Fingers are crossed; last minute plans are being made and remade as the final two weeks of the regular waterfowl season play out. Hopes and dreams are all hedging on a new cold front piling out of Canada. Will THIS be the one that at last pushes birds?
Hello, folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
The most recent cold snap brought a surprise to many of the lower tier states, and confirmed the belief that the major migration has stalled this year. Over the weekend hunters on the southern end of most flyways began to see their first real push of birds, and they were . . . teal?!
So, with only two weekends left the question remains: Will this be the cold front that brings the birds?
Now is the time to get your last minute gear for the upcoming Conservation Season for light geese. So if you are planning on extending your waterfowling this year by chasing the “White Menace of the Tundra,” be sure to stop by the Pro Shop for great deals on what you need to fill out your Snow goose rig.
And now, on to the Migration Report.
PACIFIC FLYWAY
Upper reaches of the flyway saw an influx of fresh ducks over the past week. Reports from coastal and inland waterfowlers indicate a respectable increase in bird numbers and hunter success. Mallards are at last in fair supply from the Skagit Valley east to the Snake River and south to the Columbia River basin.
Southern flyway hunters also report a fresh wave of waterfowl moving down the flyway, though teal and other small ducks seem to be making up the majority of the southern waterfowl increase.
CENTRAL FLYWAY
Goose hunting continues to be fair to good for the upper reaches of the flyway. Drastically below-average snow cover and fluctuating temps have kept a large concentration of dark and light geese in the northern tier states.
Mid-flyway states that closed out their regular duck season last week went out with a bang. Those remaining open ‘til the bitter end are hoping the next cold wave does not drive south the good concentration of ducks that has made the central plains its home for the better part of this season. What with severe cold forecast for the upcoming week and weekend, those hopes may be in vain.
Southern Flyway hunters are still holding out hopes that the arctic air mass driving down the plains can salvage an otherwise mediocre season. Scattered reports of new ducks have begun to trickle in from east and central Texas, but as has been the norm for this season, these pockets of ducks seem to be scattered and mobile.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY
The cold front that pushed down the Mississippi River Valley this last weekend brought a small push of birds into many of the southern states, or is that a push of small birds? Blue and Greenwing Teal are being reported in high numbers from northern Arkansas to the south delta of Mississippi. Although hunters in these areas are happy to have the high-speed visitors, this late showing of “early” ducks does not bode well for the prospect of late-season mallards in the timber.
Still, with temperatures forecast to dive into the teens over the weekend, all hope is not lost. As many southern rivers recede and ice takes hold of shallow sloughs and fields, the birds that make it that far south should be concentrated and easier to locate.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY
The Northern Flyway is still the most consistent area along the Eastern Seaboard. Good numbers of Brant and Black Ducks continue to hold in the New England states.
Mid-flyway reports indicate a respectable push of puddle ducks and sea ducks moving into the region as waters to the north become increasingly iced over.
The southern end of the flyway saw yet another rise in teal and diver numbers last week, and hopes are that the most recent cold wave further up the coast will flush a concentration of “big ducks” down the flyway before the end of the season.
With only a few weeks left in the regular waterfowl season of 2002-2003, plans for next season have already begun to cook in the minds of many waterfowlers. Lessons from this year will be played over and over as the “off-season” descends. Memories of a perfect morning will grow into the stuff of legends as we pack up our gear and decide how we will do it better when fall rolls around again.
But for many, there is still time for a few more days afield, a few more chances to make memories and perhaps log the best hunt of the year. A handful of sleepless nights still lie ahead, and each dawn holds the promise that, “Today could be the day.”
