An abundance of open water and lack of snow in the north continues to allow a substantial number of ducks and geese to remain along the southerly edges of the northern tier. The most recent waterfowl surveys from areas of the Central and Mississippi Flyway confirm that duck numbers along the Missouri River in South Dakota have begun to decline and numbers along the northern portions Mississippi River remain above average for this time of year – proving there is a significant reason we call them “northern birds.”
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The early part of the migration can often build a false excitement for Waterfowl hunters. Every tiny cold front and puff of wind carries a few new birds south and activity is steady and fresh. As the season wears on, the annual harvest takes its toll and birds become educated, scattered and wary.
So where are the ducks? Everywhere – from the very edges of the freeze line to the Deep South, where concentrations are highest in numbers. From southern California to the Gulf Coast and into Louisiana, duck numbers are good to excellent at this time. While having 1.8 million birds in Louisiana may be slightly low for this time of year, it is still a significant number.
As the month of December wears on, hunting pressure will continue to move birds to their southern most wintering grounds – past drought stricken areas that plague the south central areas of the nation.
With hardy northern birds no resting and feeding in areas of the north were duck season has closed in many places, only an extended deep freeze or snow accumulation will force these birds south. Until then, hunter success will vary across most of the lower two thirds of the nation.
PACIFIC FLYWAY:
While hunters in the central portions of the flyway continue to struggle with below average harvest rates, hunter success has increased substantially in the far north. Waterfowl numbers are near peak at this time in southern Idaho and the Columbia River Basin in Washington. The Santa Ana winds have returned to southern California and hunter success is expected to improve dramatically over the weekend as high winds move birds around.
CENTRAL FLYWAY:
Duck numbers in South Dakota are finally dropping along the Missouri River survey areas as bids slip south into Nebraska and western Iowa. Mallard numbers are rising slightly in Kansas and western Missouri at this time with the most consistent harvest in the flyway along the Gulf Coast of Texas.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY:
A substantial number of ducks and geese remain in the INHS waterfowl survey areas. Ducks are good to excellent along northern areas of the Mississippi, Illinois and Ohio River corridors. Duck numbers are nearly two times the 10-year average in Illinois at this time. Duck numbers are up slightly from the previous week in KY, TN, AR and MS at this time – with increases in Missouri expected as additional mallards arrive over the next few days.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY:
The migration in the east continues to lag behind the rest of the nation. Early migrating birds are scattered from New York to Florida with very few areas holding any extreme concentrations of birds. Sea duck hunting remains consistent along the northern coast and hunter success and duck numbers on Chesapeake Bay remain well below average for this time of year. The brightest spot in the flyway at this time remains North Carolina and the Pamlico Sound, where concentrations of early migrating birds are providing consistent shooting.
