Persistent cold weather and a favorable jet stream have moved mallards across the Upper-Midwest, Great Plains and the New England states over the past week. Ice is building in the north and hunters braving the colder temperatures are being rewarded with an increase in harvest.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterrfowler.com.
The first big push of the season provided excellent shooting across most of the northern portions of the Central and Mississippi Flyways. Early migrating species were driven further south and should provide excellent opportunity for southern states that are just opening.
The mallard migration is progressing at an excellent pace, and thanks to the work of over 100 biologists, the progress can now be viewed at:
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/wtrfowl/migration.php
As noted on the map, moderate levels of mallards are present throughout the Central and Mississippi Flyways, from the far north to the deep south – with heavy populations from Iowa to southern Illinois and peak levels in southern South Dakota, western Minnesota, Nebraska and western Iowa. The path of mallard activity mirrors the path followed by the jet-steam this past week – which was the best it has been in years for driving ducks to the heart of duck country. The warm air that was huddled over the western central flyway earlier last week, curled the artic winds across the upper-midwest and Great Lakes region – funneling ducks southeast. After years of radical jet stream patterns from El Nino and other anomalies, these arctic winds will warm the hearts of many waterfowl hunters who have struggled through a couple of tough seasons.
The snow goose migration kicked off in grand fashion, as waves of Mid-Continental Light Geese filled the skies over the Missouri River corridor and the Central Flyway. The journey south progressed in the traditional fashion, and light goose numbers are good to excellent in Colorado, South Dakota and as far south as Texas and Louisiana. Reports across the flyways indicate an abundance of young birds in the flocks, which will provide excellent hunting opportunity well into the spring.
While the bulk of the migration is progressing as expected, White-fronted geese being the notable exception. From Texas to Louisiana, hunters field reports continue to boast about the surprising number of white-fronted geese this season. As these speckle-belly geese begin to congregate on their southern stomping grounds, the increased opportunity and abundant harvests are welcomed and appreciated.
As we approach Thanksgiving weekend, the peak of the waterfowl season and activity on Waterfowler.com, we would like to encourage our members to introduce a newcomer to the sport. Take the time to invite a friend or family member to the field this coming holiday and share the grand traditions of waterfowl hunting.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY:
The hard push and ongoing cold weather have sparked an excellent week of waterfowl activity in the Mississippi Flyway. Diver hunting is good to excellent on goldeneye and bufflehead in Minnesota and Wisconsin with mallards good to excellent in areas with open water. As the freeze continues in the north, field hunting is providing the absolute best activity for mallards for those willing to scout and gain access to active feeding areas. Mallard shooting is excellent from Iowa to southern Illinois, and eastern Missouri. Gadwall, widgeon, pintail and other early migration species are good to excellent in the lower two thirds of the flyway. The southeast pattern has pushed more early migrating birds into the southeastern portions of the flyway, with numbers in Mississippi, Kentucky and Tennessee above those in Arkansas at this time. White fronted-goose numbers are good to excellent in Louisiana, with Mallards fair and teal, wood ducks, gadwall and widgeon good.
CENTRAL FLYWAY:
As of the last surveys, mallard numbers remained near peak in South Dakota, with numbers increasing in Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas. Both light and dark goose numbers are on the rise in Colorado, with field hunting excellent in many areas. In Kansas, pintail, widgeon, gadwall, and redhead numbers are good to excellent with mallard numbers increasing daily. In Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle, green-winged teal, gadwall and widgeon are good to excellent with mallards fair. In Texas, sandhill cranes, light and dark goose numbers are average for this time of year.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY:
The current weather system is moving black ducks and divers into the northern portion of the flyway, and driving early migrating species into the Carolinas. Favorable migrating winds are igniting the first major migration event for the Northeastern states and hunting is good to excellent at this time. From late-season puddle ducks, to divers and geese, waterfowl numbers are on the rise in the New England States, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Brandt and sea duck numbers are on the rise along the eastern shore from New Jersey to Maine. In the Carolinas, wood ducks, teal and ring-neck numbers are good to excellent at this time, with mallards fair and rising. In Georgia, wood duck numbers are good to excellent for this time of year, with teal and gadwall fair. Ring-necked duck numbers are good to excellent through the state and fair to good in Florida at this time. WFC members are encouraged to post reports often in the Atlantic flyway over the next week to help track this first migration event.
PACIFIC FLYWAY:
Migration is progressing in an average fashion in the Pacific Northwest with duck and goose numbers average for this time of year from the Columbia to the Klamath Basin. Diver numbers are good to excellent with redhead numbers up slightly over previous years. Dark goose numbers are good to excellent in the northern portion of the flyway and white-fronted geese are good to excellent in the Sacramento Valley. Snow goose numbers appear to be below average for this time of year from Idaho to California – as hunters await the first major migration event of the year. From Utah to Arizona, gadwall, widgeon and teal numbers are good to excellent with mallards fair. Hunting remains slow in southern California, with duck numbers slightly below average and little weather to move what’s there.
Until our next report, hunt safe and hunt often.
