By Avery Outdoors
Central:
Name: David Ortley
Date: November 11, 2014
Location: Kalispell, Montana
Weather: We enjoyed mild temperatures late last week after our first snow fall. Saturday was clear and sunny with highs into the 50’s. Between Saturday night and late Sunday we received over an inch of rain. Sunday evening the temperature plummeted and the snow arrived on a strong north wind. Since then the temperature has been in the high teens with the high only 25. The forecast is for record cold and snow with clearer skies late in the week.
Snow Cover: Snow on the valley floor is spotty. The mountains continue to receive snow.
Water Conditions: The recent rains made a noticeable difference in the river flow. Since the cold weather struck the smaller bodies of water have frozen. The saturated fields are now lightly frozen.
Feeding Conditions: Feeding conditions worsened with the arrival of snow and cold. While the fields are mostly clear of snow they are becoming frozen. Birds will likely look to the river and open spring feed water for feed until the temperature moderates.
Species and Numbers: We had plenty of birds just before the weather hit. While birds undoubtedly left in advance of the weather it appears that birds are coming in from the north. The coming days will confirm whether we have fresh birds.
Migrations: We have a mix of mallards, pintail, and gadwall. A few wigeon have been seen on an open slough. Late today an unusually large flock of geese was observed making its way to an open field that had been warmed by the afternoon sun on an otherwise cold frigid day.
Season Stage: This is the start of the sixth week of our season.
Hunting Report: Hunting pressure has lessened but hunting remains good. As expected the focus is on now whitetail.
Gossip: The general big game season continues to be well above average. The recent cold blast should kick the rut into full gear.
Name: Jeremy Devries
Date: 11/11/14
Location: Billings, MT
Weather: Snow and cold. 6 degrees
Snow Cover: 2-4”
Water Conditions: Freezing up as we speak.
Feeding Conditions: Light snow has most fields still open to feeding waterfowl.
Species and Numbers: Mallards are increasing in numbers daily. Wood ducks and teal are mostly all gone now with this most recent cold snap.
Migrations: This is the start!!
Season Stage: Week 4. Remember we have a split season in parts of MT this year.
Hunting Report: Hunting has been very good the past 2 days. Increasing cold weather and north winds have started the serious push of waterfowl to our area. Reports of limit shooting on the Clarks Fork and in fields for geese near the Afterbay Reservoir on the Bighorn. Duck numbers are still a little scattered as area ponds, ditches and sloughs are just freezing. Lots of birds looking for open water. Yellowstone in still clear an holding birds. I also had a great duck report from a warm water spring near Lewistown.
Gossip: If you’re eating Halloween candy, it’s duck season!
Name: Brandon Geweke
Date: 11-11-2014
Location: Fargo, North Dakota
Weather: Lows in the teens and highs mid-30’s.
Snow Cover: 3-7 inches over the week
Water Conditions: Small potholes frozen up, forcing the birds to concentrate on larger bodies of water
Feeding Conditions: Massive duck feeds in corn fields. Snows moving in hitting same fields. Lessers are hitting bean fields still.
Species and Numbers: Lots of mallard in ND right now. Snows moved in at the end of the week. Right when we got to ND lessers were thick but when we left on Sunday there were very few big feeds left.
Migrations: With all the north winds and weather in ND last week we saw large duck migrations. Snows are stacking up in ND now.
Season Stage: Middle of our hunting season now.
Hunting Report: Had an amazing trip in ND, timing was perfect. We ended up shooting 3 goose bands that was a nice bonus.
Gossip: We were very lucky with our timing for the hunt. Mild temperatures have kept the majority of the birds in Canada until this front.
Name: Greg Owens
Date: Nov 5 2014
Location: Gwinner, ND
Weather: Lows in the 30’s and highs in the 50’s.
Snow Cover: None yet
Water Conditions: The water is very low.
Feeding Conditions: Most of the fields are picked.
Species and Numbers: There are very few ducks around. Probably 5% of what is normally in the area this time of year.
Migrations: The local birds have moved through. And there were a few new ducks showing up as we were packing up to come back home.
Season Stage: There are a few weeks left of duck season. Geese go on through the end of the year.
Hunting Report: Everybody I talked to had the same dismal success that we had. Even the local guys and the relatives of the major land owners were only shooting a couple ducks a day.
Gossip: If you have a trip planned up here you may want to wait for some weather north to push birds into the area. They will come. It’s just a matter of when and if they will stick around or just blow through.
Name: Kirk Steffensen
Date: November 12, 2014
Location: Lincoln, NE
Weather: Unseasonable cold, highs in the upper 20’s with overnight lows near single digits. Strong north wind the past several days.
Snow Cover: Light dusting
Water Conditions: Great – Rainwater Basins are all full with water everywhere. Local lakes and ponds are also full.
Feeding Conditions: Harvest is almost completed with only a few fields remaining.
Species and Numbers: Great number of ducks and geese moved into and through the area.
Migrations: The first major (and hopefully, not the only) push occurred the past couple days.
Season Stage: Duck and goose seasons are open state-wide.
Hunting Report: Great, limits of ducks and geese taken across the eastern half of the state.
Gossip: Nothing at this time.
Name: Jared Shepard
Date: 11/10/14
Location: Scottsbluff, NE
Weather: It finally feels like winter! Highs this week expected to only reach the mid-30’s with lows in the negative single digits!
Snow Cover: Just a dusting…
Water Conditions: The water level in the river appears to be staying at a good level for hunting and does not appear to have changed much over the past week.
Feeding Conditions: Lots of corn, beans and alfalfa are available for migratory birds!
Species and Numbers: Still only local ducks and geese in the area. Quite a few green- winged teal and some mallards along with family groups of local geese.
Migrations: No major migrations yet. I still have yet to see or hear many cranes but with any luck we should be seeing some new birds with this cold front!
Season Stage: All waterfowl seasons and pheasant season are open!
Hunting Report: We are anticipating a good number of birds to be pushing down in front of this recent cold snap!
Gossip: Local reports of more gadwall and wigeon arriving along with a few flights of cranes here and there.
Name: Andrew Schlueter
Date: 11/11/14
Location: Seward, NE
Weather: 25/11 10+ MPH (NW),
Snow Cover: Minimal
Water Conditions: Normal
Feeding Conditions: Beans are out. Some corn is still in, but most all crops are out.
Species and Numbers: Geese are feeding twice a day. A lot are feeding in bean fields, others in corn. More birds moving in every day.
Migrations: A lot of new birds came in with this recent storm.
Season Stage: In season
Hunting Report: The recent influx of birds is a nice change. Hopefully this is not the only push we get for the year.
Gossip: Nothing at this time.
Name: Bill Schaefer
Date: 11/9/14
Location: Grand Junction, Colorado
Weather: Cooler fall temperatures have pushed into the area this past week. Lows have been in the upper 20’s and highs in the mid-50’s and low 60’s. Mostly local geese remain in the area with some migrating mallards as well. This week’s forecast calls for a storm system to bring cooler temperatures, wind, and precipitation. This combined with a nearly full (waning) moon should set the stage for migrating birds.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: The Colorado River in the western Colorado corridor is flowing at normal fall levels. Current temperatures are not cold enough to produce any ice on ponds, lakes, or the river which leaves birds spread out on multiple available water sources.
Feeding Conditions: The fall harvest is beginning and most farmers have finished the cutting of alfalfa and are switching their efforts to the corn fields. More corn is being harvested each week and birds are primarily feeding in the mornings and loafing the remainder of the day before returning to the evening roost. With generally mild temperatures, birds seem to only need to feed once per day.
Species and Numbers: Currently, mallards and Canada geese are the primary species around with some wigeon observed as well.
Migrations: Some of the birds in the area are resident birds with influxes of new migrators weekly. The coming full moon and cooler temperatures north should continue to bring new birds.
Season Stage: Currently we are in the second week of what is still early season. The “official” season opener (or 2nd split) for the Pacific Flyway was November 2nd.
Hunting Report: Week two of the season produced some decent hunting conditions as mallards are prevalent in the area. Cooler temps in the morning are settling in with some consistency driving the birds to feed.
Gossip: Nothing at this time.
Name: Lance Ohnmacht
Date: 11/11/14
Location: Hutchinson, KS
Weather: What a difference a day can make! Near 70 yesterday and below freezing today! 10 day forecast has highs from the low 30’s to high 40s and lows in the teens. Not many chances at moisture either.
Snow Cover: NA
Water Conditions: Fair on public but not much water on private lands without pumping.
Feeding Conditions: Moist soil plants had a good summer and most places should have good feed conditions for early migrants. All harvest of crops is near complete. A fair amount of waste corn sprouted and grew; it will be interesting to see how long geese will stay in a field.
Species and Numbers: Numbers are low. Judging from other’s reports I’m afraid the big push is still states away.
Migrations: With the kind of front that passed through I would have hoped to see any birds, but I have yet to see any real solid signs of migration.
Season Stage: Canada goose season will start again 11/12/14. Speck and snow seasons are open as well as early and late duck zones. Sandhill crane opened November 5th. Pheasant and quail seasons have opened.
Hunting Report: Pressure is the story, with no real migration and lots of people hunting the birds are few and far between right now. Most reports from the weekend had a few birds stirring around early then finding refuge fast.
Gossip: Don’t blink… Things are going to happen fast.
Name: Nick Lisec
Date: 11/10/14
Location: Kansas City, Kansas
Weather: Mid 40’s to lows the upper 20’s.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: We are looking good now but with the colder weather coming some of the shallow marshes may freeze up slightly.
Feeding Conditions: Beans and corn are all getting harvested as quickly as possible.
Species and Numbers: Puddle ducks will be showing up soon.
Migrations: Much colder weather is on the horizon. The next few days should really turn things on.
Season Stage: We’ve been open for a few weeks now with the best hunting yet ahead.
Hunting Report: Good to average success has been had by most hunters.
Gossip: Scouting is the key to success.
Name: Dallas W. Branch
Date: 11.08.2014
Location: Morrison, OK
Weather: Strong winds coming out of the north 17mph with 30 mph gusts.
Snow Cover: N/A
Water Conditions: Lakes in the area are at normal levels.
Feeding Conditions: Winter wheat is doing well with the most recent rainfall.
Species and Numbers: All low numbers on puddle ducks. Few geese are in the area.
Migrations: The recent cold front on Saturday brought birds into the area.
Puddle ducks have moved into the area.
Season Stage: Season is open
Hunting Report: Low number of hunters and low numbers of geese and ducks.
Gossip: Little success with hunters, heard my first migration of snows moving south.
Mississippi:
Name: Richard Shamla
Date: 11/11/2014
Location: Clara City, MN
Weather: Windy with flurries. Highs mid-30 with lows in the single digits. Forecasted highs of below freezing for the next week which will pretty much close most water except big bodies.
Snow Cover: Approximately 12 inches of new fallen snow in the area.
Water Conditions: All small water is frozen. The only thing that remains open is large waters and rivers.
Feeding Conditions: Waterfowl are feeding in mid-day one time a day starting in the late morning and ending well before the sunset.
Species and Numbers: Canada geese numbers have increased and also an increase of mallards that was prior to the big snow that came. Pushed some straight through. Overall waterfowl numbers are up but not sure how long it will last with the cold and new snow.
Migrations: Right before the snowstorm to now there has been a significant migration of geese and ducks into the area.
Season Stage: Past mid-point.
Hunting Report: Not very good up to the front. The day before the front it was great. Now it is hard to access fields to hunt the geese.
Gossip: With the cold and snow it is most likely going to be a quick push through the area.
Name: Greg Owens
Date: Nov 10 2014
Location: Rochester, MN
Weather: Lows in the 30’s and highs in the 50’s.
Snow Cover: None yet
Water Conditions: The water is very low.
Feeding Conditions: Most of the fields are picked and the birds are hitting them. The rice crop on the river is pretty bad this year.
Species and Numbers: Bird numbers are fairly low for both ducks and geese for this time of year, but they should be on the way with the cold temps and storms north of us.
Migrations: Birds have been moving through. It’s a shame that our area doesn’t hold nearly as many as it used to.
Season Stage: There are a few weeks left of duck season. Geese go on through the end of the year.
Hunting Report: Guys have been doing very well on geese around, as long as they are able to be mobile.
Gossip: Deer season started last weekend. Wear orange on your way to and from the blind if you go out.
Name: Ben Cade
Date: 11/10/2014
Location: Buffalo, MN
Weather: Snow accumulating today up to 12 inches. Winds are heavy and out of the north.
Snow Cover: Storm total is forecasted to give us a good blanket of 8-12 inches.
Water Conditions: Open water, but freeze up is beginning on some small wetlands.
Feeding Conditions: Ok. Not all of the corn is out yet. Snow is accumulating in some fields.
Species and Numbers: A few geese around with some mallards as well. Most birds I saw this morning were staying put while waiting out the storm.
Migrations: Migration is occurring now.
Season Stage: Towards the end of our regular waterfowl season. We have just shy of two weeks left for ducks.
Hunting Report: It seems that most guys I talk to have been struggling all season. The weather we needed to push birds into the area just arrived and with extreme cold in the forecast for the end of this week, we will be down to only traditional late season areas holding birds.
Gossip: Most guys are hunting deer at this point. A few die hard waterfowlers remain.
Name: Justin Weber
Date: 11/11/2014
Location: Cottage Grove, Wisconsin
Weather: Partly Sunny with lows in the 20’s and highs in the 30’s.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: Smaller bodies of water will soon be frozen over.
Feeding Conditions: Geese are hitting combined corn fields. Ducks are starting to hit fields as well. Expecting to see good numbers of ducks hitting fields with the weather forecast.
Species and Numbers: Hunted the Mississippi River this weekend. Saw very high numbers of canvasbacks that decoyed very well. Canada geese numbers in our area are near peak right now. Mallards are starting to come down in bigger numbers.
Migrations: Divers moved down this past weekend on the Mississippi. Pool 9 specifically had good numbers of canvasbacks and bufflehead. Goldeneyes should be coming down very shortly as well. Canada geese are seen migrating in the sky very often. With the snow storm and cold weather to come mallard numbers should be high very soon.
Season Stage: Mid-season
Hunting Report: This weekend was very good with massive flocks of canvasbacks and various diver species working our decoy spread. This next week should be even better.
Gossip: Weather has set us up for a huge push of ducks and geese!
Name: Gerry Mazur
Date: November 11th, 2014
Location: Toledo Ohio
Weather: Very nice day today the 11th, leading into the cold push of air from the Northwest. We will be at the outskirt of any snow from the Upper Peninsula. Highs will be in the 30’s and lows will vary from night to night 20’s and teens,
Snow Cover: Will stay out of our area.
Water Conditions: Levels have not been too bad, even though there has been SW wind. Docks are open to trailers and river levels are walkable.
Feeding Conditions: There are plenty of crops that need to come down. Beans and corn are still standing in a majority of land on both sides of the border.
Species and Numbers: In the immediate area there are Canadas but have been here for some time and staying in the city. A small mallard group was seen several days ago but they have moved on. Not much to see even glassing the open waters.
Migrations: Should be interesting to see what floats in during the Midwest snowstorm. The west end of Lake Erie is just quiet right now and just south of the border is the same.
Season Stage: Both duck and goose will re-open in the Lake Erie marsh zone on the 15th in Ohio. Southern Michigan is open until December 7th.
Hunting Report: A few birds are being taken on the Lake, but it is spotty.
Gossip: I don’t even have anything to make up!!!
Name: Ryan Eder
Date: Nov 11, 2014
Location: Lake County, IL / SE WI (Kenosha County)
Weather: Warmer this week, temps in the 40’s SW winds.
Snow Cover: None yet
Water Conditions: Minimal rain, water drying up in fields. Lakes and ponds wide open.
Feeding Conditions: Harvest still in full swing, plenty of corn around and fields are loaded with geese
Species and Numbers: Thousands of geese, large feeds in corn fields. Duck numbers appear lower this week, less on the water that I scout. Very small groups of mallards (10-12 per group).
Migrations: Geese are heavy in our area, less ducks this week.
Season Stage: Still early, north is getting very cold so we should see a big push of birds this week.
Hunting Report: Hunted fresh cut corn field with no success. Minimal bird traffic was a problem, and we hunted the field too early. We should have let it sit a couple days to get birds staging there. With the freeze coming, the farmer has already tilled the field.
Gossip: Around here, some success in SE WI with groups shooting 8-12 geese in corn fields. Minimal duck success, even on the Chain of Lakes.
Name: Shaun Patrick
Date: 11-12-14
Location: Troy, MO
Weather: Highs in the 40’s, lows in the upper 20’s, overcast with light precip. Winds out the NNW at 15-20.
Snow Cover: N/A
Water Conditions: Good
Feeding Conditions: Good, harvest 90% complete.
Species and Numbers: Teal, spoonbills, gadwall here in good numbers. Mallards are starting to show up.
Migrations: Yesterday we watched large flocks of ducks show up all day. We also had flights of snow geese around the area as well.
Season Stage: Early
Hunting Report: Yesterday was a great day to be out. Hunting was strong in most places around the area. Birds worked well, especially in the morning but shut off around 10:30. Action picked back up around 1.
Gossip: Most places are very concerned with an early freeze with this recent drop in temps.
Name: Ralph Harr
Date: 11/11/14
Location: St. Peter’s, MO.
Weather: Colder with major weather system coming through the area today bringing strong winds and cold temps.
Snow Cover: N/A
Water Conditions: Water conditions are good right now with nothing frozen but will be much different situation in a week.
Feeding Conditions: Fair to good
Species and Numbers: Mostly dabblers and some local geese. Numbers should be increasing throughout the week.
Migrations: Major migration early this week. Still too early to tell how many birds we will pick up.
Season Stage: Early stage of the season still
Hunting Report: Hunting report from last Sunday: Good morning movement with most groups working very well. Good groups of mallards and some pintails working spread which was a good feeling.
Gossip: Be safe this week and weekend with the cold temps
Name: John Gordon
Date: 11/10/14
Location: Prichard, MS
Weather: Mild but changing rapidly with and Arctic push on the way. Temps will start out the week in the 70’s and will only reach the 40’s by the weekend.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: Overall the lakes and rivers are at normal levels. Some pumping has taken place in the area and that is where you will find the ducks right now.
Feeding Conditions: Very good, the fields have plenty of waste grains available.
Species and Numbers: Gadwall, pintail, green-winged teal, mallards and specks are all in the area now. We should see a big influx by the end of the week.
Migrations: Pretty typical of the ducks right now but that will all change by the end of the week. We should see more mallards and some snow geese after this front has passed.
Season Stage: Youth day is on November 22 with the regular season to open Thanksgiving Day. Geese will be fair game after this Thursday the 13th.
Hunting Report: I wish there was one but not yet.
Gossip: The Dawgs are still at number one! The biggest game of the year will be in Tuscaloosa this weekend.
Atlantic:
Name: Eric Bartlett
Date: 11/10/14
Location: Hollis, Maine
Weather: Clear with mild temps in the mid-50’s.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: Calm and cool
Feeding Conditions: Shallow water areas that harbor anything from acorns, some vegetation to some aquatic bugs.
Species and Numbers: 30 wood ducks, 10 goldeneye, 15 greenheads, 5 black ducks, 4 ring-necks.
Migrations: Multiple groups of birds moving around. New to the area some goldeneye and ring-necks showed up. Now that we are into the migration and into the second season new species are making their appearance.
Hunting Report: The waterways are still seeing some hunting pressure around here; however most people are chasing the whitetails around.
Gossip: The weather has been very erratic in temperature but otherwise it has been fairly calm. Cold weather being on the schedule may start to lock up some areas which may change the game a little. This may work to our benefit.
Name: Sean M. Fritzges
Date: 10 November 2014
Location: Bel Air, MD
Weather: Weather at this time normal with temps in the 40-50’s.
Snow Cover: None at this time.
Water Conditions: Bay tide levels normal.
Feeding Conditions: Canada geese feeding in cut corn and soybean fields. Geese also feeding in grass fields.
Species and Numbers: Numbers are increasing daily as new birds arrive to our area.
Migrations: Migration has slowed the past few days. Possibly the recent full moon has the birds remaining local.
Season Stage: AP season closed at this time.
Hunting Report: Bow hunters out in full force hunting the rut and looking for the BIG whitetails.
Gossip: Very much looking forward to the start of the AP season.
Name: Marshall Starkey
Date: 11/10/14
Location: Essex, MD
Weather: Seasonal weather with cooler lows at night. Much colder temps expected at the end of the week.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: Average
Feeding Conditions: Cut agricultural fields and impoundments that have recently flooded are holding birds.
Species and Numbers: Canada goose numbers continue to inch up. There are more than a few birds here but it doesn’t seem to be as many as years past.
Migrations: New geese have continued to arrive on the upper shore.
Season Stage: AP Canada goose season is a few weeks away. November duck season is underway.
Hunting Report: Still plenty of woodies around for the duck hunters.
Gossip: The whitetail rut is starting to really ramp up, a lot of big deer falling this week.
Name: John Taylor
Date: 11-10-14
Location: MD Eastern Shore (Lower Shore) Wicomico County, Quantico area
Weather: Cool mid-60’s and sunny.
Snow Cover: N/A
Water Conditions: Tidal, calm
Feeding Conditions: Good
Species and Numbers: Canada geese, green-winged teal
Migrations: New and more geese showing up all the time. I duck hunted this past Saturday (11-8-14) and saw a lot of green-winged teal around. A few mallards and black ducks around as well.
Season Stage: Still early but steady coming in!
Hunting Report: Goose season isn’t in yet. Duck hunting was great for teal but slow on other species.
Gossip: A lot of geese around for this time of the year. Looks like it’s going to be another great season! Seeing more and more ducks showing up.
Name: Kenny Gray
Date: November 10, 2014
Location: Chestertown, MD
Weather: Seasonal, but a cold front up north is supposed to be heading this way!
Snow Cover: None at this time.
Water Conditions: Good, average to slightly below average.
Feeding Conditions: Geese are feeding mainly on cut corn with winter wheat.
Species and Numbers: It’s been a weird week, goose numbers are half of what they were last week, hopefully they have just moved to different field to feed and not moved further south.
Migrations: Last week was slow, no new birds at all.
Season Stage: Duck season opened Saturday and goose is still two weeks away.
Hunting Report: Based on the shooting I heard from the deer stand Saturday night, the first day was very slow.
Gossip: With duck season starting slow and goose season two weeks away, the next two weeks will be all about the rut.
Name: Bryn Witmier
Date: 11/11/2014
Location: Strausstown, PA
Weather: About what you would expect for early November. Cold snap coming our way later this week.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: Low
Feeding Conditions: Good. About 75% of crops are harvested.
Species and Numbers: Decent amount of geese. A few ducks but nothing special.
Migrations: Nothing major recently
Season Stage: Regular duck and goose season opens on Saturday.
Hunting Report: Whitetail bucks are on the move.
Gossip: If you like to deer hunt this week is for you.
Name: Kevin Addy
Date: November 10, 2014
Location: Reading, PA
Weather: Highs in the 60’s and lows in the 40’s – will be highs in the 40’s and lows in the 20’s by late week.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: Levels are still low
Feeding Conditions: Good – plenty of harvested corn, beans and cover crop around.
Species and Numbers: The numbers are about the same as last week.
Migrations: Birds continue to trickle down. Some birds will only be here a few days and then I believe are moving further south.
Season Stage: North zone duck and RP geese are open now. The south zone duck and AP goose season opens on the 15th.
Hunting Report: Nothing open on the south / AP zone.
Gossip: Everyone is talking about the storm and how it will affect the
season.
Canada:
Name: Bill Dougan
Date: November 10, 2014
Location: Cochrane, Alberta
Weather: Temperatures will be ranging from lows of -20 to highs of – 8. Mostly sunny for this week with moderate winds.
Snow Cover: Had some snow over the last couple of days about 10 cm or so.
Water Conditions: a lot of water is now frozen up thru out most of the province.
Feeding Conditions: Feeding conditions will be hard for the birds with all this snow and
frozen ground.
Species and Numbers: A lot of birds have left the area, still some diver shooting to be
had.
Migrations: The northern parts of the province are frozen up and with all this snow that
should push a lot of birds south within the next few days.
Season Stage: We are just starting our ninth week of the season which opened on
September 8.
Hunting Report: Guys are still having some great diver hunts up north the early part of last
week.
Gossip: The hunting in northern Alberta and in the Edmonton area was awesome this
year Hunting in the southern areas was okay but not great.
Name: Chris Stoddart
Date: November 9, 2014
Location: Lanark, ON
Weather: Getting cold, morning frost, some snow.
Snow Cover: Nil
Water Conditions: Open
Feeding Conditions: Ducks still using back bays and ponds; Canada geese using corn and soybean fields.
Species and Numbers: Good numbers of mallards, ring-neck ducks. Excellent numbers of Canada geese.
Migrations: Goldeneye and bufflehead starting to arrive. Wood ducks have pushed further south.
Season Stage: Mid-season
Hunting Report: Excellent
Gossip: Nothing at this time.
Pacific:
Name: Allen Riggs
Date: 11-9-14
Location: Metaline, WA
Weather: Temperatures are dropping, highs this week will be in the 40s with lows in the teens. Rain is moving in and out, snow is beginning to fall at higher elevations.
Snow Cover: Snow above 3000 feet.
Water Conditions: Water is cold and clear.
Feeding Conditions: Birds are feeding in the nearby fields and loafing and feeding in the rivers and lakes.
Species and Numbers: Both Canada goose and duck numbers are lower than average right now.
Migrations: Beginning to see some Canada geese moving through.
Season Stage: Week 5 of the season.
Hunting Report: Hunting remains slow due to the lack of birds.
Gossip: Hunting should pick up with the cold weather moving through.
Name: Kent Contreras
Date: 11-11-2014
Location: Newport, WA
Weather: Low temps have been in the teens and highs in the 30’s. Forecasts are showing a good cold snap reaching the area with some snow flurries and windy conditions.
Snow Cover: Snow arrived to the higher elevations over the week and some valley bottom snow flurries have occurred.
Water Conditions: Water levels are starting to drop.
Feeding Conditions: Moderate to good feeding conditions at this time.
Species and Numbers: Below average number of resident geese and puddle ducks.
Migrations: A few starting to show up – mostly Canada geese. Duck numbers remain static for now.
Season Stage: Fifth week of open season!
Hunting Report: With rain showers over the week – birds were scarce. Should see an increase in numbers as forecasts are favorable and water level dropping on the Pend Oreille River.
Gossip: Birds that are in the area have to seek refuge on the river as small ponds, lakes and backwaters begin to freeze.
Name: Russell Brzezinski
Date: November 9th, 2014
Location: Scappoose, Oregon
Weather: Clear, sun and mild temps.
Snow Cover: N/A
Water Conditions: Small farm ponds
Feeding Conditions: Wheat fields
Species and Numbers: Didn’t see the number of birds we saw in years past. The migration seems to be behind schedule this year for dark geese and mallards – not many geese around
Migrations: Didn’t see many migrators either.
Season Stage: Mid-season stage
Hunting Report: Fair hunting this weekend on teal and wigeon. Not many mallards around or geese which seems odd. Reports are mixed from the area and many believe they’re still stacked up north of the border.
Name: Rob Friedel
Date: 11/9/2014
Location: Hooper, UT
Weather: Warm, calm and sunny!
Snow Cover: Nada
Water Conditions: Impoundments for the WMAs are all holding a good bit of water. The Great Salt Lake and surrounding marshes are struggling. Local WMA manager says they are holding on to what little they have since October produced nearly zero rain!
Feeding Conditions: There wasn’t a real push to get fat for a migration this week. Hard to when the highs are in the upper 60s. A full moon led to easy night flying and eating after shooting hours.
Species and Numbers: The swans are continuing to show up, along with more divers. Didn’t see a surge in puddle ducks this week.
Migrations: Swans and divers
Season Stage: One month and a week down.
Hunting Report: Hunted a lot scouted more, harvested very few. Bunched birds seemed to separate making it tough to find concentrations. Big water layout spreads have been shooting well.
Gossip: Just lie to me and tell me that it will get better soon!
Name: Travis Madden
Date: 11/4/14
Location: Orem, Utah
Weather: Mornings have cooled off and clear skies and sunny the remainder of the week
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: Depending on where you hunt it will vary most places are low
Feeding Conditions: Again feeding conditions are varying with little water this summer. Fields should have good feed
Species and Numbers: Lots of divers moving into the area. Still plenty of puddle ducks and more are moving in.
Migrations: Seeing new birds with the last cold front. Swans are also starting to move in
Season Stage: A month into the season and warm temps made it not so hot hunting but November should heat up!
Hunting Report: More birds being harvested with the last cold front. Swans are starting to show up as well. Hunting should get good for November.
Gossip: Nothing at this time.
Name: David Harper
Date: 11-12-14
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho
Weather: Temps have been warm with day time temps hitting the mid-sixties with abundant sunshine, until the front moved through the last couple of days. Yesterday I never saw the temp get above 28 and colder forecasted for today. With snow expected the next two days.
Snow Cover: No snow cover today, all could be changing Thursday this week.
Water Conditions: There is a lot of water around right now but is freezing up quickly with the cold front unless birds are keeping it open.
Feeding Conditions: A lot of the corn has been harvested and birds are using it readily. I expect them to be in it even more with the dramatic drop in temperatures.
Species and Numbers: Great mix of ducks around now, major push of divers on the front of this storm as well as mallards and pintails. The geese are still lagging behind a bit.
Migrations: For the last couple of days I have watched large groups of migrators moving into the area as this front pushing through. Snow geese to ducks have made a definite appearance.
Season Stage: 1 month down.
Hunting Report: With the recent change in weather, things are picking up! If you haven’t made it out yet, now is the time for some good hunting.
Gossip: Canvasbacks and redheads are sitting heavy on the Snake River, could make for some fun shoots.
Name: Tailor Sponcey
Date: 11-11-14
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho
Weather: Highs in the 50-60s until cold front moved in on 11-9. Highs in the 30s the past couple days.
Snow Cover: 0 inches on valley floor.
Water Conditions: Most areas are full except for the Hagerman WMA.
Feeding Conditions: Corn harvest is still going on so feed fields are becoming more abundant.
Species and Numbers: Very mixed species list right now of mostly mallards, wigeon, gadwall, pintail, and some divers. Mallards have really moved in from some hunting reports I’ve heard of the last two days.
Migrations: Mallards have made a big push into the valley and some flocks of swans and snow geese are passing over.
Season Stage: 1 month down.
Hunting Report: Hunting has been difficult due to the lull of locals leaving and migrators not here yet. I am seeing and hearing of good numbers of mallards being killed since the storm hit on Monday.
Gossip: Nothing at this time.
Name: Travis Lyle
Date: 11-10-14
Location: Fernley, NV
Weather: Mid 60’s for high temps. And lows in the 40’s
Snow Cover: There’s still a little left up there, but with the warmer temps it’s melting fast.
Water Conditions:Bad. Water is now shut off going to greenhead and Stillwater. This is it, so make the best of it and hope for wet weather. Other area’s water is still receding, but hoping with the cold weather it will slow down
Feeding Conditions: Its’ the same as the water, little to none. Been seeing some plots of wigeon grass floating around in a few areas
Species and Numbers: Still have spoonbills and teal. There are some mallards, swans and some snows that showed up over the weekend. Birds are moving in but I’m thinking they are not going to stay long once they see the water or lack thereof
Migrations: Birds are showing up but might not stay long. Have to hit it just right this year.
Season Stage: Into the fifth week of the season.
Hunting Report: Not many limits coming out of anywhere and not many hunters over the weekend.
Gossip: Still hear people yelling, and with the way they have some of the areas set up with opening gates it’s no big surprise. Not hearing much at all gossip-wise.
