Category: Migration Updates

The Spring 2007 Breeding Survey Results are in; ducks are up overall and Canvasbacks, redheads, and northern shovelers counts have reached a record breaking high!

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The Spring breeding surveys were released last week and in addition to being up over 2006, the report recorded a number of record breaking high levels for various species.

For the detailed report, visit the link below, and read the following FWS press release:

Preliminary results from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service’s Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey indicate a total duck population estimate of more than 41 million birds in the traditional survey area. This represents a 14 percent increase from 2006 and is 24 percent above the 1955-2006 average. Continue reading

The results are in for waterfowl breeding surveys from North Dakota and Wisconsin. In short, both are down slightly from 2006, but remain above the long-term average.

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As we await the final tally of federal breeding surveys, the results from Wisconsin and North Dakota are comforting. While down slightly the previous year and the record high in 2002, waterfowl numbers are above the long-term average.

While there is cause for concern of specific species within these states, overall the trends appear to indicate that the base production of an “average year” is on the rise. While the results for South Dakota and the Canadian Prairie Pothole Region are not in, water conditions this spring were good to excellent in both regions. Continue reading

Spring has sprung, waterfowl nesting is underway across the North American Continent and waterfowl hunters are trudging through the dreaded-off season.

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The off-season is often times the busiest part of the year for waterfowl hunters. From sport shooting to dog training and decoy making, there is never a shortage of “ducky” things to do when we are not hunting.

June 2007 marks the first annual Duck Dawg Appreciation Month at Waterfowler.com. Throughout the month of June, Waterfowler.com will celebrate the companionship, value and performance of the duck hunter’s best friend, the duck dog. Continue reading

With the snowline running from southeastern Montana to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the whereabouts of mid-continental light geese is fairly predictable. Hunter success continues with the Spring Conservation Action in Iowa and the Dakotas.

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The quick thaw that allowed light geese to surge northward has been met with a spring snowstorm in Great Plains and Upper Midwest. Snow is piling up again and light goose hunters are likely to get an extended opportunity as a result.

Snow goose numbers in the Devil’s Lake region of North Dakota has been excellent the past week and hunter success fair. Large flocks that include limited numbers of juvenile birds are the least productive. Hunter success is best for those scouting, not just for birds, but flocks that contain the highest concentrations of young geese. Continue reading

Spring has sprung, and waterfowl are pushing north across the entire continent. Hunter success for the Spring Conservation Action is on the rise in South Dakota and Iowa, as the numbers of mid-continental light geese are good to excellent in those states at this time.

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Whether you are taking advantage of spring hunting opportunities or heading to the field to see the birds returning north in full breeding plumage, now is the time to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Continue reading

With heavy rains in the south, and blizzard conditions in the north this past week, snow geese were on the move between these dual storm systems and settled just south of the snow and freeze line.

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The spring migration of mid-continental light geese is underway and hunters willing to take to the field during the conservation action are experiencing great success. Waterfowler.com members are encouraged to take advantage of this extended opportunity and harvest as many geese as possible to help protect the fragile ecosystem on the tundra. Continue reading

With the general waterfowl season now closed, hunters are turning their thoughts towards the 2007 Conservation Action and light goose hunting. Those willing and able to extend their waterfowl season and pursue these magnificent birds, can reap the harvest of liberal bag limits and an outstanding hunting opportunity.

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The 2006-2007 General Waterfowl Season is closed and hunters in Northern California, Central Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, and the New England states are celebrating the memories of an absolutely outstanding hunting season. Of course for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, and normally top harvest states such as North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Arkansas struggle with drought conditions through most of the season and harvest totals in those states dropped significantly over previous years. Continue reading

As we head into the home stretch of the 2006-2007 waterfowl season, a quick glance at the NOAA Snow Cover Analysis Map will reveal the whereabouts of most waterfowl across the U.S. – with the bulk of mallards hugging the snow-line from the Texas Panhandle to Southern Ohio.

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As the general waterfowl season races to a close, snow goose hunters are already planning late-winter and early spring hunts. Waterfowler.com is preparing the Nation Snow Goose Tracking Homepage for another glorious spring season, and we encourage hunters to participate in the Conservation Action to reduce light-goose populations and help save the tundra. Continue reading