As temperatures finally begin to drop in the north, waterfowl are on the move in all four flyways. The first substantial numbers of ducks are dropping in to North Dakota, Lesser and Cackling Canada Geese numbers jumped substantially in the northern portions of the Central and Mississippi Flyways, and wood ducks pushed south in force.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
The pace of the annual migration quickened over the past week, and waterfowl activity increased from the far north all the way to the gulf. While many hunters in the north are experiencing the mid-season lull (as local ducks depart and northern birds have yet to arrive), the migration is progressing quickly this year as early migrating species have made hard pushes to the south.
Waterfowler.com is asking members to step-up their efforts on map input, and submit data to the migration map as often as possible to aid in tracking the migration. Submitting data for your area is important, even if activity is low. In order for WFC to expand the map next season to offer “Prediction Modeling” for the migration, it is important that we have both peak and low activity information. So, input your data today!
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY:
The mid-season diver migration is on in the northern portion of the flyway and, with redheads, canvasbacks and bufflehead arriving in Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Ringed-neck numbers declined slightly, as those early migrants continue to move south.
Wood ducks moved south aggressively this past week, numbers increased substantially from Arkansas to Louisiana. While wood ducks are present in the central portion of the flyway, the birds that were starting in the northern portion of the flyway have bugged out of the northern tier.
In Illinois, ducks are slightly below the 10-year average for this time of year, with numbers up along the Mississippi River, and lower along the Illinois River – where widgeon, teal and gadwall remain well below the long-term average. Illinois hunters are reminded that the White-fronted goose season does not open with the dark goose season this year, so be sure and check the zone specific regulations.
According to the latest waterfowl surveys from Iowa DNR, over 100,000 canvasback have arrived at Pool 9 on the Mississippi River– representing over 46% of all waterfowl in the state’s survey areas, and currently outnumbering mallards 3:1.
Green-winged teal, widgeon and mallard numbers are good to excellent in Ohio, with black ducks and pintail low. Migratory goose numbers are low across most of the state, with the largest concentrations of early arrivals in Sandusky Bay and Ottawa Refuge at this time.
In Missouri, both blue-winged and green-winged teal numbers are excellent across the state, with pintail numbers excellent at Squawcreek NWR, Bob Brown CA and increasing rapidly across northern portions of the state. Gadwall, widgeon and mallards are fair to low, and Ring-neck duck numbers are excellent, and climbing – especially in areas near the Duck Creek Conservation Area.
CENTRAL FLYWAY
Strong northerly winds last week pushed the first notable concentrations of waterfowl into North Dakota. Mallard numbers are on the rise statewide, and gadwall, widgeon and diver numbers increased substantially. Area Refuge managers are reporting that numbers are fluctuating quickly, as birds seem to be passing through the Dakota’s quickly, and heading south soon after they refuel.
Snow goose numbers jumped substantially across the state and into South Dakota, where counts at Sand Lake refuge increased from 20 to over 20,000 birds in a few short days.
Along with the snows, white-fronted and Canada goose numbers increased with the recent cold-front, and hunter success is good to excellent across most of the Northern Plains.
In Colorado, mallards continue to fill the bulk of slots in the daily bag, with widgeon and green-wing teal also good to excellent. Snow goose numbers are on the rise across the state and field hunters are having moderate success. Along with the arrival of the snows, hunters reported a strong migration of cranes passing through the state during the past week.
In Nebraska and Kansas, local mallards have moved south and are slowly being replaced by migrants each day. Snow goose numbers are fair and rising, with green-winged teal and pintail excellent, and widgeon and gadwall good.
In Oklahoma, light goose numbers are on the rise with blue and green-winged teal excellent in most areas. Widgeon, gadwall and pintail numbers are good and rising, with mallards fair.
Hunters in Texas were reporting the arrival of snows and cranes this past week, so those hunters in the northern portion of the flyway should expect those species to be here today and gone tomorrow, as they aggressively move to their southern most destinations.
PACIFIC FLYWAY:
In Washington, hunters have settled into the early season lull, with local ducks harvested and pressured south and migrants arriving slowly. Mallards, widgeon are fair with all others good to low. Goose hunting is good to excellent on snows and Canada Geese, and snow goose numbers are on the rise across the state.
In Idaho, mallard numbers are good to excellent along the Snake River, widgeon and gadwall excellent for this time of year, and pintail fair.
Utah hunters experienced an excellent opener with pintail, widgeon and gadwall numbers excellent across the state and mallards and all others fair.
In northern California, gadwall, widgeon and pintail are good to excellent in the north and pintail, teal and spoonbill excellent in the southern portion of the state. White-fronted goose numbers are below average for this time of year and goose hunting is fair at best, across the northern portion of the state.
Hunting success in New Mexico remains good to excellent, with teal, gadwall and wood ducks filling the primary bag limit.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY:
Much needed rain was dumped across the southeast. While most areas are still in drought conditions, hunters have welcomed every inch of rain that fell with open arms.
Ducks are on the move in the northern portion of the flyway, with widgeon, pintail and black duck numbers increasing from Maine to New Jersey. While the “push” of waterfowl was not a major migratory event, hunter success has increased through the New England States.
In Maine, the first Old-Squaw have arrived, with Scoter and Eider numbers increasing each day. In New York, green-winged teal numbers are on the rise and rapidly replacing wood ducks in the daily bag limit.
Teal and wood duck numbers remain good to excellent in Delaware, with mallards, pintail and all others fair. Black duck numbers remain low for this time of year on the Bay. Diver numbers are low overall, with only a slight increase in bufflehead over the previous week.
Goose numbers are on the rise in Pennsylvania, and hunter success on Canada geese is good to excellent in most areas. Wood duck numbers continue to decline across the state as birds move south, and hunters have entered the early-season lull on ducks, as they await the arrival of migrants from the north.
In Virginia, despite low water conditions, hunter success is good to excellent, as locally raised mallards continue pouring in from neighboring states. Wood duck and teal numbers have declined substantially over the past week, as the fall migration and hunting pressure moved the birds south.
Wood duck and teal numbers are on the rise throughout the southeast, and recent rains have provided much needed water to marshes. While ringed-necked duck numbers remain below average for this time of year in Georgia and the Carolinas, teal and other early migrants are arriving on schedule.
In Florida, teal numbers are extremely low for this time and ringed-neck duck numbers fair. While the migrants are slow to arrive to the Sunshine State, with drought conditions persisting to the north, it’s only a matter of time before an abundance of waterfowl fly-by neighboring states and settle into Florida marshes for the winter.
Until next week, make time to input migration activity for your area on the WFC Migration Map.
