While the bulk of mallards continue to hug the edges of the deep freeze line in the north, colder temperatures, temporary ice and snow in the southern portions of the flyways are moving early migrating birds around at a fevered pace. The lean brown ducks of the early season have matured into full-plumage, fat-layered ducks that look fantastic on the strap and are delightful on the table.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
The evidence of duck production on the prairies this past has come to fruition and simply put, hunters are having a grand season of hunting in most areas. December marks the start of the second half of the general waterfowl season and our half time report is filled with nothing but award winning highlights.
From the start of the early teal season until now, hunters have been putting ducks on the strap at a consistent pace. While the days have varied from full limits to scratching a few birds, overall most hunters are reporting that this season as one of the best in recent memory in three of the four flyways.
If there is a notable difference between this season and last, it is the absence of snow accumulation that pushed ducks and geese to the Deep South on a very early schedule. This year’s migration has provided the cold temperatures to push Teal, Gadwall, Widgeon, Pintail and other early migrators south, while allowing the king of ducks and geese to remain along the freeze line and provide late-season opportunity to northern states.
Of course, a season of great harvest results in a season of great table fare. If you are looking for additional gourmet recipes to help stay ahead of the possession limit pace this season, members can visit our interactive recipe box under the member area menu and discover the delights of duck salad, pizza and a few other fabulous fares. Members and guests alike are welcomed to share their recipes in the interactive forums and we look forward to reading them.
PACIFIC FLYWAY:
Oddities in the migration continue to persist in the west. The bulk of good waterfowl activity remains in areas south of a line that runs from the Sacramento Valley to the Great Salt Lake. While hunters in WA, OR, ID and MT continue to struggle for a limit, hunter success continues to increase as you move south. Hunters in southern California, Phoenix and New Mexico continue to hang birds on the strap with teal, pintail and gadwall filling the primary slots.
CENTRAL FLYWAY:
Mallard numbers are good to excellent at this time in NE, KS and northern OK. As freezing temperatures continue to compress the migration into a smaller are of the south, waterfowl activity is good to excellent in most areas. Accumulating snow will tell the tale in the coming week as areas on long the edge of the freeze line will only hold birds for a limited time. Teal, widgeon, gadwall and pintail continue to fill the primary slots in the bag limit in AZ and TX as this time.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY:
Canada goose hunting has reached it’s peak in the northern portions of the flyway. Field hunters are reporting excellent numbers of birds and success excellent away from pressured areas. Fat, hardy mallards are hugging the freeze line and feeding in grain near areas with open water as the trickle into Missouri, southern Illinois and Arkansas. Ice, snow and temporary freezing are kicking birds around in the south as ducks compress into the lower third of the flyway.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY:
Duck numbers are good to excellent at this time in NY, PA, DE and MD, with numbers better in the western part of the flyway. Sea duck shooting is good to excellent along the New England coast. Hunter success is fair to good in VA, NC and SC, with duck numbers rising in the far south as hunting pressure continues to move birds south.
