The final weekend of the regular season is approaching. Across all four flyways waterfowlers are hoping to close out the season with a bang. Winter seems to have taken a vacation for most of the states where the season remains open. But with only a few days left, duck and goose hunters are sure to make the most of the remaining days.
Hello folks, and as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
Even though the regular season is about to close, there is still a lot of waterfowl action to be had across the US. From post season youth hunts to the Light Goose Conservation Order, waterfowl hunters have a few more months before its time to pack up the gear and start dreaming of next season.
If your home state offers a special, post season, youth hunt please make the effort to take a few young guns out. The future of our grand tradition depends on young hunters. It is a great opportunity to teach new hunters the ins and outs of waterfowling. Take a kid, take a camera and make some memories while ensuring the continuation of our shared tradition.
And now, on to the Migration Report.
PACIFIC FLYWAY
As the water begins to slowly recede in parts of the upper flyway waterfowl gunning has improved. Reports from both coastal and inland areas of the flyway indicate a good concentration of ducks and geese. Rain will be on tap for the final weekend but it looks as though the overall precipitation will be lighter than the flooding downpours of recent weeks.
High water across much of the flyway still has birds more scattered than usual, but as the water levels fall bird numbers will begin to build in the remaining ponds rivers and sloughs.
Reports have been mixed for southern and inland portions of the flyway. Many areas of California report seeing waves of birds moving back north, over the last week, while some parts of Nevada and Arizona saw a moderate up-tick in overall waterfowl concentrations.
As another front moves across the Cascades and into the western Rockies there is the potential for another shift of birds to move south along the eastern portions of the flyway, perhaps in time for the closing bell.
CENTRAL FLYWAY
The lack of winter weather has made hunting in the lower flyway unpredictable, at best. Concentrations of light geese, lesser Canada geese and ducks are widely scattered from Nebraska in to Texas. Patterning this year’s late season birds has been tough due to warm weather and abnormal water levels.
Rains across east Texas last week finally made more areas huntable, but in many cases it appears the new water has only served to scatter birds. Hunters who have moved to newly flooded fields and sloughs are reporting increased bird numbers, but the heavy rains have now given the wintering waterfowl a lot of option for avoiding pressure.
For the final weekend of the season, scouting new areas and extreme mobility may be the best key to success as the birds seek out untapped food sources recently made accessible.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY
Ample rain across most of the lower flyway has changed the game for the closing weekend of the waterfowl season. Until recently, artificial flooding was just about the only game in town for waterfowlers in the southern tier, not so for the final weekend.
The rising waters are sure to redistribute local waterfowl concentrations. Holes and fields that have produced well all season may see empty skies as the battle worn waterfowl take advantage of fresh sheet water and flooded woods.
With many areas of the lower flyway receiving four or more inches of rain in a short period of time, standing water is now available in woods and fields that have been dry all season.
With mild weather and rain on tap for much of the region for the final weekend, conditions are going to be better for newly flooded fields and rising lakes than the traditional late season timber hunts.
Hunters should key in on the newly flooded areas as the season draws to a close.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY
A cold front with strong North Westerly winds will move into the upper flyway over the next few days. As the temperatures fall and the winds gust, a shift of birds down the flyway should kick in.
There have already been reports of new birds as far south as North Carolina and portions of Georgia and with colder weather in the upper flyway, that trend should continue for the final weekend.
Sea duck and goose numbers are still building from the upper flyway well into the mid coastal states. As the next front moves into the upper Atlantic, the trend should continue with noticeable southward extension of sea duck concentrations.
The far southern end of the flyway has seen a slight jump in gadwall and ring neck numbers over the last week and numbers should remain on the rise as the weekend draws near.
The final weekend is fast approaching for all four flyways. But before you pack up the gear and call it a season, remember the spring snow goose season is still ahead. If you have not had your fill of waterfowling for the year, it may be time to make plans to meet the white wave as the Light Goose Conservation Order kicks off.