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Message
Waterfowl migration from south to north?
Posted on 1/14/17 at 9:19 am
Posted on 1/14/17 at 9:19 am
Generally speaking the duck hunting in Arkansas this year has been bad. Oh sure there have been pockets of decent hunting but overall it has been bad. The season started with abnormally dry conditions and there have been a couple of Arctic outbreaks with low temperatures not seen in the last few years. Many areas froze. Aerial surveys are showing that duck numbers are well below average.
On the other hand, I am hearing that duck hunting in Louisiana has been better than recent years with above average duck numbers. So It seems that the ducks bypassed Arkansas this year.
I still go out there even though the hunting is tough. I might pick up a couple of ducks here and there but mostly the hunts end in zeros. Then this past week, there was an abrupt change in literally from one day to the next. It is was typical bad hunt one day and then the very next day the sky was full of ducks and all working. Just huge waves of a mix of mallards, gadwall, and teal. I hunt flooded timber and I usually don't see much teal. But that day they were plentiful so it was unusual to see them.
So I wonder if there was a migration northward. This past week was so warm in Arkansas with lows in the upper 60s and highs in the mid 70s. So it was probably warmer south of Arkansas. Very unusual weather. The lows last weekend in central Arkansas was in the low teens so there was a very rapid warmup.
On the other hand, I am hearing that duck hunting in Louisiana has been better than recent years with above average duck numbers. So It seems that the ducks bypassed Arkansas this year.
I still go out there even though the hunting is tough. I might pick up a couple of ducks here and there but mostly the hunts end in zeros. Then this past week, there was an abrupt change in literally from one day to the next. It is was typical bad hunt one day and then the very next day the sky was full of ducks and all working. Just huge waves of a mix of mallards, gadwall, and teal. I hunt flooded timber and I usually don't see much teal. But that day they were plentiful so it was unusual to see them.
So I wonder if there was a migration northward. This past week was so warm in Arkansas with lows in the upper 60s and highs in the mid 70s. So it was probably warmer south of Arkansas. Very unusual weather. The lows last weekend in central Arkansas was in the low teens so there was a very rapid warmup.
6
Posted on 1/14/17 at 9:54 am to gumbeaux
Yes, duck migration north will start as soon as the temps warm up. If it gets cold again they just come back south. Migration is more in waves than an all at once deal.
Posted on 1/14/17 at 9:57 am to gumbeaux
They fly back and forth during the season, to an extent. But Arkansas also had more water last week than they did this week. I've been watching it drop on the gauges.
I'd imagine the freeze last week concentrated ducks to the few unfrozen places.
I'd imagine the freeze last week concentrated ducks to the few unfrozen places.
Posted on 1/14/17 at 10:49 am to gumbeaux
I was in Dewitt area for the freeze and then the thaw this week. Was very interesting watching the birds and how they reacted in that weather cycle. Watched them fly south all afternoon Sunday. Monday had to hunt river, decent hunt, but good God that afternoon when the snow and ice started melting in the fields. I've never seen anything like it, ducks and geese pouring in by the 100s from the south. Huge flocks of teal,spoons, pintails, greys and mallards landing in the muddy corn fields we were hunting. Even had widgeon drop in. Tuesday wake up with wood thinking of the strap I'm about to create, saw maybe 1/100th the birds from previous day, nothing wanted to work and all the big flocks were way up headed north to MO.
Posted on 1/14/17 at 12:03 pm to Capt ST
i was in the central Arkansas area and Thursdsy was the day of the big migration there. The day before was dead.
Posted on 1/14/17 at 12:36 pm to gumbeaux
In vicinity right now. Ducks are here but skittish is an understatement.
Posted on 1/14/17 at 3:38 pm to Polar Pop
Once they turn to you, STOP CALLING! Can't tell you how many flocks we had cupped up only to have one of the guides pick up call and start a loud sequence and they'd take a detour. Only had 3 land in decoys while being called, and those broke off from much bigger flocks that were committed and never got a shot on. The rest we never saw or never picked up calls and they just sat right down. I found the greys worked fairly well to soft calling, they actually brought the bigger flocks of mallards into spread with them. We picked up the mojos too.
Posted on 1/14/17 at 9:11 pm to Capt ST
Hunting around Augusta in the morning. Was told they had been slaughtering them. We are looking at property to lease for next year.
Posted on 1/15/17 at 12:41 am to gumbeaux
quote:
So It seems that the ducks bypassed Arkansas this year
I mean, can you blame them?
Posted on 1/15/17 at 5:27 am to gumbeaux
It has been a bad year AR. I think early on, it was the lack of food and water that made it tough. I know that half of the fields in NEA had been prepped for next spring. The few fields that had food and water were all hunted heavily. The flooded timber was overcrowded as hell, with very few ducks hanging around.
As far as the migration, I will take a southern push any day of the week. We get several days of 15-20 mph south wind, and our fields light up!! Of course when the big artic blast comes, everyone gets all excited, but has very little to show for it. Usually everything freezes solid, and ducks do not move unless it's around current on the rivers. Even that can be spotty.
As far as the migration, I will take a southern push any day of the week. We get several days of 15-20 mph south wind, and our fields light up!! Of course when the big artic blast comes, everyone gets all excited, but has very little to show for it. Usually everything freezes solid, and ducks do not move unless it's around current on the rivers. Even that can be spotty.
Posted on 1/15/17 at 7:34 am to mach316
My experiences have been the same. The big cold fronts don't do as much for me as the day or two before the front or with big south winds. Some of my best hunts have been in 70 degree weather with south winds in late December or January
This post was edited on 1/15/17 at 8:22 am
Posted on 1/15/17 at 5:22 pm to Ron Cheramie
We do much better on coast on south wind before a front. They can't ride it out offshore on S wind. North wind we don't do squat. Its frustrating to watch 1000s of birds rafted up on gulf and the only people shooting them is the shrimpers
Posted on 1/15/17 at 8:46 pm to Capt ST
ST how was the fog when you were there?
From sun up to sundown I couldnt see 40ft in front of me. I guess it had them laid down in the fields as the weekend went on. Productivity dwindled each hunt.
Didnt fire a shot this morning. Neighbor lobbed a few at some geese and that was it.
Friday afternoon was killer in Humphrey. Saturday morning 30min north, no ducks flying, got 3 geese.
Saturday afternoon in Humphrey, half as many ducks flying as Friday.
This morning in Humphrey, NOTHING.
From sun up to sundown I couldnt see 40ft in front of me. I guess it had them laid down in the fields as the weekend went on. Productivity dwindled each hunt.
Didnt fire a shot this morning. Neighbor lobbed a few at some geese and that was it.
Friday afternoon was killer in Humphrey. Saturday morning 30min north, no ducks flying, got 3 geese.
Saturday afternoon in Humphrey, half as many ducks flying as Friday.
This morning in Humphrey, NOTHING.
Posted on 1/16/17 at 7:40 am to Polar Pop
ducks with radio transmitters about a decade ago went from cameron to arkansas 3 times back and forth over a 10 day period.....
the big question is....
this phenomenon of ducks sitting offshore all day and feeding at night - did this go on 20-30 and 50 years ago?
the big question is....
this phenomenon of ducks sitting offshore all day and feeding at night - did this go on 20-30 and 50 years ago?
Posted on 1/16/17 at 9:15 am to choupiquesushi
quote:
this phenomenon of ducks sitting offshore all day and feeding at night - did this go on 20-30 and 50 years ago?
Could you or someone further explain this? What is exactly happening?
Posted on 1/16/17 at 9:20 am to Polar Pop
90% of the geese I saw this weekend in NELA were headed North.
Posted on 1/16/17 at 9:44 am to Clyde Tipton
Sounds about right, no shortage of geese around my grounds. Saw tens of thousands all weekend, just field hopping.
We werent targeting them but did knock those 3 snows down on the pass over Saturday morning.
We werent targeting them but did knock those 3 snows down on the pass over Saturday morning.
Posted on 1/16/17 at 10:55 am to The Lou
When its calm offshore, birds are rafting up by the thousands and can sit all day without even hearing a shot. They come in to feed at night while we're pounding bourbon and talking about how we're going to get em in the morning.
Come morning time, they head back south and laugh at us.
Come morning time, they head back south and laugh at us.
Posted on 1/16/17 at 12:36 pm to Redfish2010
Sounds similar to the WMAs in Arkansas. Most of the WMAs have a rest area adjacent to them. It does not take long for the ducks to learn that they can use the rest area without getting shot at. And they can also wait until noon to use the WMA since hunting ends at that time.
But on the last 3 days of the season, the rest area can be hunted and the hunting is all day on the WMA. So we wait on their arse at noon Friday.
But on the last 3 days of the season, the rest area can be hunted and the hunting is all day on the WMA. So we wait on their arse at noon Friday.
Posted on 1/16/17 at 1:21 pm to Redfish2010
quote:
When its calm offshore, birds are rafting up by the thousands and can sit all day without even hearing a shot. They come in to feed at night while we're pounding bourbon and talking about how we're going to get em in the morning.
Come morning time, they head back south and laugh at us.
but is this new.... .or has this always happened?
migration patterns change over years.... years ago canada geese used to utilize marshes around ches bay - now they just stick to ag fields...
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