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Ringed-necks over Mississippi River. (c) Steve Davis

The first hard push of the migration began this past week as temperatures took a significant dive across the Canadian Provinces. From Oregon to Eastern Michigan, duck numbers have increased rapidly as green-winged teal, gadwall, widgeon, bufflehead, ringed-necks and ruddy ducks begin to hop-scotch down the flyway.

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Migration activity is heating up as temperatures took a dive in Canada and the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region last week. The leading edge of the migration saw rafts of ruddy ducks moving across the Great Lakes Region with a surge of green-winged teal, gadwall and bufflehead moving close behind. Hunters in the drought plagued Central and Mississippi Flyways are reporting record sized-flights along the major river systems and large bodies of water. Continue reading

Goose Hunting Mississippi Flyway

Another weekend approaches and “Opening Day” slides further south along with the migration. Canada goose numbers continue to build in the upper Mississippi Flyway and Pintail numbers are building from the Klamath Basin to the Sacramento Valley. Increased rainfall has supplied much needed moisture to areas to parts of the eastern Central Flyway and The Great Lakes, though much more is needed to recharge the bulk of shallow wetlands.

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It’s mid-October and folks around the office are still wearing shorts here in northern Illinois. Opening Day is less than seventy-two hours away and the marsh where we normally hold the annual WFC Opening Day hunt is a choked with dried canary grass on bed of cracked, dry soil. Continue reading

Member Photo Credit: hannibal

The first cold front of the season ignited migration activity across the north this past week. Early migrating ducks, including, teal, wood ducks, shovelers and pintail numbers were on the rise in many northern states in the Central and Mississippi Flyways. Canada goose numbers increased dramatically in northern Mississippi Flyway and the first flights of White fronted geese are being reported in the Central Flyway.

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As drought conditions continue to persist across the central and western portions of the nation, hunter success continues to suffer in many areas of the north. Even hunters with huge portfolio of access areas are finding themselves high and dry this season, with little relief in sight. Public areas that are holding significant numbers of birds are also attracting a significant number of hunters and competition for space and birds is fierce in many areas. Continue reading

Member Photo Credit: Canman OMaddie

The general waterfowl season is underway in the first northern states. With drought conditions persisting in these states, hunting has been slow and crowded in the limited areas with water. Blue winged teal have been moving steadily and quickly down the Central and Mississippi Flyways, pushing through dry states in search of suitable habitat to the south.

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As we begin to celebrate our 15th year of migration tracking and reporting we are starkly reminded of the constant conundrums that exist for waterfowl hunters. This season, the most ducks ever recorded will migrate through the North American flyways. Of course, this absolute boon in waterfowl numbers will be met by the worst habitat conditions that we can remember – so much for having our cake and eating it too. Continue reading

Sunset over Decoys.

The recent series of cold fronts that passed behind the remnants of Hurricane Isaac continued to fuel the teal migration in Central and Mississippi flyways. At this time teal are present from the northern portions of the flyway to the gulf coast. While precipitation has increased in many areas of the nation, a study of the current drought monitor map (link below and right) reveals the grim reality faced by todays waterfowl hunters.

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Reports from the northern states during the resident goose seasons foreshadowed many of the problems waterfowl hunters will face this season. As an abundance of farmers prepare to mow and disc under fields for crop insurance purposes, thousands of acres across the corn-belt will be rendered useless to waterfowl hunters as they become categorized as baited fields. Continue reading

Early Season Leg Bands – Member Photo Credit Swamp Gas

As the tropical depression left by the remnants of hurricane Isaac continues to slowly move north, much need rain will fall on drought stricken areas within the Mississippi Flyway. While waterfowl habitat and many hunting seasons will be salvaged by the onslaught of precipitation, it comes at the price of devastation for those in coastal areas of the storms path. Our heartfelt concerns are with those crippled with loss that was caused by hurricane Isaac and we encourage our members to provide support to recovery efforts in those areas.

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On the eve of the annual Dove Opener and official start of the fall hunting season in many states, the events surrounding hurricane Isaac remind us that Mother Nature is both unpredictable and unforgiving. Duck season will be saved in many areas by the storm but it comes at the expense of great loss. Continue reading