As the holiday weekend approaches, a series of weather systems are building off the western coast and are expected to bring favorable migrating winds and weather to northern states. While the change is likely to spawn moderate migration activity, it is unlikely the storms will be powerful enough to ignite the massive migration waterfowl hunters are hoping for. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. Thanksgiving weekend marks the halfway point of the 2009-2010 waterfowl season. With the season opening in many southern states and states in the north on the cusp of closure, the effects of the El Nino weather anomaly couldn’t be more apparent. While the early cold blast in October ignited a flurry of activity and harvest, the tepid temperatures of November have resulted in a trickle migration pattern that has duck numbers near or below long-term averages in most areas, with waterfowl activity very low. Continue reading

Despite above average temperatures, the diver migration continues to follow the calendar as canvasback numbers reach their peak in the upper Mississippi River. Bufflehead, scaup and goldeneye are moving steadily from the Dakota’s through the Great Lakes and the upper Atlantic Flyway. Puddle duck activity is variable but numbers are near the long-term average in most areas. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. The migration is rolling along at a steady pace and the harvest is finally underway through most of the corn-belt and areas that were experiencing delays. According to the NOA Climate Prediction Center, the El Nino anomaly will keep temperatures above average through November and hunters in the north should expect to hunt through the end of their seasons without the fear of an early ice out – unless an unexpected arctic system should form over the next few weeks. Continue reading

Hunting continues in the north along with precipitation. The early push of birds in the Central and Mississippi Flyway has provided opportunity for hunters beyond the opening day chaos and simply put, the hunting is good — really good. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. All to often the waterfowl season begins with a huge bang on opening day then leads to a lull before the northern birds arrive. Thankfully, an early clipper system carried a number of puddle ducks south and kicked off the diver migration earlier than normal. Hunters in northern states are enjoying the increased activity and the daily bag often includes a variety of species. A study of available waterfowl surveys shows duck numbers are holding near or slightly above the long-term averages, but the species present in the counts are usually those that arrive much later in the season. While numbers have remained… Continue reading

Hunting continues in the north along with precipitation. The early push of birds in the Central and Mississippi Flyway has provided opportunity for hunters beyond the opening day chaos and simply put, the hunting is good — really good. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. All to often the waterfowl season begins with a huge bang on opening day then leads to a lull before the northern birds arrive. Thankfully, an early clipper system carried a number of puddle ducks south and kicked off the diver migration earlier than normal. Hunters in northern states are enjoying the increased activity and the daily bag often includes a variety of species. A study of available waterfowl surveys shows duck numbers are holding near or slightly above the long-term averages, but the species present in the counts are usually those that arrive much later in the season. While numbers have remained… Continue reading

A classic Alberta Clipper System moved across the U.S. during the past week and resulted in a significant and unexpected early migration event. Divers, puddle ducks and geese are on the move and activity is good to excellent in all four flyways. Hello folks, and, as always welcome to Waterfowler.com. Cold, snow, high winds and rain; what more could a duck hunter ask for? The recent series of cold fronts has spawned a number of migration events across the U.S. and Canada this past week. From sandhill cranes and white fronted geese to gadwall, widgeon, redhead, ringed-necked ducks and canvasback, the pace of the fall migration is heating up as temperatures drop and hunter success is good to excellent in many areas. When birds start to fly in the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region and you want valid field observations to confirm online reports, you call the folks that live and… Continue reading

The onset of autumn has been greeted by a series of high winds, heavy precipitation and even a wintery mix of snow in some areas of the Rockies. While the migration has progressed at a slow trickle the past week, favorable migrating winds and snow are in the forecast and an increase in migration activity is expected. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. Hunting is underway in various northern states and hunter success has varied excellent to downright poor. As expected, the above average duck production on the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region has hunters in North Dakota grinning from ear to ear. Hunter success in North Dakota is good to excellent across the state. It is important to keep in mind that while these are migrating waterfowl to the rest of the flyways, to a North Dakota resident they are hunting locals. Very few ducks at this time… Continue reading

The first cold front of autumn is moving across the U.S. and the jet stream is providing favorable winds for migrating ducks and geese. The explosion of fall colors has ushered in the opening of the 2009-2010 Waterfowl Season in various states and young waterfowl hunters have already enjoyed the first of the Special Youth Waterfowl hunts of the season. With temperatures in the far south dipping into the 50s this week, seasoned waterfowl hunters can be found looking to the north and grinning to themselves. The long off-season has ended and it’s game on for the grand tradition of Waterfowl Hunting. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. As the jet stream and temperatures drive south, another push of blue-winged teal activity has ignited in the south central states and these birds will continue to move towards their tropical wintering grounds. Continue reading

An early cold front is moving out of Canada and bringing fall temperatures to the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region. The teal and dove migrations are expected to increase dramatically over the weekend and early next week, as morning temperatures in the Great Lakes Region dip into the 30s around the first of September. Hello folks, and, as always, Welcome to Waterfowler.com. As we count down to the opening day of resident goose seasons and the dove opener, Mother Nature appears to be cooperating in grand fashion by providing favorable migrating winds and temperatures. Blue-winged teal continue to move at a steady pace in the Central, Mississippi and Atlantic Flyways. This early season cold front is expected to provide above average waterfowl and dove activity in the northern third of all flyways. If the temperatures drop as much as predicted, strong flights of rail, snipe and woodcock should accompany the other… Continue reading