waterfowl production. Continue reading

The May breeding and habitat survey is underway across the United States and Canada. Despite weather delays for some survey teams the good news has already begun roll in with the biologist reports at Flyways.us. Reports from South Central Saskatchewan are nothing short of amazing — with an abundance of ducks taking advantage of new water in the area.

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With the early teal and goose seasons less than four months away in some states, it is difficult to imagine that the breeding ducks that are currently be counted by the survey teams will mate, nest and raise at least one brood of ducklings that will begin migrating in just a few short months – when a good portion of our audience haven’t even started fishing yet. Continue reading

Light goose numbers in southern and central Saskatchewan increased over the past week. Hunter success has been down and hunting difficult due to the abundance of sheet water in the fields, a slow melt and even some fresh snow in areas of the Province. While the abundance of snow and precipitation will be a boon for ducks this nesting season, the delays in the light goose migration will surely compress the number of hunting days until the season’s close.

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As hunting under the Conservation Order in the Continental United States fades with the northern migration, the hunting community turns a watchful eye to waterfowl nesting areas and spring habitat reports. As the clock ticks down to the start of the May Breeding and Habitat Survey, both biologists and waterfowl hunters are hopeful the reports will turn in record numbers. Continue reading

As the grip of winter holds tight in northern states, the number of snow geese in South Dakota holds near record numbers. Recent snow has added to the difficulties of previous winter runoff, flooding and mud. Hunters in western Iowa are reporting the return of some birds in various areas and it appears that some will get an encore performance of great hunting in the days to come.

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Despite the continued wintery conditions, the instinctive fire that drives light geese back to the nesting grounds is burning brightly. With the hard push of migration activity to the edge of the snowline and slightly beyond, it would appear as if mid-continental light geese are willing the warm gulf winds to follow them north. Continue reading

The snow goose migration continues with birds pushing into South Dakota, Nebraska and Western Iowa. Light goose numbers in Kansas and Missouri have continued to decline over of the weekend, though hunters reported decent, last-minute harvests.

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As snow begins to melt on the Central Plains, light geese have pushed northward to the edge of the snow line and slightly beyond. The snow pack in Montana, the Dakotas and Minnesota remains at substantial at this time — with current temperatures in the twenties. While light goose numbers have dropped significantly in Kansans and Missouri, the hard-working light goose hunter is still scratching out a fair harvest.

Of course, one of the advantages of spending time in the field during the spring is witnessing the return flights of ducks to the nesting grounds. Light goose hunters have consistently reported the skies filled with mallards, gadwall and widgeon over the past weeks, along with great flights and rafts of diving ducks.

The levels of snow that provided a near perfect fall migration and steady light goose season thus far will also provide some of the best nesting conditions in decades.

A recent report from Delta Waterfowl Foundation stated the record soil moisture and snow pack is both a boon for duck production and looming disaster. A quick melt could result in dangerous flooding in both the United States and Canada.

“This is nothing but good news for ducks,” says Delta Waterfowl Scientific Director Dr. Frank Rohwer. “When you get great water conditions, you get more females breeding where they should be breeding…on the prairies.”

Increased water on the Prairie Pothole Region results in more nesting hens, and increased survivability of broods. With drastic budget cuts jeopardizing the survivability of conservation programs in Congress, a little help from Mother Nature this nesting season could not have come at a better time.

While it’s easy to get lost in the hype and potential success of a great nesting season, the health of the resource is determined by the worst years, not the best. In short, conservation efforts are designed to maintain and raise the base level of our lowest production years. The danger of having a great nesting season when budgets are being cut is that this false positive could lead to a perception that life is grand on the prairie. With the proposed bloodletting in federal funding, this could be one of the last great years of waterfowl production.

Waterfowler.com encourages our members to stay in touch with their congressional leaders and maintain a voice in the process. Make an extra effort to monitor the efforts of Delta Waterfowl Foundation and Ducks Unlimited over the next few months and help protect the funding that protects our wetlands.

Until our next report, visit deltawaterfowl.org and ducks.org today.

With the snow line receding to the 42nd parallel, snow goose numbers have increased dramatically in Missouri, Nebraska and southern Illinois over the past week. With another round of snow piling up in the northern states, light geese are expected to hold in popular hunting areas until the next thaw begins.

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The quick spring thaw ignited light goose activity was met by another taste of winter and accumulating snow in the northern parts of the Central and Mississippi Flyways. The additional snow pack will provide an insurance policy against a quick Canadian escape for light geese over the next few weeks and the excellent hunting in Missouri, Nebraska, and Illinois will continue until the thaw. Light goose numbers are slowly increasing in southern Iowa and hunter success is expected to improve over the next week. Continue reading

The spring light-goose season has been ushered in by a series of snowstorms and blizzards this past week – holding snow geese at their southern most destinations. With snow cover blanketing areas of New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas, it has become clear that this abnormal weather will make for a very abnormal spring migration.

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The State of the Union is cold and snowy. While there is a difference between Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland and our nation’s current Winter Wonderland, weather conditions can best be described as “Curiouser and curiouser!” Continue reading