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While the dog days of summer have reached their peak across the nation, hunting has begun in various states in the far north for the early resident Canada goose season. Hunter success has varied in the Dakotas, with the harvest best in active feeding areas during the first cool hours of the morning, or just before sunset. The first groups of migratory blue-winged teal have been reported in northern portions of the Mississippi Flyway, and they have begun to stage in larger groups in breeding areas. Continue reading

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released the proposed frameworks for the coming season this past week, with breeding numbers allowing for a Liberal Season in all four flyways. Included in this year’s proposed daily bag limits are two pintail and one canvasback nationwide. Of course, state’s can opt for variations within the framework and hunters are encouraged to monitor their state agencies for final season announcements.

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With early teal and goose seasons less than a month away in various states, the countdown has begun to the early openers. Now is the time to unpack the decoys from storage, take inventory and prepare them for the coming season. Continue reading

The results of the spring surveys are in and the USFWS has released the Trends in Duck Breeding Populations for 2010. Habitat conditions across the survey areas were similar to 2009, with pond counts 34% above the long-term average. Bird counts totaled 40.9 million birds, down slightly from the 42 million birds counted in 2009, but remain 21% above the long-term average.

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The effects of an early spring and low moisture conditions across the survey areas resulted in a sight drop in the overall duck population compared to 2009. Mallard populations dropped from 8.5 million to 8.4 million and remain 21% above the long-term average. Gadwall numbers remain 67% above the long-term average and green-winged teal 87%. Blue-winged teal numbers dropped 14% compared to 2009 but remain 36% above the long-term average. Redheads held their own again this year at 63% above the long-term average and shovelers at 76%. Continue reading

The 2010 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat (BPOP) Survey is complete in a number of areas. Thanks to real-time reports and flight logs at Flyways.us, waterfowl hunters across the nation can look to the coming season with a hopeful eye. In summary, the good news appears to be outpacing the bad, and conditions in the Eastern Dakotas are, again this year, simply outstanding.

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For those who have taken the time to visit Flyways.us and browse the flight logs and reports from ground survey teams, we applaud your efforts to remain a well-informed waterfowl hunter and advocate of the sport. For those who have yet to visit this wonderful resource, we can only say you are missing out on some of the best off-season motivation a duck hunter can find. Continue reading

The May breeding surveys are underway across the U.S. and Canada. In many areas of the U.S., the first broods of resident Canada Geese can be seen on many ponds and the mating chase flights of mallards can be witnessed. While the off-season continues, it is hardly a slumbering hibernation for duck or duck hunter — it is merely a change in activities that lead up to the fast approaching season.

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The results of the May Breeding Surveys are the foundation of opportunity for each duck-hunting season. Thanks to advances in Internet based communication, the process that determines the season length and bag limits has never been more accessible to the avid waterfowl hunter. Waterfowler.com encourages our members to visit Flyways.us over the next few weeks to follow the flight logs (link below) of survey crews as they monitor breeding conditions on the continent’s primary waterfowl nesting grounds. The updated logs are more than a testament of your tax dollars at work. These flight reports offer you the opportunity to take a virtual ride in the cockpit with aerial survey teams and experience the process of waterfowl management in action. Continue reading

Spring snow goose hunting under the Conservation Order in the U.S. passed at a fevered pace this year as the last few flights of light geese moved into Canada from North Dakota in mid-April. As we turn our sights to nesting conditions on the Prairie Pothole Region, we remind our readers that early Teal and Goose seasons are merely 4 months away and the count down to the season is already ticking.

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As the planes take flight this month to begin the May waterfowl breeding ground surveys, the results are expected to be very similar to last year’s report. A quick study of the North American Drought Monitor Map (link below) reveals a variety of problem areas in Canada again this year and highlights the great potential on the U.S. breeding grounds. Continue reading

The spring snow goose migration continues at a furious pace. The bulk of the population has been passing through North Dakota over the past week. While some birds still remain in South Dakota, the numbers have been decreasing rapidly since the 24th of the month.

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The light-goose migration of 2010 will go down in the books as one of the fastest moving migrations since the Conservation Order was enacted to allow spring hunting. A number of factors can be attributed to the fast pace, with Mother Nature orchestrating the event in her own, unpredictable manner.

The extended cold and snow pack that held geese in the deep south through most of February, confined staging birds on wintering grounds much later than normal. It is likely the extended stay that held geese south until well after their internal and biological clocks said, “go north, it’s time to start nesting.” Continue reading

As warm winds begin to push up from the Gulf of Mexico and chisel away at the snowline, light geese are finally on the move and hunting success has improved under the Conservation Order. Snow goose numbers are on the rise in Missouri and numbers at the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge are expected to climb for the first time this spring season.

Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.

Spring snow goose hunting is underway, thanks to the ongoing Conservation Order, and light goose hunters are reaping the harvest of this extended season.

Each spring we turn our sights to light-goose hunting action and focus on the primary locator of snow goose activity; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Snow Cover Map (link at right). Continue reading