The Holiday season is upon us, and from the looks of things waterfowlers across the country may just get their Christmas wish.
Hello, folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com!
Speaking of Christmas, be sure to stop by the Pro Shop and check out the latest offerings from Waterfowler.com, canvas and leather goods from American Sportsman. These tough, classic bags and cases come embossed with the new Locked and Loaded Waterfowler.com logo and can be customized with your own monogram. Some items are also available in the camo pattern of your choice.
The Pro Shop is now open to both Members and Non-Members, but to get special savings on the latest and greatest gear you must be a supporting member. And don’t forget, from now until December 15th anyone (member or guest) who spends $100 dollars or more in the PROSHOP will receive a FREE*, Foul Weather DRY BAG from Mad Dog Gear – valued at $29.99.
Offer expires December 15th 2002. Offer void where prohibited by law. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer. $100 minimum order excludes tax and shipping to qualify.
And now, on to the Migration Report.
PACIFIC FLYWAY
Last week’s front has picked up the pace of migration in the northern end of the flyway. Reports out of the Columbia Basin tell of fresh flights of new birds arriving on a regular basis, and hunter success is on the rise.
On the southern end of the flyway hunters are still waiting for the cold to make something happen, and should expect waterfowl numbers to increase as the week progresses.
CENTRAL FLYWAY
The upper region of the Flyway is all but done for the year where ducks are concerned. With the ice nearly locking out area waters, hunters hoping to catch a few last minute ducks will be forced to seek out remaining open water or take a chance on cut fields.
For the Middle and Southern portions of the flyway things are heating up as the weather cools down. The line of migration has moved below the southern border of South Dakota, and except for the large number of geese still holding in the upper plains the migration should continue to be strongest from Nebraska southward. That being said, the overall reports out of the lower half of the flyway are still spotty but the spots that are good are very good. The big question now is: Will the weather provide a big push or will the flight continue to be one of a gradual nature?
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY
Way up top in the flyway the water is hard and so is the hunting. The best game in town for the upper reaches of the flyway may be Golden Eye which are reported in large numbers from southern Wisconsin to Northern Illinois. If geese are more to your liking the picture is bright. Heavy concentrations of dark geese are stacking up in the northern tier and, being more weather hardy than their smaller web-footed friends, can be expected to stick around until the snow gets deep.
Moving down the flyway, the picture for puddle duck hunters is brighter, though here again it all depends on whose blind you’re in. The recent cold front sent a wave of waterfowl down the Mississippi river just in time to make a few good Thanksgiving hunts but many areas are still looking north and waiting.
Most recent reports from Missouri and points south are of a new batch of mallards and other big ducks showing up as late as Sunday evening. With a few states’ seasons closed during the coming weeks, new birds should get a chance to settle in and get comfortable before the second openers. Scouting during the split can go a long way toward improving the bag for the second opener, so even if the season is closed hunters would be well advised to hit the road and see where the ducks and geese have decided to hold up.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY
Snowfall in the northern flyway has stepped the migration up a notch, with reports of increasing numbers of ducks and geese of every make and model coming in. Whistlers, Black Ducks and Divers are in good supply from Pennsylvania northward, and goose numbers continue to climb. As the snow deepens and fields get covered, rivers and big water will be the keys to success for the northern waterfowler.
Mid-flyway states have been getting their first real flights of puddle ducks over the past week, but numbers are still below expectation considering the weather to the north. But as the cold takes hold of the northern states this week, a second wave of migration should move into the central coastal states.
At the lower end of the flyway waterfowl numbers are holding steady as hunters wait for the freeze-up to bring fresh birds down to South Carolina and points south. Small ducks and divers are in good supply at the far end of the flyway and should remain so as the weather above the southern states turns toward a more serious winter pattern.
This week waterfowlers find the Christmas spirit filling their hearts and Thanksgiving leftovers filling their refrigerators, and they’ll be doing their all to be good for a few more weeks while Santa reviews his list. Although this year’s migration has already gone a long way toward easing the pains of last year’s season, hunters are still hoping to be on the good side of the man in red when he makes his rounds in the coming weeks.
Until next week, be good, be safe, and see what new recipes you can come up with for the leftover Turkey and Dressing.
