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Migration Update – March 31, 2014

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Spring Harvest - Member Photo Credit; DukGuy

Spring Harvest – Member Photo Credit; DukGuy

The spring thaw is finally underway in the northern tier and light geese have arrived in the Dakotas in significant numbers.  While some juvenile birds remain in parts of Nebraska and Iowa, light geese are another step closer to the 49th parallel and the return to their arctic breeding grounds.

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

The spring migration is generally a hurry-up and wait process.  Ducks and geese are in a hurry to return to the breeding grounds and they wait for a break in the weather to push northward.  Canada geese and mallards, being more cold tolerant and stubborn, generally arrive in the south last and are the first to push north – arriving ahead of light geese.

As southerly winds and warm temperatures pushed to the far north this past week, so did waves of waterfowl and songbirds.  Flights of Sandhill Cranes were reported in northern portions of the Mississippi and Central Flyways along with the return of many duck species to areas with open water. Continue reading

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DOA Introduces New Gunning Floaters

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New! Rouge Series Floaters from DOA DECOYS

New! Rouge Series Floaters from DOA DECOYS

Relying on the quality design and manufacturing process that rocketed their full-bodied ROUGE SERIES decoys to popularity amongst hard-core goose hunters, DOA DECOYS introduces their new floating decoys to their gunning decoy line up.

The decoys feature a recessed hexagonal keel,which provides maximum movement in the slightest wind or current.  In addition, the decoys have movable heads and boast their exclusive, durable paint process, which gives these decoys unrivaled realism.

The decoys are packaged with 4 active heads and 2 sentry heads and retail for $169.99 per box.

These decoys can be ordered online, direct from DOA and delivered right to your door.  For more information, visit DOA DECOYS online at: http://www.doadecoys.com

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Bushnell’s New Excursion HD Binoculars

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bushnell_excursion_HD

Overland Park, Kan – Bushnell, an industry leader in high performance sports optics for 65 years, has introduced a new binocular that defines versatility. Available in two popular configurations – 8x 42mm and 10x 42mm – the Excursion HD Binocular incorporates high-quality, lead-free optics to provide a remarkable viewing experience.

Featuring BaK 4 prisms, PC-3 Phase Coating and fully multi-coated optics, the Excursion HD binocular provides incredible image clarity and brightness. The roof prism binocular features a compact open-bridge design, resulting in a class-leading field of view. Continue reading

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FWS Announces 2014 Expansion of Hunting and Fishing in NWRS

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Photo Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service

Photo Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe today announced the agency will expand hunting and fishing opportunities throughout the National Wildlife Refuge System, opening up new hunting programs on six refuges and expanding existing hunting and fishing programs on another 20 refuges. The rule also modifies existing refuge-specific regulations for more than 75 additional refuges and wetland management districts.

The Service manages its hunting and fishing programs on refuges to ensure sustainable wildlife populations, while offering traditional wildlife-dependent recreation on public lands.

“For more than a century, hunters and anglers have been the backbone of conservation in this country and a driving force behind the expansion of the National Wildlife Refuge System,” said Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. “By providing more hunting and fishing opportunities on refuges, we are supporting a great recreational heritage passed down from generation to generation, creating economic growth in local communities and helping to ensure that conservation stays strong in America.” Continue reading

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Migration Update – February 27, 2014

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mallard_motel

Photo Credit: Sunrise Snows from MallardMotel.com

A quick glance at the Snow Cover and Surface Temperature maps provide and instant locator for Mid-Continental light geese in the Central and Mississippi Flyways.  The burgeoning population of snow geese continue to stage below the snow and freeze as they await the spring thaw (like the rest of us) and the flight back to their nesting grounds.

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

The Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri remains 97% frozen and light goose numbers are setting at a paltry 18,000 as of the last count.  Light goose numbers are good to excellent in Arkansas at this time and hunter success is fair to good. Continue reading

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D.T. Introduction to E-Collar Conditioning

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In the 12th D.T. the Dog Training Video, Dan Ihrke shows how to properly introduce your dog to e-collar conditioning. Dan Covers the basics of what a proper e-collar working level is and how to teach the dog to respond to corrections. Dan also talks about how to slowly introduce e-collar conditioning that is most effective for training. In this video Dan is using the D.T. Systems H2O 1820.

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DU pleased NRCS providing innovative ways to conserve grasslands

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FWS_grasslands

Photo Credit – © USFWS

BISMARCK, N.D. – Feb. 15, 2014 – Ducks Unlimited applauds USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) increasing its efforts to work with landowners in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) to conserve grasslands and wetlands. Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie announced today that NRCS is committing up to $35 million over the next three years for prairie conservation in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa.

“We are pleased to see NRCS renewing its commitment to grassland and wetland conservation in the PPR, which is so critical to waterfowl production,” said DU CEO Dale Hall. “We’re seeing unprecedented pressures to convert native prairie and drain wetlands. We need to look for new ways to make conservation programs more economically competitive and attractive to landowners.”    Continue reading

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NSSF Hails Passage of Sunday Hunting in Virginia

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Newtown, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) today hailed the bipartisan accomplishment of both houses of the Virginia General Assembly for passing legislation that will allow hunting on private property on Sundays in the Commonwealth.

In the final step in the legislative process, the State Senate today by a 28-to-11 vote passed the repeal of the old 19th Century Blue Law preventing Sunday hunting. The House of Delegates passed the bill in January by a vote of 71 to 27. The bill now goes to Gov. Terry McAuliffe to be signed into law. The legislation allows Sunday hunting on private land during designated hunting seasons by hunters who have the written permission of landowners. Continue reading