Category: Migration Updates

Light Goose hunting is good to excellent in Nebraska and Northwest Kansas. Hunter success in Texas and New Mexico is poor with relatively few birds hanging south. Goose hunting in Oklahoma and western Arkansas is poor with goose hunting fair to good in Northeast Arkansas. Snow goose numbers have dropped significantly in southern and central Illinois over the past week with limited numbers of geese in Iowa. Missouri snow goose numbers are good to fair with harvest success good in areas holding birds.

Unseasonably warm temperatures continue to wreak havoc on the predictability of “normal” waterfowl migrations. To the dismay of Texas and New Mexico Hunters, snow and blues have taken wing early and already begun their journey north. While light geese are pouring into Nebraska at this time, in all likelihood the gunning in Nebraska could be over as fast as it starts if warm temperatures continue to move the snowline north at the current pace. Continue reading

Light goose numbers are good to excellent in New Mexico and Nebraska. Texas hunters are reporting fair success with jump-shooting opportunity best. In Colorado, numbers are fair with decoying providing its share of frustration. Warm temperatures have geese scattered in Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri — with hunting best in eastern Arkansas along the Tennessee border.

Recent snow and colder temperatures are expected to improve conditions and feeding patterns of geese over the next few days. With any luck, the resulting snowfall to the north will push geese south over the next few days.

Light goose hunters are urged to visit the Audubon study links provided on our National Snow Goose Tracking page. The Audubon study, conducted with satellite tracking systems, offers incredible insight into the feeding distances geese travel before heading north.

There has been little changed in the northern portion the flyway. Geese are fair in Washington, Idaho and Oregon. Oregon hunters reported increase in widgeon and mallard activity. Teal have been flying better in Northern and Central California with goose harvests low. Arizona reported increased harvests in the final week with an influx of ducks, geese and hunter activity to move the birds around. Continue reading

PACIFIC FLYWAY

Canada goose numbers remain high in most areas of Washington with diver numbers fair to good in open water. Oregon hunters continue to struggle with the bulk of ducks and geese resting on private lands and little pressure to move them in to accessible areas. Ice has taken its toll on hunter success in Utah and Idaho as ducks numbers drop and goose activity varies form poor to good in some areas.

Goose numbers are on the rise in Northern and Central California but success is poor in most areas due to wary educated birds. Teal, wigeon and mallards numbers are consistent to previous weeks in California but harvest is low due to nocturnal feeding activity. Arizona is slow on geese and ducks are flying but decoying is difficult at best. Continue reading

PACIFIC FLYWAY

In Washington mallard number continue to increase with lesser and greater Canada goose numbers good to excellent in most areas. In Oregon, wigeon, pintail and lesser Canada goose numbers are fair to good in most areas with the best harvest reports coming from the northwestern ranges and Valley floor in the southeast. Duck and goose numbers remain strong in Idaho in open reservoirs and active feeding fields. Hunting in Utah remains spotty despite increasing numbers of widgeon, pintail gadwall and redhead.

In northern and central California activity is spotty with larger ducks working well in remote, low-pressure areas. Goose are fair to good in Nevada with ducks low. To the south Arizona and southern California hunters struggle as most birds have moved south of the border over the past week. Continue reading

PACIFIC FLYWAY:

With rain still falling as far north as Vancouver, its tough prospecting for ducks and geese in the Pacific Northwest as northern birds remain north. Washington hunters report a fair increase of duck and goose numbers but only a nominal increase in hunter success in coastal regions. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reports few new arrivals in the state with the bulk of birds resting safely on private lands. Hunter success is fair north of Klamath District — where birds continue to bypass the refuge into Northern California. Ducks and geese are widely dispersed through northern and central California. No-burn restrictions continue to complicate California Waterfowling conditions with ample forage and safe haven for migrating birds. Recent weather systems have increased bird harvests over previous weeks with teal hunting good to excellent in the south. Duck and goose numbers remain strong in open water areas of Idaho and Utah. Hunter success is good to excellent in areas holding birds. In Arizona and Nevada, hunting is slow. Continue reading

PACIFIC FLYWAY

As ice build in the northern portion of the flyway, goose and duck hunting action has slowed considerably in Washington and Idaho over the past week. Goose action in western Montana is poor in most areas. Puddle duck action remain fair to goose in most of the central portion of the flyway. Utah hunters continue to experience the best harvest of the season as Northern California and Nevada Hunters struggle with educated, dispersed flocks. Hunting action in Southern California was excellent over the weekend with an influx of new ducks and geese from Wister east to the Colorado River. Hunting in Arizona was good to excellent in most areas with good reports on all species with overwhelming numbers of Gadwall. Continue reading