A glance at the Surface Temperature and Drought Monitor maps reveal the ongoing difficulties facing holiday hunters. With twenty-degree temperatures receding into the Canadian Prairies, birds remain scattered across northern states, where open water and forage remain abundant. While many were hoping for a white-Christmas of duck moving weather, Jack Frost and Old Man Winter just can’t seem to get their act in gear this season. Ducks continue to hold along the edge of the freeze line running from Colorado to upstate New York. With those already south pushing to regions along the Gulf Coast.
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The plight of the southern hunter can best be described as frustrating. In a year where duck numbers are near peak levels, drought conditions and the lack of precipitation continue to plague hunter success. As expected the lack of ducks across the mid-south fuel doubts that the number of ducks predicted for the fall flight this year are inaccurate but northern hunters who witnessed record activity in November would disagree.
So where are all the ducks? Early season birds have pushed across drought stricken areas to the Gulf Coast and many into Mexico. Duck numbers in Louisiana remain good to excellent at this time and the Texas Gulf coast is simply the Jewel of the Flyway. The Teal populations which were nearly double their average this year and filling consistent slots in the bag limit this year have continued to move to their southern most destinations along with other early migration birds.
While a number of mallards have pushed south, the hardy birds remain scattered along the southern edge of the freeze line in states where the season is closed, food is abundant and open water is still available. Birds that are filling southern states at this time are wary, holding in areas of limited water and practiced in the art of hunter avoidance. In the absences of harsh weather to kick them around, they are content to rest in safe havens and often feed at night.
Hunting in the central and mid-south “gap” at this time is not for the feint of heart. Scout hard, get off the beaten path and balance your expectations to avoid frustration. As the saying goes, it’s not over until the Fat Lady sings. With just over a month to go in some areas of the south, there is time for the epic storm to salvage the season.
PACIFIC FLYWAY:
Duck numbers increased slightly over the past week in the northern reaches of the flyway. Hunter success has improved in WA, MT and OR. Hunter success in the central portion of the Flyway has slowed as early migrating birds continue south and few ducks have replaced them from the north. Hunting in southern California and Arizona remains goo to excellent at this time, with teal numbers reducing slightly as birds push further south.
CENTRAL FLYWAY:
Goose hunting remains good to excellent in CO, NE and SD. Ducks remain scattered along the edge of the freeze line. Hunting in the Texas Panhandle, KS and OK remain fair, as early ducks press south form gunning pressure to the Gulf Coast. While the Gulf coast remains the flyway hotspot, hunting in New Mexico consistent and slightly above average.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY:
Ducks remain scattered across the north, with notable numbers from southern MN into IA, WI and northern IL – where goose hunting remains good to excellent. Ducks in Southern IL, MO, AR, TN and KY are not moving consistently and remain difficult to hunt. As birds move south to the coast, few northern birds are replacing them. Louisiana remain the bright spot of the flyway at this time as birds continue to trickle in from the north and outpace harvest.
ATLNTIC FLYWAY:
Bird numbers continue to increase in the far northern portions of the flyway as states in the central areas continue to struggle. Early migration birds continue to move south where water is limited and appear to be drifting to coastal areas in the southeast. Hunting in and around the Chesapeake Bay remains difficult at best.
