Another arctic blast is ringing in the New Year, bringing chilling winds, snow and ice to most of the south. With temperatures dropping below zero in the north to well below freezing all the way to Alabama by the weekend, the over abundance of water will soon be an over abundance of ice, which is expected to improve hunting conditions in many areas.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
While duck and goose numbers have been good to excellent below the freeze line, hunting has been difficult at best. The over abundance of water in the south has created a plethora of safe havens for waterfowl, providing an almost unlimited opportunity to find food and water away from hunters, decoys and guns. In short, having ducks does not guarantee a good harvest. Water levels in traditional hunting spots and leases are above average and the duck hunting dreams provided by well-managed food plots have been submerged or washed away.
While hunting areas along the snow line have been covered up with ducks and providing world-class shooting, the further south you travel the more difficult hunting becomes. A study of the historical Christmas Bird Counts reveals just how many ducks and geese are willing to brave the winter and remain north under average winter conditions. Despite their hard-nosed willingness, the continued sub-zero temperatures in the north have forced even the most stubborn ducks south over the past week and numbers continued to climb in the south.
With the trough of the jet stream dipping well into the Gulf of Mexico and curling over the southeast, the best duck hunting of the season is expected to arrive for southern hunters east of the continental divide this weekend. Waterfowler.com encourages our members to post reports as often as possible to help track this migration event and provide up-to-date information on hunting conditions to their fellow members.
For those members in the north that are feeling the effects of cabin fever and accumulating snow, we remind them that good shooting and old duck hunting stories can be shared in Waterfowler.com’s virtual Online Lodge in Second Life. While the lodge is open round the clock, a consistent gathering of members can be found in the lodge on Thursday evenings around 8pm eastern standard time. Information on how to access the lodge can be found on the WFC homepage and in the open and member forums. We look forward to seeing you there.
PACIFIC FLYWAY:
Duck hunting remains good to excellent along the coastal regions of the northwest all the way to the Sacramento Valley – with mallards and pintail providing excellent opportunity. Duck and goose numbers remain good to excellent along the Snake and Columbia Rivers for both divers and puddle ducks. Duck numbers in Nevada, Utah and New Mexico are slightly above average for this time of year but drought conditions continue to hamper hunter success. While southern areas east of the continental divide will experience an arctic blast this week, the southwest will remain warm and dry with little change in waterfowl activity or numbers.
CENTRAL FLYWAY:
Arctic winds will bring a deep chill to the north and tighten its icy grip along the snowline. Sub-zero temperatures are expected as far south as Oklahoma and Kansas for an extended period and push remaining waterfowl further south. Gusty winds over the next few days are expected to keep waterfowl on the move in the southern portions of the flyway and provide excellent waterfowl activity from the Gulf Coast to western Arkansas.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY:
As ice and cold temperatures continue to build along the snow line and push south, the abundance of mallards in Missouri, Illinois and the Ohio River Valley are expected to push south over the next 5 days. While ice is expected in many areas in the south, hunter success is expected to increase as ice builds and habitat becomes limited. As the shallow water in many active feeding fields freezes, hunting in the timber should improve through the weekend from Arkansas to Louisiana.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY:
As temperatures dip below freezing into Georgia and another round of lake effect snow hits the northeast, waterfowl activity and migration is expected to increase through the weekend. Duck numbers from Virginia to the Carolinas are expected to decrease as waterfowl push into the southern reaches of the flyway over the next four days. Ice will play an important role in hunter success through the weekend, as birds begin to seek new feeding areas as shallow marshes and flooded fields lock up. Hunter success is expected to improve significantly in Alabama, Georgia and Florida throughout the weekend. Hunters heading to the field during the coming days are reminded to take precautions when traveling and hunting in icy conditions. Safety first, ducks second.
Until our next report, begin your spring snow goose hunting plans today.
