The results are in from the 2011 Waterfowl Breeding and Habitat Survey and the estimated results represent an overall 11% increase in breeding pairs over 2010, with mallards up 10% and pintail up a whopping 26% over 2010 estimates. Blue-winged teal numbers topped the charts with a 41% increase over 2010. With early teal seasons in northern states just over a month and a half away in northern states, this is indeed great news for early season hunters. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. The dog days of summer are upon us and extreme drought conditions persist across much of the south. Climate prediction models are showing very little relief in the near future hunters should expect the dry conditions to have a severe impact on the early teal migration in the months ahead. While a number of states do not offer a special teal season, hunters are… Continue reading

In steep contrast to the abundance of water in the north, extreme drought conditions persist across much of the south. While the start of the 2011 – 2012 Duck Hunting season is a number of months away for southern hunters, water management should already be on the minds of those with private lands. According to the latest climate prediction models, precipitation will remain below average throughout the summer months in the south. With duck production expected to be well above average this year, the difference between success and failure could be directly linked to habitat construction and control. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. The 2011 Waterfowl Breeding and Habitat Survey is expected to be released in the coming weeks. All indications are that the report will bring great news to the waterfowl hunting community. If you were following the biologist and survey team reports on Flyways.us throughout… Continue reading

The May Breeding survey is near completion and with the exception of Central Alberta, conditions were good to excellent in most areas. Survey teams encountered a number of weather delays this year and the Northern Alberta Team conducted various surveys over smoke filled skies from forest fires – proving again this year, there is never a dull moment along the survey transects. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. If you have been following the pilot reports on Flyways.us this year (as we recommended) the good news from waterfowl breeding areas is cause for celebration. Late-winter expectations from the waterfowl community have been confirmed and prime breeding conditions exist across most of the waterfowl survey areas. In a few words, the stage is set for a fantastic year of waterfowl production. Continue reading

The May breeding and habitat survey is underway across the United States and Canada. Despite weather delays for some survey teams the good news has already begun roll in with the biologist reports at Flyways.us. Reports from South Central Saskatchewan are nothing short of amazing — with an abundance of ducks taking advantage of new water in the area. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. With the early teal and goose seasons less than four months away in some states, it is difficult to imagine that the breeding ducks that are currently be counted by the survey teams will mate, nest and raise at least one brood of ducklings that will begin migrating in just a few short months – when a good portion of our audience haven’t even started fishing yet. Continue reading

Light goose numbers in southern and central Saskatchewan increased over the past week. Hunter success has been down and hunting difficult due to the abundance of sheet water in the fields, a slow melt and even some fresh snow in areas of the Province. While the abundance of snow and precipitation will be a boon for ducks this nesting season, the delays in the light goose migration will surely compress the number of hunting days until the season’s close. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. As hunting under the Conservation Order in the Continental United States fades with the northern migration, the hunting community turns a watchful eye to waterfowl nesting areas and spring habitat reports. As the clock ticks down to the start of the May Breeding and Habitat Survey, both biologists and waterfowl hunters are hopeful the reports will turn in record numbers. Continue reading

As the grip of winter holds tight in northern states, the number of snow geese in South Dakota holds near record numbers. Recent snow has added to the difficulties of previous winter runoff, flooding and mud. Hunters in western Iowa are reporting the return of some birds in various areas and it appears that some will get an encore performance of great hunting in the days to come. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. Despite the continued wintery conditions, the instinctive fire that drives light geese back to the nesting grounds is burning brightly. With the hard push of migration activity to the edge of the snowline and slightly beyond, it would appear as if mid-continental light geese are willing the warm gulf winds to follow them north. Continue reading

The snow goose migration continues with birds pushing into South Dakota, Nebraska and Western Iowa. Light goose numbers in Kansas and Missouri have continued to decline over of the weekend, though hunters reported decent, last-minute harvests. Hello folks, and, as always, Welcome to Waterfowler.com. As snow begins to melt on the Central Plains, light geese have pushed northward to the edge of the snow line and slightly beyond. The snow pack in Montana, the Dakotas and Minnesota remains at substantial at this time — with current temperatures in the twenties. While light goose numbers have dropped significantly in Kansans and Missouri, the hard-working light goose hunter is still scratching out a fair harvest. Of course, one of the advantages of spending time in the field during the spring is witnessing the return flights of ducks to the nesting grounds. Light goose hunters have consistently reported the skies filled with mallards,… Continue reading

With the snow line receding to the 42nd parallel, snow goose numbers have increased dramatically in Missouri, Nebraska and southern Illinois over the past week. With another round of snow piling up in the northern states, light geese are expected to hold in popular hunting areas until the next thaw begins. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. The quick spring thaw ignited light goose activity was met by another taste of winter and accumulating snow in the northern parts of the Central and Mississippi Flyways. The additional snow pack will provide an insurance policy against a quick Canadian escape for light geese over the next few weeks and the excellent hunting in Missouri, Nebraska, and Illinois will continue until the thaw. Light goose numbers are slowly increasing in southern Iowa and hunter success is expected to improve over the next week. Continue reading