The onset of autumn has been greeted by a series of high winds, heavy precipitation and even a wintery mix of snow in some areas of the Rockies. While the migration has progressed at a slow trickle the past week, favorable migrating winds and snow are in the forecast and an increase in migration activity is expected.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
Hunting is underway in various northern states and hunter success has varied excellent to downright poor. As expected, the above average duck production on the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region has hunters in North Dakota grinning from ear to ear. Hunter success in North Dakota is good to excellent across the state. It is important to keep in mind that while these are migrating waterfowl to the rest of the flyways, to a North Dakota resident they are hunting locals. Very few ducks at this time are migrants from Canada.
In steep contrast, hunters in Minnesota suffered through the worst opener in decades, as early cold fronts pushed many of the teal and wood ducks out of the state before the season opened. With a poor nesting year in Minnesota, local waterfowl populations were well below average and the primary reason the start of the season has been poor.
The above comparison illustrates the importance of local nesting success for pre-migration hunting. Until ducks and geese move into the U.S. from Canada, the bulk of the harvest is limited to local production and early migrants that may or may not be present on opening day. Waterfowler.com encourages our members to be involved in duck production in their home state by joining state waterfowl organizations and participating in state habitat projects.
With good migrating winds and weather on the horizon the question on the minds of many ducks hunters is, “will the weather bring ducks and where will they go?” In all likelihood the weather brings ducks and with extreme harvest delays, they will congregate in refuge areas and recently flooded areas with natural food sources.
Ongoing harvest delays throughout the corn-belt will significantly impact the movement and feeding habits of migrating waterfowl. From South Dakota to Illinois, the bulk of soybeans and corn are still in the ground. In Iowa, only 3% of the corn and 20% of soybeans have been harvested at this time. The onslaught of rain that is predicted for the next few days will only cause further delays.
As we await this first round of arctic air and step onto the thin-ice of waterfowl migration prediction and with habitat conditions unchanged since the push of blue-winged teal in late August and early September, waterfowl that move in the next few days will be presented with similar habitat and wind conditions. Look for green-winged teal, gadwall, widgeon and pintail to congregate in the same areas teal were found. Ringed-neck ducks and redheads are moving on the calendar (as early divers normally do), and activity is expected to increase with the storm.
Will the cold front be strong enough to move mallards and geese out of Canada? We can hope, but keep in mind how hardy these birds are. Look for the gray ducks and hope for the big ones.
Until next week,
Hunt safe and hunt often.
