Category: Migration Updates

Spring rains across the upper Midwest and northern Plaines have made for some very tough hunting conditions over the past week. The good news is, the light goose migration is in full force from the southern Dakotas into the southern provinces of Canada, and the gunning has been stellar for those who have toughed it out.

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The new Waterfowler.com LogoWear t-shirts are still available for pre-order, but the window of opportunity is narrowing. These two designs will be offered in a limited production and must be pre-ordered. Stop by Huntersproshop.com today to order your new shirts.

As spring gets into full swing, the first glimpses of the nesting season are starting to take shape. Overall, the picture for North American Waterfowl, where nesting habitat is concerned, looks promising. Current precipitation models indicate that as of April 1st we are entering the breeding season with the best water conditions the nesting ground, on the US side of the border, has seen since 1999. Continue reading

A significant warm-up for the Upper Midwest has light geese making major headway toward their arctic destination. As more spring-like weather dominates the forecast over the next five to seven days, the bulk of the migration is sure to make a major jump northwards toward the Canadian border.

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Waterfowler.com unveiled two new WFC LogoWear designs this week. The new Locked and Loaded and Hunt Snows/Blues T-shirts and hoodies are now available for pre-order through our online store, huntersproshop.com. The limited run designs are available in 100% cotton t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts. The distinctive designs are available for a limited time only, and only through huntersproshop.com. Order yours today. Continue reading

This week marked the official start of spring, but in many areas of the country you may have not noticed. Snow storms and below average temperatures, along many parts of the Mississippi and Central Flyways, caused havoc in the light goose return migration, for both geese and hunters. With a snow cover line in the central US that looks more like early January then late March, snow goose hunting will be tougher than usual this weekend.

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The weather might not be the best news for snow goose hunters, but the precipitation on the breeding grounds is happening at a very opportune time. Late winter and early spring snowfall events are often crucial to obtaining sufficient water for nesting. As March winds down, the focus on nesting conditions, ramps up for waterfowl and waterfowlers in the US and Canada. Continue reading

More winter weather across the upper mid-west is making planning difficult for white goose hunters who are trying to intercept the return migration of light geese. As the snow line fluctuates and winter makes another stand, hunters have to widen their range to stay on top of the main body of the migration.

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Ducks and geese moving back into the breeding grounds of the northern plains will find improved conditions, over last year, in many areas. The heart of the duck factory, the Missouri Coteau, is ahead of the curve, precipitation wise so far this year. Long range, 30 – 90 day, precipitation models currently predict above average precipitation for key breeding areas in both the US and Canada. Continue reading

Spring rains are falling across much of the country’s mid-section pushing the snow line and the snow geese, north. But a strong cold front driving inland from the west coast is on track to bring colder weather back to the heartland and could halt the migration again.

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As the tug-of-war between winter and spring continues, waterfowlers across the country are waiting for the early reports on the harvest of the 2005-2006 regular waterfowl season.

Speculation is that harvest will be up overall but not everyone is reporting a better than average season. Drought and wildly fluctuating weather patterns turned this year’s migration sort of inside-out. Early winter weather moved a lot of birds southward but by mid to late December, a dramatic warm up had most of the nation’s duck and goose hunters talking about reverse migrations. Continue reading

The spring snow goose season is getting fast and furious. A major warm-up in portions of the southern flyway has light geese making a major jump north this week. As the warm up continues, goose hunters are watching the snow cover line closely and fine tuning their plans to intercept the migration as it heads toward the breeding grounds.

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Federal Premium Ammunition kicked off its Federal Ultra-Shok royalty program last week with a $30,000 check to Ducks Unlimited. The Ultra-Shok royalty program will help fund one of DU’s great conservation initiatives, Grassland for Tomorrow. In partnership with DU and through sales of Ultra-Shok, additional funds will be raised to help secure critical grassland habitat across the North American “Duck Factory.” To learn more about this partnership and the Grassland for Tomorrow program visit www.ducks.org. Continue reading

Last week’s bitter cold brought the snow goose migration to a screeching halt, and then put it in reverse. This week, a slight warming trend and favorable winds should restart the light goose return migration and send the white wave north again.

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As the return migration of North American waterfowl gets underway, Waterfowler.com would like to encourage all our readers to take part in ensuring that the returning birds have every advantage in the upcoming breeding season. By installing artificial nesting structures, you can have a direct impact on the nesting success of ducks and geese in your area. Continue reading

The brakes are on for the 2006 light goose northward migration. A winter storm moving eastward out of the Great Basin promises to halt the northward push of snow geese for the time being. That is good news for hunters in the lower Mississippi and Central flyways. With colder weather on tap for their northern neighbors, southern snow goose hunters will have another week, at least, before the white wave makes its way out of the southern tier.

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Now that the regular waterfowl season is over, winter has decided to bare its teeth. But even though the regular waterfowl season is closed the late arrival of winter is providing some spectacular shooting of another kind. The opportunity to hit the field and shoot photographs of full mating plumage waterfowl is exceptional now. Continue reading