With the previous cold front behind us, ‘Indian Summer’ returns to many northern states in the Central and Mississippi Flyways. A tapestry of fall color is exploding in the north as the echo of gunfire accents these marvelous autumn landscapes.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
The general waterfowl season is underway for many hunters and opening weekend reports ranged from good to excellent in most areas. Outstanding reports continue to roll in from Canada, so the best is yet to come for the lower forty-eight.
Thanks to the cooler weather trends in late September, migration patterns appear to be back on track compared to previous years. Ringneck, gadwall, widgeon and pintail are on the move, and teal are stacking up in the south. Local mallard and wood duck populations are rounding out the bag for many hunters in the north – with local populations strong in most areas.
Without a doubt, this will be a season to remember for many duck and goose hunters, and we’re delighted to share the great news with our detailed, flyway-by-flyway reports:
ATLANTIC FLYWAY
The finally tallies are in for the early goose seasons and hunter success was good to excellent in most states. Burgeoning populations of resident geese continued to provide excellent gunning opportunities in early September, as goose hunters now wait for the open of the general waterfowl season. Teal hunters experienced similar results, with early season harvest reports good to excellent in most areas. As we approach the openers of general waterfowl seasons, it should be noted that an early acorn drop and excellent water conditions in the north have wood ducks dispersed throughout the New England states. If you are searching for a mixed bag of grouse, woodcock and wood ducks, this is the season to plan nice fall hike to a remote beaver pond or areas of flooded forest.
MISSISSIPPI FLWAY
Duck hunting is back in Minnesota and waterfowl hunters were treated to an exceptional opening weekend that provided excellent opportunity and harvests. Hunters reported healthy local populations and a mixed bag of migrants with notable numbers of ringnecks, gadwall, and green-wing teal. In Wisconsin, wood ducks, teal and local mallards comprised the primary bag and shooting action. Goose numbers continue to rise as migrants trickle in to the Dairy State, with Lesser Canada goose numbers showing the biggest increase over the past seven days. Teal season is underway in Arkansas and recent rains have the birds widely dispersed and quick to flee from hunting pressure. While numbers are excellent in most regions of the state, hunter success is best defined as feast or famine.
CENTRAL FLYWAY
Summer conditions returned to the northern portion of the prairie and North Dakota hunters continue to hope for improved conditions and a deluge of rain. According to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department fall wetland survey, less than half of the state’s hunting areas contain water, compared to the same time last year. Increased hunting pressure and crowding continue to complicate hunter success in North Dakota. Reports from South Dakota are fair to good in areas that contain water, as hunters await the northern flights of migrants. In Nebraska, hunters report a successful youth hunting weekend, and mixed bags of locals and migrant gadwall, widgeon and teal.
PACIFIC FLYWAY
Hunter success in Alaska remains high, though the bulk of northern flights have yet to arrive. Of course, even a bad day of hunting in Alaska is good to excellent for most waterfowl hunters – everything being relative. Hunters in Washington are preparing for opening weekend, with lesser Canada goose numbers building each day. In Oregon the countdown to opening day is also on, with duck numbers fair and goose numbers good to excellent in many areas. Flights of gadwall continue to arrive in Arizona, with teal numbers holding steady as flights move in from the north and earlier flights head further south.
Until next week, hunt safe and hunt often.
