The series of cold fronts that sparked the first flights of the teal migration provided good to excellent shooting from Iowa to Louisiana and Texas. Hunters that hunted in areas holding ducks found quick limits, while others struggled to scratch a out a few birds. As hunters in Minnesota prepare for their earliest opener in decades, the stage is set for what could be one of the best openers the state has seen in years.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
While the abundance of teal this year has consumed the headlines and hunter reports at Waterfowler.com, resident goose hunters have been cleaning up in the north throughout their early seasons. Cooler temperatures contributed to increased goose activity from the central plains to the eastern seaboard. Hunter success and participation varied greatly this year as delays in local harvests impacted the number of fields available for hunter access. Much like the teal season has been, hunter success has been greatly influenced by habitat more than bird numbers for many goose hunters.
As we enter our 14 th year of migration tracking and reporting, it has become apparent that what hunters consider a normal season is truly the abnormal occurrence of good hunting conditions that only seem to present themselves a few times a decade for any given area. Whether you are of the ilk that believes in Global Warming or among those that contribute current climate trends to long-term ups and downs, the reality for today’s duck hunter is seasonal extremes. Hunters across the nation are confronted with either too little or too much water. From drought to floods, the extremes have taken their toll on habitat, access and availability, yet one thing remains constant – the pursuit goes on.
Waterfowler.com encourages or members to take advantage of the online tools we provide to overcome the ups and downs that present themselves each season to insure a fulfilling waterfowl season. As the original social networking tool for duck and goose hunters, the secret to your success is sharing information to expand your hunting opportunity during good and difficult seasons. If you have water and ducks this year, there is no guarantee you will next year. Sharing the wealth with hunters from other states simply expands your choices when habit or duck numbers change in your area. Take time to participate in Waterfowler.com’s National-Trade-A-Hunt program today and broaden your network of hunting opportunity. It’s as simple as saying, “Hey, I’m here and have this, what do you have?”
Next week Waterfowler.com will begin our flyway-by-flyway reports as the general waterfowl season kicks into high gear. Until next week, post your Trade-A-Hunt ad today.
