The tepid days of Indian summer have passed and arctic winds are dropping out of Canada into our nation, bringing ducks and geese south in force. This first big push of the season will occur over the next few days, as favorable migrating winds and snow drive waterfowl to their annual wintering grounds.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
With the exception of the El Nino years where migration trends ran extremely late, the first big push of waterfowl has occurred during the first two weeks of November for decades. Temperatures will plummet in the Pacific Northwest, the Great Plains and then the Great Lakes regions over the next few days and waterfowl activity is expected to respond in kind.
As the arctic high-pressure system collides with the warm Gulf winds, snow will accumulate in the north and heavy rain will fall on the leading edge of the front, creating the “ducky” weather waterfowl hunters love to hate.
As we’ve mentioned in the past, the importance of major migration events is the path of the jet-stream during these storms. Waterfowl tend to move as far south as the jet-stream moves them. When the jet-stream curls around the pressure system and begins to flow north again, this “button hook” traditionally points to the areas where migrating waterfowl are deposited.
Waterfowler.com members are encouraged to post reports often as we track this first major migration event of the season. Keep in mind that “no news” is also important news, as it helps determine how far south the birds have traveled. So post your reports often, even if activity is low in your area.
CENTRAL FLYWAY:
Snow is falling in North and South Dakota as a blizzard rips across the northern Great Plains. Ducks and geese are on the move in force and waves of birds are reported to be pushing through the state. With winds as high as 78 mph in the Dakotas, travel and hunting conditions are dangerous and could be life threatening. Despite the lure of an abundance of waterfowl, hunters should exercise extreme caution if they head to the field over the next 48 hours. Waterfowl are passing through Montana and into Wyoming at this time and mallard numbers in Colorado are expected to increase dramatically over the weekend. Prior to the storm, widgeon, gadwall, pintail and green-winged teal numbers were good to excellent across the eastern Rocky Mountain states, with light geese low and dark geese fair. Duck numbers were fair to good in Colorado, with mallards above average for this time of year- but much lower in Nebraska and Kansas. In Texas, teal and gadwall comprise the biggest portion of waterfowl present at this time with geese low.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY:
The tepid temperatures of Indian summer resulted in decreased waterfowl activity and hunter success over the past week – despite waterfowl numbers above average for this time of year in the north portions of the flyway. According to the most recent waterfowl surveys, diver numbers are good to excellent in the Upper Mississippi survey area for this time of year, with Canvasback slightly up from the previous survey. Diver hunters are reminded that Canvasback are closed this season and Scaup harvest has been reduced – with most states offering a season-within-a-season and increased bag limits during peak migration periods. Hunters should verify season dates and bag limits before heading to the field. In Missouri and Iowa, puddle duck numbers are good to excellent for this time of year, with mallard, pintail, green-winged teal, gadwall and widgeon providing a great mid-season mixed-bag. In Illinois, waterfowl numbers in the INHS survey area are substantially above average for this time of year – with total duck numbers nearly two times above the long-term average – with 84,000 mallards and 40,000 pintail at this time.
Canada goose numbers remain excellent throughout the Great Lakes region, and hunter success is expected to increase significantly as temperatures drop over the next few days.
PACIFIC FLYWAY:
In Washington, Oregon and Idaho, widgeon are good to excellent with mallard numbers good to fair. Teal and gadwall numbers are average for this time of year and hunter success varies with the weather. Diver numbers are good to excellent along the Snake River for this time of year with Goldeneye providing the primary bag. Mallard numbers are slightly above average in the Basin for this time of year, with all species good. From the Basin to the Sacramento Valley, teal are good to excellent. White-fronted geese are average for this time of year and all other species fair to good. With the expected weather changes in the Pacific Northwest, hunter success and waterfowl activity are expected to improve throughout the weekend in the northern and central portions of the flyway.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY:
Canada goose numbers continue to climb throughout the northern portion of the flyway and hunter success is good to excellent at this time. Goose numbers are above average for this time of year in most of the New England states, with New York hunters reaping the harvest. In Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey, teal numbers are excellent and above average in most places. Gadwall and widgeon are good, with mallards fair. Teal and Wood ducks are good into the Carolina’s and northeastern Georgia, with all other species low. Ring-necked duck numbers are fair to good in the southeast and into northern Florida.
Until our next report, hunt safe and often.
