After predictions of an early onset to cold weather, it now appears that the rush toward winter is on hold for much of the US. Though cooler weather has begun to move into some portions of the Nation, the overall weather picture has the migration backing up at the US/Canadian border.
Hello folks, and as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
The season is well under way for the upper flyway states and the mid tier openers are clicking by. As the season gets into full swing across the country Waterfowler.com wishes all our members a safe and successful season. Remember to take a new hunter along this year. Old or young, new hunters help insure the continuation of our shared waterfowling heritage.
The WFC staff has been on the road and in the field, tracking the migration from the rolling Plaines of the Dakotas to the Upper Mississippi River. So, without further ado…
On to the Migration Report.
CANADA
From coast to coast reports out of Canada show the major concentration of waterfowl holding in a band that stretches from the US border north approximately one hundred and fifty miles. Scattered concentrations of birds are still being found north of this line, but the majority of both ducks and geese appear to be closer to the border.
The short term forecast for most of Canada shows a see-saw cool down / warm up pattern that is likely to continue stacking the migration up in southern portions of the Provinces.
PACIFIC FLYWAY
Reports out of the upper flyway show a respectable increase in both diver and puddle ducks. The stronger increase in bird numbers has occurred in the inland portions of the upper flyway with divers showing the most marked rise in numbers.
Light and white front goose numbers are on the rise in the lower, central, portion of the flyway with scattered reports of smaller dark geese beginning to come in.
Southern coastal and inland areas have seen a noticeable influx of ducks, primarily smaller puddle ducks and early divers.
As the next storm system moves inland in the upper flyway a gradual shift of birds should occur all along the flyway. Though this weather system is not strong enough to move the majority of northern mallards out of Canada is should refresh local bird numbers.
CENTRAL FLYWAY
After a brief return to seasonable weather, another warm up is in store for much of the upper flyway. The recent cool weather in the Dakotas did bring in a small push of new ducks and it looks as though the snow goose migration is getting underway as well. The increase in duck and goose numbers for the upper flyway is a welcome sign. The stall in the migration has made hunting conditions tough, with birds in the area becoming increasingly call and decoy shy.
Central and North Central portions of the flyway report good bird numbers, likely due to the recent winter storm in North Dakota. While the bird numbers are up, these are birds that took a lot of gunning pressure before being forced south by the snow storm of early October. Warmer weather has made birds difficult to pattern and scouting should be done from as remote a distance as possible. Reports from the field indicate that even slight pressure is disrupting waterfowl concentrations, forcing birds to find new feeding and resting areas.
Southern portions of the flyway, still either in the earliest portion of their season or waiting for opening day, are left hoping that colder weather will return to the upper flyway. Some flights of smaller geese, white fronts, light geese and cacklers have begun arriving but the major concentration of birds is still well north of the region.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY
Duck numbers are holding fairly steady for the upper reaches of the flyway. A small influx of new birds has been reported in upper/western areas of the flyway and in areas along the Great Lakes.
The eastern portions of the upper flyway look to be hit and miss at the present. Reports range from unusually high bird densities to empty skies. Such reports are often coming from areas less than fifty miles apart. From talking with hunters in these areas, it seems clear the birds are in fact around, but are keying in on particular areas and not ranging widely to feed and loaf. Scouting will be crucial to put hunters on birds until a more generalized migration trend kicks in.
Mid tier flyway states have seen a modest increase in duck numbers over the past week. These birds are likely locals from a state or two north who have moved out due to gunning pressure. The new birds have been less skittish than one might expect, but every day the pressure stays on the birds, they are prone to become more call and decoy shy. Softer calling and TOTAL concealment has been providing better gunning over the past few days in the mid tier states.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY
Storms and flooding should be out of the picture for the upper flyway, at least for now. High water in much of the area will keep birds scattered, but there are some reports coming in of new ducks filtering in out of Canada.
Sea duck numbers through the upper New England States are good, but hunters have been forced to stay off the big water as the recent storms rolled through. With the weather easing up a bit, the building concentrations of divers and seas ducks along the upper flyway should be less disrupted by pressure and hopefully easier to decoy.
The first wave of light geese has begun to show up in the upper coastal states. Though the numbers are not near their peak yet, there are enough snows around to provide good gunning.
Mid Coastal states report that the recent storms to their north have pushed a nice flight of birds down the coast. The increase in mallard numbers from Virginia through the Carolinas is a welcome sight for the early season, but these birds are likely to receive heavy pressure, in states where the season is open, before the next wave of birds move down the coast.
October is drawing to a close. As we approach November every duck hunter around is hoping for some heavy frost on the Halloween pumpkins. Mother Nature is in charge and it’s up to her to decide if North America’s Waterfowlers get tricks or treats.
