The classic clipper system that moved through the U.S. last week ignited one of the most powerful migrations in recent years. As the snow settles and arctic air moves into the north, resident Canada Geese are all that remain in the northern parts of the Central and Mississippi flyways.
Hello, folks, and as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
As temperatures plummet across the U.S. the next few days, migration activity is expected to continue as even the hardiest of mallards and geese journey further south. As expected, last week was an amazing time to be a duck hunter if you happened to be in the field, or on the water as the peak of the migration occurred. Reports have poured into WFC over the past few days and with the help of our members’ field observations, the drought monitor and pressure front maps, current waterfowl distribution is as follows:
PACIFIC FLYWAY
In Washington, mallard numbers are on the rise in the Columbia basin, and divers are good to excellent along the river, however the increased success could be short-lived if the freezing, that is expected, occurs this week. In Idaho and Utah, last minute action is found in areas with open water and birds are diminishing with the freeze. Oregon hunters continue to enjoy good shooting with mallards good to excellent in most areas, pintail fair, and all others low. Hunter success continues in the Sacramento Valley, with mallard, widgeon, pintail, teal and white-fronted goose numbers excellent across most of northern California. Northern birds have been arriving almost daily into Arizona and hunter success is good to excellent in low-pressure hunting areas. Mallard numbers are good for this time of year with gadwall, pintail, shoveler and green-wing teal numbers good to excellent, and holding steady.
CENTRAL FLYWAY
Late season action in the Dakotas is limited to the portions of the Missouri corridor. Few dark geese remain in North Dakota and numbers are declining in South Dakota. Hunting in western Nebraska is good to excellent on mallards, widgeon and gadwall, with hunter success duck populations lower in the central and eastern portions of the state. In Oklahoma, much needed precipitation arrived in the form of snow and has not done much to aid hunter success, or hold record numbers of waterfowl. Hunting in Texas is good to excellent in areas with water, and poor in all others. Hunters in the Central Flyway are scratching their heads and wondering where the ducks are. Secrets are easily revealed when you review the U.S. drought monitor map (LINK BELOW) and overlay last week’s jet stream maps. In short, waterfowl migration has shifted easterly on favorable winds, with migrating fowl hugging the Missouri corridor, in search of food and open water.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY
Goose hunting action is all that remains in Minnesota, with Rochester being the late season oasis for the avid bird hunter and giant Canada geese. In Iowa, hunter success is limited to persistent field hunters working the rivers. Goose numbers are good to excellent in local concentrations, with mallards low but huntable in areas with open water. In Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, ducks and geese are holding on large open bodies of water, and cooling lakes. Goose hunting is good to excellent in areas of concentration and poor in all other regions. Late season divers and mallards are all that remain on these impoundments, and expected to diminish as temperatures plummet this week. Hunter success is best south of the snow-belt that extends from the Texas Panhandle to Northeast Illinois. Along the Mississippi River hunting is good to excellent from Des Moines to Cairo — with gadwall, widgeon, mallards and goose numbers all excellent. In Indiana duck and goose numbers are good to excellent, and hunting success is up across the entire state. In Arkansas, hunting is best in the northeast with all areas low on water also low on birds. Hunting is good to excellent in Mississippi and Tennessee, with mallards good, gadwall and widgeon excellent and all others fair. Of course, northwest Louisiana was treated to the bulk of migrating waterfowl last week, and upcoming surveys are expected absolutely outstanding.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY
From Central New York to Massachusetts, hunting is good to excellent on mallards and black ducks. Wood ducks have finally departed the northern part of New England states, and teal numbers are declining in the north as well. In Maine, sea duck action is hot with Eiders, Old Squaw and Scoters all good to excellent. In eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey, goose numbers are on the rise and teal, widgeon and mallards are good and expected to increase as the cold front settles in later this week. Reports from the Carolinas are slow during the season split. Wood duck numbers are on the rise, with teal good, and all others low. In Alabama, ringed-neck and wood duck numbers are good to excellent, with teal numbers low for this time of year. As Florida hunters await the second phase opener, ring neck numbers fair, teal good and all others low.
Until next week, hunt safe and hunt often.
