After a brief cold shot across the mid-section of the US warmer than average temps have everyone doing a cold dance in hopes of moving ducks and geese down out of Canada.
Hello folks, and as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
Crossed wires and remote lodging kept last week’s migration report from getting through, so we’ll cut to the chase and get the info to you ASAP.
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And so, without further ado, on to the Migration Report.
CANADA
Snowfall in many northern and central portions of Canada began pushing birds south over the past week. A significant movement of birds into the mid to lower section of all the Western Provinces was reported with a noticeable increase in snow goose movement edging towards the US/Canadian Border.
Lows well below freezing are expected as far south as southern Manitoba by the weekend, and should serve to stack up ducks and geese in the lower portions of the country.
PACIFIC FLYWAY
Rain and average to slightly above average temperatures for the upper flyway for the weekend ahead does not look promising for moving new ducks into the area. A ray of hope does exist though if you look a bit farther north.
A cold front moving into and across British Columbia could freeze up enough shallow water to start less hardy birds toward the border crossing.
Oddly enough southern portions of the flyway should see a shift of birds into their waters as a cold front carves its way through parts of California and into Nevada. This split also has the potential to stack birds up north of the front while driving early migrators further down towards Mexico.
CENTRAL FLYWAY
A push of new birds moved down into the upper flyway early last week, but reinforcements have been slow in coming across the border and the new arrivals have been quick to learn the ropes and avoid high pressure areas.
With a significant number of acres still unharvested on both sides of the border, some sever weather and significant snow fall up in Saskatchewan and Manitoba may be the only thing that drives a new push of birds into the Dakotas.
Hunting Across the upper flyway has been hit and miss, with some hunters having banner days while other stare at the same ducks day after day wondering when the migration will kick in.
Scouting out smaller pockets of less pressured bird is paying off for those who can put in the time and resist the temptation of the larger staging flocks.
Mid-Flyway states saw a slight jump in gadwall and teal numbers last week after freezing temperatures greeted their northern neighbors. The shift of mallards, divers, light and dark geese is however slow moving for now.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY
Portions of the far upper flyway are seeing the first waves of divers moving in. Though small, the arrival of these new flights have hopes running high that the big push is just around the corner. Puddle duck numbers look to be on a slow but steady rise for most of the upper flyway as more areas open their season.
Mid to lower flyway states are suffering from an Indian summer warm up. Few birds if any have ventured down to or below the mid tier states and until fall gets back in gear these states will have to contend with every wiser local ducks. But fear not, prognosticators of all kinds are calling for snowfall, early and deep for the upper mid-west and Great Lakes region. Only time will tell.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY
Above average temperatures will plague hunters on the top side of the flyway this week. Lacking any major weather system heading in from up north birds thathave made it down should stick around, but warmer weather is likely to make flight activity slower than desired.
Mid coastal states are filing mixed reports. Some areas are seeing a nice increase in duck numbers but the broader picture is of a spotty movement of birds down the flyway. Although no one can say for sure, it seems likely these new pockets of birds are showing up due to hunting pressure to the north rather than from a true migration push.
That theory bares out in place where seasons have begun to open in the mid tier of the state. Hunters are reporting unusually wary birds where concentrations are higher while small flights of local birds still seem eager enough to join a well placed set of blocks.
Everyone was geared up for an early winter, but as usual, Mother Nature is having a good laugh at us waterfowlers. But don’t let your frost fighting guard down just yet. As quick as this warm up rolled in, it can just as easily vanish in a blur of frost and snow, atleast that’s what a lot of folks are hoping for.
