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.
CENTRAL FLYWAY:
Late season diver and goose numbers remain fair to good in parts of Colorado, western Nebraska along river systems and limited areas with open water. Goose hunting remains consistent in portions Kansas with bufflehead and goldeneye congregating on fast moving creeks and open rivers. Goose hunting in these north central states is spotty with harvests highest in areas furthest from hunting pressure.
In Oklahoma, duck numbers continue to be strong with excellent harvests of mallard, gadwall, wigeon and pintail. Mallards and pintail have been increasing throughout Texas over the past week providing the best action of the season in some northern areas. Goose numbers are good to excellent in most areas, though harvest has decreased as these birds creep up the learning curve. In New Mexico, action has slowed with few new arrivals and prevailing decoy and call shy birds.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY
Excellent numbers of Canada geese within the Mississippi Flyway remain in southeast Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois. With a lack of snow cover and ample open water, it is unlikely these birds will move south anytime soon. Various birding sources have also reported incredible rafts of divers throughout the southern portions of Lake Michigan, Lake Saint Claire and the western basin of Lake Erie.
Hunting in Ohio\’s late season has been the best of the year with good number of mallards, black and most other species. Duck numbers continue to build in Indian with goose numbers low. Portions od Tennessee are reporting good flights of mallards, wigeon and gadwall. Duck hunting in Arkansas remains slow with snow goose numbers good to excellent in most areas. Kentucky and Mississippi hunters continue to struggle with “trickle effect” migration and Louisiana hunters continue good success on all species except mallards — which are still north.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY
Hunting in most central and southern portions of the flyway is running as hot and cold as the weather. The recent storm system provided a flurry of activity and ice, which has thawed in some areas south and west of Chesapeake Bay.
Goose numbers remain incredible in most portions of eastern Pennsylvania with ducks low. New York continues to hold good numbers of mallards and blacks in areas that seem to refuse to freeze.
Hunting in Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey is fair to good as diver numbers a re string with mallard, pintail and black duck numbers fair to good.
Goose numbers are fair to good in Delaware and Maryland with Brant numbers good to excellent from New Jersey south to the Carolinas. Gadwall and black ducks are strong in the Virginias with Duck numbers low in the Carolinas. In Florida and Georgia, ducks numbers are good to excellent with new arrivals from the Carolinas and north over the past week.
