Pacific Flyway:
Washington hunters continue to struggle on ducks and goose action has tapered off considerably in the northern portion of the flyway. Snow in Idaho and Western Montana has produced the best mallard hunting of the season but birds have yet to move into northern portions of Utah. The hotspot of the flyway continues to be northern California and Nevada as hunters maintain consistent bags of teal, widgeon, sprig and geese. To the south, Southern California hunters continue to see an influx of snows and the recent weather has kept birds moving in front of the gun. Sprig numbers are good and all others fair. Arizona, of course, needs water and ducks.
Central Flyway:
The current weather system is pushing snow as far south as New Mexico. Ice is expected over the next few days across most of the northern prairie and into Canada. Snow geese have been on the move out of South Dakota and pushing through Nebraska. Expect goose numbers to rise in New Mexico and Texas over the next few days. Mallard numbers are increasing hourly throughout the northern and central portions of the flyway as the first waves begin their journey south. Field-feeding, here-today-gone-tomorrow, mallard reports are rolling in with every email collection at Waterfowler.com. Fast moving migrant targets are expected throughout the northern portion of the flyway. Expect birds to settle into Kansas, Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle by week\’s end. Despite some negative reports on the New Mexico Hunter reports the Rio Grande valley is the one hot ticket for waterfowling in the Central Flyway — with more ducks on the way.
Mississippi Flyway:
The hurt of this “La Nada” winter will sadly be felt most by Minnesota and Wisconsin hunters who will end up a day late and a dollar short on ducks as the “Big-Push” begins and their seasons close. Add to that the poor timing of the shortened Canvasback seasons and you\’ll understand all disgruntled grumbling from hunters throughout the flyway on season dates, frameworks and extensions. To the defense of those that set the season dates, from Minnesota to Mississippi the gamble of the game remains the unpredictable forces of Mother Nature and climate change. Undoubtedly, the council will be challenged to address these issues in the coming year and climate trends will be as controversial as harvest and population trends. For a little meteorological insight on this topic, please visit:
http://www.intellicast.com/DrDewpoint/Library/1260/
Canada goose numbers are on the rise from Rochester, Minnesota through Horicon, Wisconsin — with and influx of arrivals expected over the next few days. To the misfortune of northern tier states, the counter-clock wise rotation of the current weather system is forcing good portions of prairie birds down the western part of the Central Flyway. Until the system moves east it remains unclear what will transpire for duck hunters in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana over the next few days — where duck numbers remain low and Canada goose numbers fair.
Snow goose numbers are on the rise in Arkansas and indications are hopeful that ducks will find their way into eastern portions of the lower Mississippi Flyway over the next few days. Greenwing Teal and gray ducks are scattered throughout the flyway though Gadwall numbers have already topped 800,000 in Louisiana — where over 1.6 million waterfowl have already reached their southern most destination.
Atlantic Flyway:
Reports arriving from Ontario today have Canadian hunters still waiting on the northern arrivals of blacks, mallards and geese. With weather conditions changing rapidly and ducks buggin\’ out of western Canada and abrupt change is expected over the next week.
Sea duck numbers continue to build along the coast of Maine and south to Boston Harbor with Eider, Scoter and Long-tail shooting good to the north and fair to the south. As hurricane Olga moves north coastal hunting could become a life-threatening venture at best. Hunters are cautioned to heed watercraft advisories and follow the storms activity closely before heading to sea. Duck numbers are on the rise throughout the northern portion of the flyway with mallard and black duck shooting getting better each day in New York and Pennsylvania. Duck hunting remains poor to fair in Delaware and New Jersey. Brandt hunting along the Jersey coast if fair to good in some areas with Bufflehead numbers good and all other divers poor.
Woodduck and teal remain fair in Virginia and good to excellent from the Carolinas through Georgia. Ringneck numbers are fair to good in both Georgia and Florida with local honey holes holding incredible numbers of these fast-flying divers.
