PACIFIC FLYWAY
Canada goose numbers remain high in most areas of Washington with diver numbers fair to good in open water. Oregon hunters continue to struggle with the bulk of ducks and geese resting on private lands and little pressure to move them in to accessible areas. Ice has taken its toll on hunter success in Utah and Idaho as ducks numbers drop and goose activity varies form poor to good in some areas.
Goose numbers are on the rise in Northern and Central California but success is poor in most areas due to wary educated birds. Teal, wigeon and mallards numbers are consistent to previous weeks in California but harvest is low due to nocturnal feeding activity. Arizona is slow on geese and ducks are flying but decoying is difficult at best.
CENTRAL FLYWAY:
Geese are still holding in fair numbers from Wyoming to the Missouri River in South Dakota. Colorado hunter success if good on geese with ducks still holding in open reservoirs and flying late morning and in the afternoons. Nebraska hunters continue to experience one of their best seasons on record even though duck and goose numbers are dropping.
Mallard and goose numbers remain good to fair in Kansas and Oklahoma but hunter success is poor in most areas due to educated wary fowl. Texas runs hot and colds as previous weeks as hunters in western and central Texas struggle with drought conditions. Areas holding water from the Panhandle to southeasternTexas, pintail, mallard numbers are good to excellent with field hunters reporting great success. Goose harvests are down as birds become increasingly wary and call shy.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY:
With ice getting thicker in Missouri, Arkansas finally has strong numbers of puddle ducks. Mallard shooting is fair to good across the state with excellent shooting in well-managed, rested areas. Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky\’s total goose inventory stands at 75,200 combined light and dark geese compared to 250,000 Canada geese at this time last year. With any luck there will be new arrivals as snow builds to the north. Ducks remain strong in southern Indiana and Ohio with successful Michigan goose hunters reporting good numbers of mallards and divers throughout southern portions of the state. Hunting in Mississippi remains slow with ducks fair and goose hunting is poor. Ducks hunting has improved over previous weeks in Alabama as Louisiana hunters continue to struggle with an over abundance of water and well-hidden concentrations birds.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY:
Sea Duck hunting remains good to excellent from Boston Harbor South — with eiders good and long-tails fair. Mallard and black ducks are good to excellent in Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey as ice again thickens away from coastal marshes. Light and Dark goose numbers are good in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Massachusetts with all others fair. Duck activity is fair in Virginia with woodduck and teal still present. Ducks numbers are low from the Carolinas through Florida with Ring-Neck activity good to fair in Georgia.
