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Migration Update – October 7, 2013

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Hunting is underway in various northern states and the first flights of ringed-neck ducks have been reported in the northern Great Lakes region.   While the best of the fall migration is yet to come, wood ducks, teal and local mallards continue to provide excellent early season action for many hunters.   Special youth hunting seasons have passed in a few states but there is still plenty of time to get that budding “duck dynasty” fan away from the television and into the great outdoors for an introductory hunt. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. Unless you’ve been hiding under a pile of rocks or have sequestered yourself from entertainment television, you are, like most Americans, familiar with one of America’s most popular reality TV series of all time, Duck Dynasty. While viewers are attracted to the show for many reasons beyond the fact that the bearded Duckmen actually duck… Continue reading

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Migration Update – September 14, 2013

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Early season resident goose and teal hunting are underway in a number of states. Hunter success has varied greatly on geese due to warm temperatures and limited activity. Teal numbers are increasing throughout the flyways ahead of the current cold front in the Mississippi and Central Flyways after a reported slow start to teal seasons in the north. Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com. Hunting was hit or miss for many early season hunters over the past week. Goose flights were limited to the first hours of morning light due to extremely warm temperatures across the Great Plains and Mississippi Valley. With the first substantial cold front of the season upon us, hunter success is expected to improve dramatically over the next week as the teal migration kicks into high gear on the favorable winds dropping down from Canada. Continue reading

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Major Milestone for Families Afield—1 Million New Hunters!

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NEWTOWN, Conn. — The future of hunting is brighter today than it was nearly a decade ago thanks to the extraordinary success of Families Afield, an innovative program that has introduced 1 million newcomers to hunting. This impressive number demonstrates that interest in hunting remains high and that what’s needed to spark a lifelong passion for hunting is a proper introduction enabled by state regulations. With success in hand, Families Afield’s call to action is this: If your state offers an apprentice hunting license, make it a point to bring a newcomer along this hunting season; or if you’ve never gone hunting before, seek out a mentor and give it a try. Continue reading

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Duck Hunter numbers on the rise in Minnesota

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More small game hunters ventured into Minnesota’s fields and forests in 2012, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) annual small game survey. The number of pheasant and duck hunters increased 8 percent and corresponded with a slight increase in pheasant and duck stamps sales. In 2012, an estimated 84,000 people hunted pheasants and 90,400 hunted ducks. Although ruffed grouse are on the downward side of their 10-year population cycle, the number of grouse hunters increased 6 percent in 2012 to 97,200. Statewide estimates show that hunters harvested 264,000 pheasants, 835,000 ducks and 355,000 ruffed grouse. Continue reading

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Migration Update – August 30, 2013

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With only a few days remaining in the off-season, hunters across the nation are preparing for the official start of the 2013 Hunting season that begins on September 1st.  Dove and resident Canada goose season will open in many states this holiday weekend and the early teal season will follow in the coming weeks in portions of the Central and Mississippi Flyways. Hello folks, and, as always, Welcome to Waterfowler.com. While temperatures across the nation remain ten to twenty degrees above normal for this time of year, the dog days of summer will soon give way to autumn temperatures and the first flights of teal as they begin their migration south. In celebration of the coming season, registered members who post their early season hunting or scouting report between now and September 30, 2013 will be automatically registered for a chance to win a Spectra-Shot sampler pack.  Participants can post… Continue reading

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Post a Hunting Report for a chance to Win Spectra Shot

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Post a early season hunting or scouting report between now and September 30, 2013 and be automatically registered for a chance to win a Spectra-Shot sampler pack for the coming season. Spectra Shot™ a premium shotgun shell made of the highest quality components. This shotgun shell is unique not only because of its top quality hull, wad, pellets, and powder, but also because the pellets are coated through a patented, proprietary process completed in the USA. The end result is a shell that provides optimal performance for hunting or shooting skeet. Whether you are simply out hunting, bringing the truth to the blind, or just want to show off your favorite colors, choose Spectra Shot™ and head out to the field. * No purchase necessary.  Offer void where prohibited by law. Continue reading

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FWS Proposes Liberal Frameworks for Late Waterfowl Seasons

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is proposing continued liberal hunting season lengths and bag limits for the upcoming 2013-14 late waterfowl seasons. The annual results of cooperative population surveys, banding programs and harvest surveys guide the Service’s waterfowl conservation programs under authority of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. All of this information represents the largest data set on any wildlife species group in the world, and helps provide hunting opportunities while ensuring the long-term health of waterfowl populations. States select their individual seasons from within the federal frameworks that establish the earliest beginning and latest ending dates and the maximum season length and bag limits. The Service’s 2013 Waterfowl Population Status Report summarizes information on the status of duck and goose populations and habitat conditions during spring of 2013. Overall, population estimates for most species of ducks remained strong for this breeding season. In the traditional survey area,… Continue reading