Special youth waterfowl hunts were open this past weekend in various northern states. As expected, the jet stream brought cooler temperatures and even some snow flurries to North Dakota. As additional migrants arrived on these favorable winds, so did that hard-core feeling that duck season is here. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com The nation’s first youth waterfowl hunts were held this weekend in various states and we remind our readers that participating in these special hunts is vital to the future of waterfowl hunting. According to national surveys, over 85% of all hunters are introduced to hunting by a family member. In short, if you don’t take a kid hunting, there is no future for waterfowl hunting. Period. Continue reading

Migration activity has picked up over the past forty-eight hours. Towards the end of the week, the jet-stream is expected to pass down through Canada and curl across border states in the northern portions of Central and Mississippi Flyways – bringing the next wave of early migrating waterfowl for the season. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. Waterfowl hunting has opened at a fevered pace in Canada and reports from Saskatchewan are off the charts at this time. Traveling waterfowl hunters and guides alike have been impressed with the populations, conditions and harvest results (which are expected to continue until the harshest arctic winds drive the birds south). When you consider the breeding that occurred in the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region, if waterfowl activity is excellent in Canada, gunning in the Dakota’s this season could be the best it has ever been. Continue reading

The progression of the Blue-winged teal migration continues at an unhurried pace. Birds are slowly moving through the flyways and are present in most states from the far north to the deep south. In the Mississippi Flyway, teal are still staging in large flocks in key breeding areas and resident goose hunters in Wisconsin are reporting excellent teal numbers in flooded agricultural fields. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. Temperatures remain above average for this time of year for all parts of the U.S. except the Pacific Northwest according to the latest data from Applied Climate Information Systems (ACIS). With the jet stream bowing lazily below the U.S. Prairie Pothole region over the past week, northern states have been met with some relief from the summer heat but weather patterns have not provided the kind of cold front that can ignite a hard migration of teal. Continue reading

The first day of September marks traditional start of the fall hunting season. Hunters across the nation will celebrate with the opening of dove season along with various states opening resident Canada goose seasons. Yes, the long off-season is over and it’s “game on” for the outdoor sportsman. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. Despite the continued warm temperatures across the nation, it only takes one day in the dove field to fire up that passion and excitement of the coming waterfowl season. In fact, it only takes one shot to blow the cobwebs out of the barrel and conjure up that giddy grin that simply says, “there is no place I rather be than in the outdoors during hunting season.” Continue reading

While the dog days of summer have reached their peak across the nation, hunting has begun in various states in the far north for the early resident Canada goose season. Hunter success has varied in the Dakotas, with the harvest best in active feeding areas during the first cool hours of the morning, or just before sunset. The first groups of migratory blue-winged teal have been reported in northern portions of the Mississippi Flyway, and they have begun to stage in larger groups in breeding areas. Continue reading

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released the proposed frameworks for the coming season this past week, with breeding numbers allowing for a Liberal Season in all four flyways. Included in this year’s proposed daily bag limits are two pintail and one canvasback nationwide. Of course, state’s can opt for variations within the framework and hunters are encouraged to monitor their state agencies for final season announcements. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. With early teal and goose seasons less than a month away in various states, the countdown has begun to the early openers. Now is the time to unpack the decoys from storage, take inventory and prepare them for the coming season. Continue reading

The results of the spring surveys are in and the USFWS has released the Trends in Duck Breeding Populations for 2010. Habitat conditions across the survey areas were similar to 2009, with pond counts 34% above the long-term average. Bird counts totaled 40.9 million birds, down slightly from the 42 million birds counted in 2009, but remain 21% above the long-term average. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. The effects of an early spring and low moisture conditions across the survey areas resulted in a sight drop in the overall duck population compared to 2009. Mallard populations dropped from 8.5 million to 8.4 million and remain 21% above the long-term average. Gadwall numbers remain 67% above the long-term average and green-winged teal 87%. Blue-winged teal numbers dropped 14% compared to 2009 but remain 36% above the long-term average. Redheads held their own again this year at 63% above… Continue reading

The 2010 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat (BPOP) Survey is complete in a number of areas. Thanks to real-time reports and flight logs at Flyways.us, waterfowl hunters across the nation can look to the coming season with a hopeful eye. In summary, the good news appears to be outpacing the bad, and conditions in the Eastern Dakotas are, again this year, simply outstanding. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. For those who have taken the time to visit Flyways.us and browse the flight logs and reports from ground survey teams, we applaud your efforts to remain a well-informed waterfowl hunter and advocate of the sport. For those who have yet to visit this wonderful resource, we can only say you are missing out on some of the best off-season motivation a duck hunter can find. Continue reading