Category: Migration Updates

While the bulk of snow geese remain at their southern most destinations, warmer temperatures have ignited the first signs of a northern migration this past week and snow goose numbers are on the rise in Kansas, southern Illinois and the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri.

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Warmer temperatures and southerly winds provided fuel to the northern migration this week, as a significant amount of snow melted across the lower two-thirds of the nation. A quick review of the snow-depth map (link at right) highlights the dramatic change from the previous week. While snow goose numbers are still very high as far south as Louisiana, the clock is ticking at a fevered pace and these birds could decide to charge north at any moment. Continue reading

With the general waterfowl season now closed, hunters are turning their thoughts towards the 2009 Conservation Action and spring light goose hunting. The heavy snow pack that provided excellent hunting for southern states this season will continue to provide opportunity for light goose hunters as they migrate north to their nesting grounds in the coming months.

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The 2008-2009 General Waterfowl Season is closed and for many hunters it was a very memorable season. Early season cold fronts drove teal, pintail and gadwall into the south in September and October, and heavy snowfall in November and December brought the mallards and geese. While persistent drought conditions did hamper hunting opportunities in California and central Texas, habitat conditions across most of the U.S. were good to excellent this season and harvest totals are expected to be slightly above average for many southern states.

The heavy snow that helped push waterfowl south in grand-fashion, will also provide a welcomed relief to drought conditions in the Prairie Pothole Region this spring, thanks to record snowfalls in the Dakotas the past few months.

If you have yet to experience the extreme hunting action of spring light goose hunting, now is the time to begin your planning. The massive flocks, thunderous wing-beats, and enormous field spreads can only be outdone by the sheer volume of their shrilling calls – which can nearly drown out the sound of shotgun fire. The action is hot, the bag limits are liberal and simply put, it’s an awesome excuse to spend additional days in the field.

Over the next few months, hunters and many outstanding guide services will migrate with the geese as they move north. The pace of the migration will vary with the melting snowline. Expect light geese to drive to the edge as they journey north. Opportunity for light geese can evaporate as quickly as the snow itself, so make sure plans are as mobile as the geese.

The Spring Snow Goose reporting area is active again, and WFC members are encouraged to post general information on this page, as well as detailed information on their state homepages. WFC’s classifeds are now open to commercial guide listings for Commercial Gold Sponsors. Be sure to check this listing when making your plans for the spring season and support those who support the services of Waterfowler.com.

While the duck season has come and gone, the memories live on and WFC members are invited to share their photos of the past season in the Member Photo Gallery. We look forward to seeing your images and will featured the best images on our homepage in the coming months.

MID-CONTINENTAL LIGHT GOOSE REPORT:

Snow geese are active on their wintering grounds in the deep-south. From New Mexico to Louisiana, snow goose numbers are good to excellent at this time and light goose numbers in Texas and Arkansas are above average for this time of year.

Hunters are reminded to check their state regulations for licensing information, as well as season dates, bag limits and equipment restrictions. Successful light goose hunting is dependant on scouting and access to active feeding areas. Be sure to obtain permission for land access and obey trespass laws.

Until our next report, make plans to participate in a light goose hunt this spring.

With Green-winged Teal at 79% above the long-term average and Blue-winged Teal at 60%, the stage is set for a very promising early Teal season in many states during the month of September. With those seasons opening just over a month from now, now is the time to make last minute plans to kick your season off on the right foot.

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September is fast approaching and there is still time to plan a last minute, low-budget trip to a state that offers an early Teal Season. While the best public access is often available to those with a good duck boat, there are literally millions of acres that provide walk-in access in states that offer early seasons.

Often times during September, canoe and boat rental vendors remain open along public waterways and offer additional access alternatives for the dedicated, traveling waterfowl hunter. Continue reading

Late December storms continue to provide excellent shooting opportunities in the southern portions of the Central and Mississippi Flyways. After struggling through mild winters the past few seasons, waterfowl hunters in the south are rejoicing in increased duck numbers, bag limits and activity.

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While hunters in the north may have been disappointed by the early departure of waterfowl, ducks are, as they should be, in the deep-south for the winter and Arkansas once again wears the crown, “Duck Capital of the World.” After nearly a decade of above average duck activity in Missouri, winter finally arrived in the “Show Me State” and waterfowl numbers were up 84% over 2007 through the month of December. Continue reading

Persistent cold weather and a favorable jet stream have moved mallards across the Upper-Midwest, Great Plains and the New England states over the past week. Ice is building in the north and hunters braving the colder temperatures are being rewarded with an increase in harvest.

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The first big push of the season provided excellent shooting across most of the northern portions of the Central and Mississippi Flyways. Early migrating species were driven further south and should provide excellent opportunity for southern states that are just opening. Continue reading

The tepid days of Indian summer have passed and arctic winds are dropping out of Canada into our nation, bringing ducks and geese south in force. This first big push of the season will occur over the next few days, as favorable migrating winds and snow drive waterfowl to their annual wintering grounds.

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With the exception of the El Nino years where migration trends ran extremely late, the first big push of waterfowl has occurred during the first two weeks of November for decades. Temperatures will plummet in the Pacific Northwest, the Great Plains and then the Great Lakes regions over the next few days and waterfowl activity is expected to respond in kind. Continue reading

With nearly 400,000 diver species counted in this week’s survey of the Upper Mississippi River, waterfowl activity in the northern third of the nation is heating up as temperatures drop. As canvasback numbers continue to increase this week to nearly 230,000 along the Mississippi River in Southern Wisconsin, hunters are reminded that the canvasback season is closed this season and to use extreme caution when identifying diver species for harvest.

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The annual waterfowl migration is moving at an increasing pace this past week, as calendar ducks begin to move south. These are the species that move more on timing as opposed to strong weather fronts. Canvasback, scaup and ring-necked ducks are trudging south in from the Pacific to the Mississippi Flyways along traditional migration routes. Continue reading