The May breeding surveys are underway across the U.S. and Canada. In many areas of the U.S., the first broods of resident Canada Geese can be seen on many ponds and the mating chase flights of mallards can be witnessed. While the off-season continues, it is hardly a slumbering hibernation for duck or duck hunter — it is merely a change in activities that lead up to the fast approaching season. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. The results of the May Breeding Surveys are the foundation of opportunity for each duck-hunting season. Thanks to advances in Internet based communication, the process that determines the season length and bag limits has never been more accessible to the avid waterfowl hunter. Waterfowler.com encourages our members to visit Flyways.us over the next few weeks to follow the flight logs (link below) of survey crews as they monitor breeding conditions on… Continue reading

Spring snow goose hunting under the Conservation Order in the U.S. passed at a fevered pace this year as the last few flights of light geese moved into Canada from North Dakota in mid-April. As we turn our sights to nesting conditions on the Prairie Pothole Region, we remind our readers that early Teal and Goose seasons are merely 4 months away and the count down to the season is already ticking. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. As the planes take flight this month to begin the May waterfowl breeding ground surveys, the results are expected to be very similar to last year’s report. A quick study of the North American Drought Monitor Map (link below) reveals a variety of problem areas in Canada again this year and highlights the great potential on the U.S. breeding grounds. Continue reading

The spring snow goose migration continues at a furious pace. The bulk of the population has been passing through North Dakota over the past week. While some birds still remain in South Dakota, the numbers have been decreasing rapidly since the 24th of the month. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. The light-goose migration of 2010 will go down in the books as one of the fastest moving migrations since the Conservation Order was enacted to allow spring hunting. A number of factors can be attributed to the fast pace, with Mother Nature orchestrating the event in her own, unpredictable manner. The extended cold and snow pack that held geese in the deep south through most of February, confined staging birds on wintering grounds much later than normal. It is likely the extended stay that held geese south until well after their internal and biological clocks said, “go… Continue reading

As warm winds begin to push up from the Gulf of Mexico and chisel away at the snowline, light geese are finally on the move and hunting success has improved under the Conservation Order. Snow goose numbers are on the rise in Missouri and numbers at the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge are expected to climb for the first time this spring season. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. Spring snow goose hunting is underway, thanks to the ongoing Conservation Order, and light goose hunters are reaping the harvest of this extended season. Each spring we turn our sights to light-goose hunting action and focus on the primary locator of snow goose activity; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Snow Cover Map (link at right). Continue reading

As the 2009-2010 General Waterfowl Season ends with a resounding bang, waterfowl hunters across the nation are storing their bags of duck decoys and packing up their trucks and trailers with a massive assortment of snow goose decoys. Before we fire the starting gun to our coverage of the Spring Snow Goose Conservation Action, Waterfowler.com takes time to reflect on the season past. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfower.com While the ducks begin pairing up for their annual courtship rituals, waterfowl hunters across the nation are gathering for some old-fashioned, post-season armchair quarterbacking. Of course, the staff at Waterfowler.com revels in this wonderful time-honored tradition as much as the next hunter and there is never a shortage of theories, analysis or opinions to explain why ducks did what they did, or didn’t do, over the past season – with each thought fueled by that magical element of hind-sight.… Continue reading

Another arctic blast is ringing in the New Year, bringing chilling winds, snow and ice to most of the south. With temperatures dropping below zero in the north to well below freezing all the way to Alabama by the weekend, the over abundance of water will soon be an over abundance of ice, which is expected to improve hunting conditions in many areas. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. While duck and goose numbers have been good to excellent below the freeze line, hunting has been difficult at best. The over abundance of water in the south has created a plethora of safe havens for waterfowl, providing an almost unlimited opportunity to find food and water away from hunters, decoys and guns. In short, having ducks does not guarantee a good harvest. Water levels in traditional hunting spots and leases are above average and the duck hunting dreams… Continue reading

The icy grip of winter has taken hold of the marshes, lakes and rivers in the north. In areas above the snow and freeze line, ducks have departed to warmer climates and geese have congregated in urban areas and river systems that maintain open water. The resulting freeze has compressed waterfowl populations along the edge of the freeze line and hunter success has increased significantly in the south. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. A quick glance at the NOAA Snow Cover Map (link at right) provides a clear visual summary of where the storm has relocated the ducks and geese of North America. The bulk of the nations waterfowl have congregated in areas below the freeze line where water remains open and food sources are not blanketed by snow. In short, ducks and geese have arrived in the south in force. Continue reading

The arctic blast moving across the nation has increased waterfowl activity significantly from the Sacramento Valley all the way to Missouri. Snow, white-fronted and Canada goose migrations have been significant over the past seventy-two hours in the Pacific and Central Flyways. With ducks previously scattered from north to south, the most noticeable increases have occurred in the middle tier states as populations begin to gather in heavier concentrations. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. The winds are blowing snow and ice across various parts of the nation in a fashion that duck hunting dreams are made of. Since the onset of the storm late last week, hunters have flocked to their favorite marshes, lakes and rivers hoping for skies to be blackened by flights of ducks and geese. Quite curiously, this has not been the case in many northern states that were hoping for a final chance before… Continue reading