Pacific Flyway
Recent storms have northwest hunters singing in the rain — and not a moment too soon. Rains in the Pacific Northwest have arrived just in time to hold the first flights of northern mallards in Washington and Oregon. Gadwall and wigeon continue to rise in the northern portion of the flyway. In Idaho hunters continue to struggle with educated local mallards and greenwing teal numbers remain steady with influx and exodus being equal. In California the opening week frenzy has ended and hunter success is sporadic with reports from excellent to poor. Hunting pressure begins to be the primary motivation for bird movements throughout the state. In northern California, teal, wigeon and sprig make up the primary bag with mallard numbers fair for this early in the season. In southern California the first Specs have arrived with scattered early snows. Teal numbers are holding steady as pressured birds move in from the north. Spoonbill populations are increasing daily making identification of flight birds critical for those hoping for an edible bag. With snow predicted for the Pacific Northwest over the next few days, conditions could change rapidly.
Central Flyway
The arctic system that moved through North Dakota last week initiated the first major push of birds out of Canada into the lower forty-eight. Snow geese moved into the US from North Dakota all the way to Nebraska. North Dakota received an influx of mallards, scaup, bufflehead and redheads, replacing the exodus of the few remaining pintail, most widgeon, gadwall and greenwing teal who ran as far south as Nebraska. Scouting will make the difference between success and failure in both North and South Dakota. Potholes not visible from the roads were holding the largest concentrations of waterfowl. Consult your maps and put some miles on the truck.
Pintail have pushed as far south as Kansas right behind the spoonies and woodducks who are behind the teal — who have moved back into Texas. All things considered, the migration tier in the Central Flyway is shaping up in a normal fashion. With gulf winds prevailing through most of coming week, hunting pressure will be the primary motivation for bird movements.
Mississippi Flyway
Divers are down in Minnesota and Wisconsin with scaup, ringnecks and bufflehead providing the primary bag with sporadic numbers of cans and redheads. Diver numbers in Michigan are low but on the rise. Gadwall and wigeon numbers are good to excellent in most areas north of central Illinois and mallard numbers are on the rise throughout the northern portion of the Flyway.
The first Snows of the season have moved into Iowa and Canada goose numbers are on the rise in most areas between Rochester, MN and Horicon Marsh, WI.
Ohio waterfowlers were treated to an incredible opener with varied bags of puddle ducks and divers. In contrast, the second opener in Indiana was met with more hope than ducks as early season pressure and the recently closed southern early season had ducks scattered and wary.
To the south, various ducks and snows were already arriving in Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky this past week creating much anticipation for the coming openers.
Atlantic Flyway
The big lull is on out east as the dormant season arrives for most states between their split. Both light and dark goose numbers continue to build in the northern portion of the flyway and the first large groups of teal were reported in Maryland.
Jersey\’s southern zone opener was fair with a mixed bag comprised of woodies, mallards and blacks with an occasional sprig. In North Carolina the first early sea duck arrivals were reported and slow trickle of puddle duck species inland.
Teal numbers throughout the flyway continue to be reported as low and a continued topic of conversation on the hunter reports and message forums. Waterfowler.com will be contacting various wildlife biologists over the next few weeks to try and shed a little light on the subject.
