Waterfowl Report

Welcome to Steve McCadams' Weekly Waterfowl Report. Waterfowlers wanting to monitor activity of ducks and geese here in Tennessee's Kentucky Lake area, along with reports from elsewhere in the Mississippi flyway, will want to check in often for the latest migratory movement, state and federal refuge counts, and other interesting information for hunters.

(Waterfowl Reports containing refuge surveys and overall duck and goose hunting activity, along with interesting tidbits on waterfowling will resume here in early November)

YOUTH WATERFOWL HUNTS NEAR…AS DUCK SEASON WOUND DOWN SO DID THE NUMBER OF DUCKS

By Steve McCadams - January 31, 2013

For the old folks duck season ended at sunset last Sunday. For kids ages 6-15 there are two more days set aside especially for them.

This year’s Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season will consist of two days and while that has been the case for several years this will be the first time it has been open on two separate Saturdays. Kids will have a chance to hunt this Saturday and again on February 9.

The Tennessee Fish and Game Commission made the changes this year courtesy of allocations in the federal framework sent down to the states by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

As has been the case in all special youth hunts youngsters must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age who is in a position to take control of the hunting device. Multiple youths may be accompanied by an adult.

It’s a good change to introduce a youngster to the sport or help those already enthused to further enjoy the sunrises of ducks descending, sausage and biscuits in the blind, and the whole waterfowl atmosphere of fun and fellowship.

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REFUGE DUCK NUMBERS DOWN

Recent aerial surveys taken at both Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge on Kentucky Lake and Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge on Barkley Lake may help tell the story as to the dilemma for duck hunters as season wound down last Sunday.

Leading up to the last week of season the number of ducks were down significantly on both refuges compared to not only last year at this time but long-term averages. While the waterfowl estimates are not totally tied to hunting success rates in the region, they are an indication of what hunters have to work with as to ducks wintering here in the general area.

Surveys were flown last Wednesday on TNWR and there were 110,606 duck and 5,781 geese observed. Duck numbers were down 15 percent from the last survey taken in early January when they should have increased. To put the survey into perspective the numbers were down 20 percent from last year at this time; down 44 percent from the 5-year average; down 28 percent from the 10-year average; and, down 25 percent from the 15-year average according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data.

Aerial surveys taken last Tuesday at CCNWR on Barkley Lake showed 43,870 ducks, a number that was 9 percent below last year at this time. The number of ducks was also 13 percent below the 5-year average.

No doubt duck hunters faced tough odds in the region as ducks seemed to be down for most folks and the recent flooding across portions of four states scattered waterfowl over a very large area during the last two weeks of the season.

With the exception of aerial surveys taken back in the third week of November before season opened when dry conditions concentrated ducks wherever there was water, the surveys at both TNWR and CCNWR were below average throughout December and January. The scenario of low duck numbers throughout the season at a time when they should have been increasing helps paint the true picture for duck hunters this year.

Weather did not cooperate as it was another warm winter and while that no doubt played a role, hunters were still somewhat mystified at times as the lack of ducks seen even when a few cold fronts andwind descended proved to be disappointing.

There were some exceptions and some blinds enjoyed a few good days that picked up their spirits only to have the activity dwindle quickly. The honeymoon of success for the bulk of waterfowlers was short and sweet across the board.

It’s fair to say the season was inconsistent for most duck hunters and while some boasted about bragging rights as to their harvest, they were in the minority.

It was supposed to be a good year with a record high fall flight forecast by the Canadian Wildlife Service and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service based on their estimates and observations on the prairie pothole region where ducks raise their broods each spring. Water was there with abundant habitat last spring and the ducks supposedly had a good hatch but just where they wintered is still somewhat of a mystery for southern duck hunters in several states.

DUCK HUNTERS HOPING FOR REBOUND…RAINS AND COOL SNAP SHOULD HELP

By Steve McCadams - January 24, 2013

Duck hunters will begin the dreaded tasks of picking up decoys, storing blinds and boats, and mopping up the mess after season ends Sunday. Tennessee’s 60-day season that began way back on the last Saturday in November will draw to a close at sunset January 27.

For the lion’s share of waterfowlers across West Tennessee and here in the Kentucky Lake area it has been another tough season. Some hunters have fared well at times with a few mornings of activity that perked them up but the overall picture has been dismal for most duck hunters who struggled throughout late November, December and most of January.

Some improvement occurred the last week to ten days courtesy of heavy rains that preceded a drastic weather change. Cold weather kicked in earlier this week and stimulated activity but flooding across a four to five state region has really scattered ducks, a scenario that contrasted to the majority of season when lack of water plagued many hunters and hunting spots.

For the first time this season some areas were battling ice at midweek after temps dropped into the teens and calm winds allowed shallow areas to freeze up. Icing has been rare this season for backwater bottoms and a lot of hunters didn’t have sufficient water until the last week or two.

Other areas across the region got off to a good start as the first two weeks were productive if you had water. The dry conditions across the region helped those who had water enjoy a good start. Ducks flocked to the limited water and feeding areas early, concentrating them and that really worked well for a portion of the state but the honeymoon was over after a week or two of good shooting.

Drainage areas flowing into the Mississippi River such as the Obion, Forked Deer, and Hatchie rivers were backed out due to heavy rains last week and have been slow to recede as has Kentucky Lake itself. Thousands of backwater acres that had been dry most of the season received quick water last week and lured ducks to the abundance of new feeding and resting areas.

The drastic change can be good for a few hunters who may be mobile enough to move around and find spots ducks are using but it can be difficult on normal flyway areas and permanent blind sights for a few days that rely on traditional routes of duck movement.

That seems to have been the case for most this week but backwaters are now falling or freezing up and that should help traditional spots as season winds down. Reports from local wildlife management areas such as West Sandy, Big Sandy, Gin Creek, Camden and Dover bottoms have had mixed reports with only a small percentage of blinds with bragging rights.

Updated waterfowl surveys were underway Wednesday on Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge as aerial counts were being flown. However, results were not available for this week’s deadline.

Recent surveys were flown by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday at Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge on Barkley Lake. Ducks numbers there were estimated at 43,870, which is up 11 percent from the previous survey taken a few weeks ago but 9 percent below last year at this time. The present number of ducks is also 13 percent below the 5-year average at CCNWR.

Geese were estimated to be only 2,992. That number is 33 percent below the 5-year average and 19 percent below the 10-year average for CCNWR for this time of year.

DUCK HUNTERS HOPING FOR REBOUND…RAINS AND COOL SNAP SHOULD HELP

By Steve McCadams - January 17, 2013

Drastic changes have been underway in the waterfowling world since last week as heavy rains drenched the region and flooded portions of five states, a scenario that has scattered ducks.    

While last weekend’s cold front stimulated some movement for a day or two with northeast winds and falling temperatures, the downpours pretty much inundated low lying areas all across West Tennessee and quickly offered thousands of acres for waterfowl to feed and rest. Portions of northern Mississippi, eastern Arkansas, southeast Missouri and west Kentucky were also soaked.    

Although much of the area had been needing water for the majority of the season, it appears rain in excess of three inches that fell on already saturated areas has proven to be too much too quick. A few hunters benefited from the rapidly rising waters on Sunday and Monday in a few spots along the Obion, Forked Deer, and Hatchie River bottoms in West Tennessee.    

Increased numbers of ducks entered the backwaters and followed the rapidly rising rivers where soybean and corn fields that had been dry all season suddenly became appealing. Some flooded swamps and timber also attracted ducks but it has been tough for most hunters who have been victims of too much water.    

Here in the Kentucky and Barkley Lakes area it appeared the flooding to our west robbed a lot of ducks that had been using local refuges and wildlife management areas. That’s not unusual as the ducks know when fresh water backs out in river bottoms and seem to head that direction literally overnight.    

While a few diver species remain on the big water areas most hunters report diminishing numbers of puddle ducks observed the last few days. There have been quite a few bluebills, canvasbacks, ringnecks, and buffleheads rafting among huge numbers of coots that have stayed around this winter and taken advantage of the aquatic vegetation.    

Water levels were beginning to recede at midweek across much of the region but it will take several days for both reservoirs and backwaters to return normal.     

There were a few good reports from hunters fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time earlier this week as ducks moved up bottoms toward fresh feeding areas. Some of the best hunting reports came from areas that had been dry or unproductive all season until the flood came in on Sunday.    

The most recent aerial surveys available were taken January 7th by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service showed some increase in duck numbers on both the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge on Kentucky Lake and Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge on Barkley Lake near Dover.    

Duck numbers have increased to 130,429 on TNWR, which was up 23 percent from the previous survey taken the third week of December. However, duck numbers were 11 percent below last year at this time and 33 percent below the 5-year average for this time of year at the refuge. The total estimate was also 20 percent below the 10-year average and 23 percent below the 15-year average, which further reflects the long spell of warm weather that descended in mid-December and hung around.    

Topping the species list were 74,586 mallards, followed by 15,430 gadwall, 10,370 pintails, and 9,649 greenwing teal. Normally greenwing teal have moved through the area by now but have hung around due to warm weather.    

The Duck River unit of the TNWR was holding the lion’s share of the total count at 77,574. The Big Sandy unit had 46,617 of the total with the smaller Busseltown until holding 6,233 ducks. There were a total of 4,345 geese observed on the refuge as well plus 39 eagles.    

Over at Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge there were 39,463 ducks and 2,862 geese observed in the aerial survey. The total duck count is 85 percent above the previous survey and 21 percent above last year at this same time. The numbers are 17 percent below the 5-year average however.    

With just over a week left in the statewide season it will be interesting to see how ducks move as high water recedes. Another cold front is in the forecast for early next week so that should help as hunters hit the home stretch in Tennessee’s 60-day season.    

Tennessee’s season ends January 27th. After that, two special youth waterfowl hunts are scheduled for February 2 and 9. Kids age 6-15 will have two separate Saturdays this year to call their own.

DUCK HUNTERS HOPING FOR REBOUND…RAINS AND COOL SNAP SHOULD HELP

By Steve McCadams - January 10, 2013

Rain entered the picture for duck hunters across the Midsouth as the weekend approached and most say it won’t dampen their spirits if a cool front follows and stirs up sitting ducks. Conditions are supposed to change for the better by late this weekend and early next week so that could stimulate some movement and improve the hunting scene.

It has been another unusual week of warm, balmy weather with some days reaching the upper 60’s. According to the National Weather Service that’s some twenty degrees above normal for this time of year and it has not worked in favor of weary waterfowlers waiting on a cold front.

Duck hunters are hoping the last two weeks of season pick their spirits up and help rebound from dismal days that have lingered far too long for the lion’s share of waterfowlers across the region. There are a few success stories out there but the overall scenario seems to be tough for most hunters who have battled low water, high temperatures, calm winds, and stubborn ducks for several weeks running.

Heavy rains were in progress over much of the region as this report was compiled and that could change things in many backwater bottoms and Mississippi River bottom tributaries in the days ahead. Some places were still in need of water while others pumped up fields but have not gotten usage from stagnant waterfowl which haven’t had to move around much in search of food.

Updated aerial surveys taken Monday (January 7th) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service show some increase in duck numbers on both the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge on Kentucky Lake and Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge on Barkley Lake near Dover.

Duck numbers have increased to 130,429 on TNWR, which is up 23 percent from the previous survey taken the third week of December. However, duck numbers are 11 percent below last year at this time and 33 percent below the 5-year average for this time of year at the refuge. The total estimate was also 20 percent below the 10-year average and 23 percent below the 15-year average, which further reflects the long spell of warm weather that descended in mid-December and hung around.

Topping the species list were 74,586 mallards, followed by 15,430 gadwall, 10,370 pintails, and 9,649 greenwing teal. Normally greenwing teal have moved through the area by now but have hung around due to warm weather.

The Duck River unit of the TNWR was holding the lion’s share of the total count at 77,574. The Big Sandy unit had 46,617 of the total with the smaller Busseltown until holding 6,233 ducks. There were a total of 4,345 geese observed on the refuge as well plus 39 eagles.

Over at Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge there were 39,463 ducks and 2,862 geese observed in the aerial survey. The total duck count is 85 percent above the previous survey and 21 percent above last year at this same time. The numbers are 17 percent below the 5-year average however.

Hunters here usually see a surge in activity during early January and while that has not occurred for most of the region, things could change by early next week in the aftermath of heavy rains and warm weather’s departure.

Tennessee’s season runs through January 27th so a series of north winds and cool snaps could help erase a sluggish scenario to some degree and help hunters go out on a good note as season winds down. A few good days can do wonders for the morale.

DUCKS DODGING WEARY WATERFOWLERS

By Steve McCadams - January 03, 2013

Despite a few cool days during the holiday period ducks have dodged the decoys spreads of weary waterfowlers over a large portion of western Tennessee and Kentucky, along with several areas of eastern Arkansas and the Bootheel of Missouri. Northern Mississippi has reported tough sledding too.

A lot of veteran waterfowlers are somewhat mystified at the duck dilemma given that some cold weather arrived this week. Up north cold conditions were underway this week too, which should be sending ducks winging to southern wintering grounds but hunters haven’t been seeing them in big numbers.

There are still lakes and ponds which have yet to freeze up serving as staging areas in northern states and that has provided a haven for ducks ride it out above the Mason-Dixon Line. Colder weather was in progress so changing conditions to our north should continue to freeze up shallow water areas and stimulate some movement in our direction.

What was supposed to be a record high fall flight of ducks based on estimates by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service has yet to materialize for a large portion of the Mississippi Flyway. The southern states have not fared well but a portion of northern states have had slow hunting too so it’s been rather unusual.

Northern Missouri had been holding on to a lot of ducks in late December and their season expired last week as did northern Indiana where reports from there indicate open water was still in existence. Duck numbers increased in the upper portion of the Hoosier State during the holiday period as their season was winding down.

Across the West Tennessee and Kentucky region ducks were still below average as to numbers seen and harvested the last week or so. However, January usually brings an influx of ducks and change can happen literally overnight once weather acts up.

Reports from some popular hunt areas in extreme west Tennessee were struggling to see and bag ducks even after they pumped up corn and soybean fields after a dry start in the early season. Reelfoot Lake duck hunters have had a tough year too as low lake levels there have plagued them since season opened.

A big portion of the blinds at Reelfoot Lake have not had enough water to hunt this season and those that have reported below average harvests.

Around the Kentucky Lake region most of the public wildlife management areas such as Camden bottoms, West Sandy, Big Sandy and Dover bottoms on Lake Barkley have had suffered similar fates. Some of the more popular blinds are experiencing below average takes as ducks have not flocked to their usual areas in significant numbers. One exception has been Gin Creek WMA where a few blinds have done well.

In the open water of Kentucky Lake ducks have been down too after hunters got off to a good start in the early season. Numbers of diver species increased this week as several flocks of bluebills, canvasbacks, and ringnecks were observed darting about as were a few goldeneye and bufflehead but mallards, gadwalls, widgeons, and pintail numbers diminished over the last couple of weeks.

No recent aerial surveys have been taken by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge or Cross Creeks Wildlife Refuge but updates will likely occur next week.

Hunters have just over three weeks left in the season so ample time remains to catch some good weather and see the sluggish season rebound. Tennessee’s season will run through January 27, 2013.

COLD FRONTS IMPROVE DUCK PICTURE

By Steve McCadams - December 27, 2012

Drastic weather changes usually work in favor of waterfowlers and it seems ole’ Santa delivered this year with a cool snap to the region that dropped temperatures dramatically. The last few days duck hunters have had to zip up their coats as snow pushed by gale force north winds made it clear winter was here.

Hunting has improved for some areas as no doubt more ducks have entered the area and those already here have been out and about more searching for food. Areas to our northwest experienced more snow than the Kentucky Lake area and further west most of Arkansas and Missouris, along with west Kentucky are still digging out from the snowstorm that really hammered them.

Another front is expected to arrive this weekend too, which should continue to work in favor of waterfowlers. The second half of season is starting off much better than did the first half when above average temperatures dominated for several weeks.

From the local scene comes reports of some improvement for a few wildlife management areas that have endured tough times since season opened due to both water and weather conditions. West Sandy had some increase in activity at midweek, especially in the upper end of the bottom where fresh water likely appealed to ducks looking for new feeding areas.

Big Sandy and Gin Creek WMAs saw some improvement too as did some blinds in Camden bottoms. Still, some hunters were reporting low numbers of ducks seen and taken at midweek as their expectations after the front came through were not met. Ducks can be disrespectful you know!

The weather to our northwest really dropped a lot of snow across that region and ducks should be moving to our locale in the days ahead with the approach of another cold front. However, hunters in much of extreme West Tennessee had not fared well lately. And, many blinds at Reelfoot Lake were lacking water and waterfowl prior to this week’s cold front.

Things are changing this week and the overall waterfowl picture should improve across a vast area. Surveys on several state refuges to our north and from various hunt clubs report a lot of ducks were still hanging around up there despite the recent snow storm as open water was still holding them.

No aerial surveys were updated in the Kentucky/Barkley Lakes area this week but watch for updates here by next week from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

There is still a lot of hunting time left as Tennessee reached the half-way mark of season at midweek. January is traditionally a good month for duck hunters here as weather usually cooperates.

The second half of season is certainly getting started on the right foot in terms of weather patterns that should push ducks down south to their wintering grounds. Last year the lion’s share of ducks didn’t migrate here in big numbers but things are shaping up to be quite different.

Duck hunting and football seasons sometimes have a lot in common; last year’s season doesn’t mean much. It how the game goes this week that matters most!

WATERFOWLERS HOPE CHANGE IMPROVES STAGNANT SEASON

By Steve McCadams - December 20, 2012

Duck hunters across the region are hoping Santa comes a little early with a cold front hidden in his bag. It appears a long overdue weather change has indeed arrived, filling a portion of the wish list of weary waterfowlers who have endured a stagnant season for the most part.

As this waterfowl update was underway a significant weather change was on the threshold and knocking at the door with thunderstorms preceding gusty winds and falling temperatures. Wednesday’s high was around 66 degrees but a 25-degree change was part of the forecast as the weekend approaches. That ought to boost things as hunters will finally have to button up their shirts.

Since season opened back in late November duck hunters have had only two or three days when north winds entered the picture. Cold fronts have been rare this season so the one now in progress is a nice early Christmas present.

Aerial surveys taken last Monday on the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge here on Kentucky Lake help paint the picture that waterfowlers were facing. Although duck numbers have increased from the previous survey taken about two weeks ago, the count indicates numbers are 20 percent below last year at this time.

Comparisons to long-term averages further reveal the tough times duck hunters have been facing lately as duck numbers are 39 percent below the 5-year average; 28 percent below the 10-year average; and 30 percent below the 15-year average for this time of year on the TNWR.

U. S. Fish and Wildlife biologist Robert Wheat’s aerial survey showed a total of 106,138 ducks estimated and 2,669 geese on the three units of TNWR. Topping the list were mallards at 67,725, followed by gadwalls at 15,041 and greenwing teal at 5,762. Ringnecks were estimated to be 5,700.

Other diver species such as bufflehead, goldeneye, and scaup were low, a further reflection of the warm weather that has dominated the region and the northern portion of the flyway as well. No freezing has occurred to our north on staging area and big lakes or rivers but change is now in process as the strong cold front blows across the upper and central portion of the flyway.

A breakdown between units of the refuge showed Duck River holding the lion’s share with 66,154 out of the total estimate. The Big Sandy unit had 39,136 and the small Busseltown unit had 848 ducks.

While there are enough ducks in the estimate to provide decent hunting in the area the mild weather has not stimulated much movement from lazy waterfowl basking in the sun. There have been a lot of “bluebird days”, a term used by waterfowlers to describe the clear blue days full of calm winds and above average temperatures more favorable to fishermen than fowlers.

The cold front in progress will have quite a thrust to it as snow has entered the picture across a lot of the Midwest where mild conditions have lingered the last few weeks. Hunting should improve here and across the region for a few days but to keep the migration active and stimulate movement duck hunters will need more cool snaps and brisk north winds to sustain the momentum.

Given the long stretch of mild weather it comes as no surprise that overall activity has been off for most of the region, although there have been some mornings when activity perked up if wind arrived. Generally speaking, hunters have been hunting the same ducks now for two or three weeks and that’s quite challenging. Some “new kids on the block” are badly needed.

West Tennessee hasn’t been alone in the dismal duck picture lately either. Arkansas duck numbers are down compared to the average for the last four years.

Last week’s aerial waterfowl survey showed a population estimate that’s much lower than the 2009-2012 average. Based on observations by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists, the state’s Delta has an estimated duck population of less than 800,000 ducks, a number similar to what biologists counted during the November survey but a significant decline from the 2009-2012 average for the December survey period.

Meanwhile, a snapshot of the local hunting scene in several wildlife management areas such as Camden Bottoms, West Sandy, Big Sandy, Dover Bottoms and Gin Creek indicates action has been below average. Some of the more popular blinds in the public hunt areas have struggled lately, despite increased water levels over the last week to ten days.

A few success stories were coming in from some private hunt clubs that only hunt two or three days each week but even those have been inconsistent the last week or so due to a lack of new ducks entering the area. Ducks that are here have been reluctant to move around and when they do their behavior has been skittish.

Duck activity should change quickly as the dramatic change underway will bring more ducks to us and stir up what’s here. The next few days will see cold nights and chilly mornings enter the picture.

There is a lot of hunting time left as Tennessee’s season hasn’t reached the half-way mark just yet. Season here runs through January 27, 2013 so ample time remains for a turnaround. Most duck hunters know action can change literally overnight.

WATERFOWLERS WAITING ON WIND AND WEATHER CHANGE

By Steve McCadams - December 13, 2012

Duck hunters in the Kentucky Lake area and all across West Tennessee welcomed Monday’s strong north winds and weather change after some overdue rain drenched much of the region last weekend. Cooler temperatures entered the waterfowl scene, breaking the hold of an extended spell of warm weather that had dominated for almost a month.

Once the warm spell released its grip cooler conditions have hung around this week, bringing temperatures back to a normal range for mid-December. However, since the cold front on Monday winds have diminished dramatically and ducks have been a bit sluggish to move around. Several days of back to back stagnant winds have not favored movement from ducks that are rafting up and basking in the sun.

Hunters had a good day or two with the cold front but now need another push of weather to stimulate things and put ducks in the air. No doubt a few ducks migrated into the region but even with cooler temperatures duck hunters need the wind to stimulate activity.

Some additional rain is in the forecast for Saturday and perhaps a cool front will enter the picture by the middle of next week if not sooner.

Last weekend’s rain helped many low lying gain water for the first time this season. It may have scattered ducks out a bit too as the new flooded areas were appealing to ducks searching for puddle water and new feeding spots.

Hunting improved in several bottoms and swamps across West Tennessee this week. Open water areas on Kentucky and Barkley lakes were still producing too but the number of ducks was down from a week ago. Still, several gadwalls, mallards, pintails and greenwing teal were moving on the rivers as were a few scaup and ringneck.

Aerial surveys were updated this week after being flown by USFWS back on December 3rd. While duck numbers increased in the survey it’s important to note that this survey was taken prior to the cold front that arrived on Monday. So duck numbers have likely increased since this survey.

Meanwhile, the most recent aerial survey showed duck numbers on the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge here on Kentucky Lake increasing to 85,379. The estimate was a 43 percent increase over the previous survey taken back in mid-November but actually 19 percent below the 5-year average, 12 percent below the 10-year average and 2 percent below the 15-year average for this time of year.

Mallards topped the list of species at 45,370, followed by gadwalls at 14,246. Next on the top five roster was greenwing teal at 5,755 followed by ringnecks at 4,690 and pintails at 4,480. There were 1,500 geese using the refuge as well, along with 41 eagles.

The Duck River unit was holding 55,859 of the total count and Big Sandy had 29,301.

Over on Barkley Lake at Dover Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge was holding 21,291 ducks and 1,513 geese. Numbers there were 54 percent over the previous survey but like TNWR the long-term averages were down, a likely result of the warm weather during and prior to the survey.

Duck numbers were 5 percent below the 5-year average but 22 percent above the 10-year average according to USFWS data.

Now that water levels have increased in many wildlife management areas duck hunters that were high and dry the first two weeks of season will now enter the shooting scene.

Pretty much all duck hunters need wind and that has been lacking most days but things should improve as the weekend approaches and another cool snap enters the forecast with those precious north breezes.

COOLER WEATHER COMING…DUCK HUNTERS READY FOR A CHANGE

By Steve McCadams - December 06, 2012

Duck hunting across the region has had another week of mixed results where high temperatures and low water levels have thrown off the normal flight patterns of waterfowl activity.

It appears change is on the way as rain is forecast throughout the weekend with a long overdue cold front entering the picture early next week. The approaching cold snap should stimulate movement as ducks have grown complacent lately during the long stretch of above average temperatures that have hung around since early November.

Since the second segment of Tennessee’s season opened last Saturday, weather has not worked in favor of waterfowlers with record high temps last Monday reaching the 74-degree mark in some areas. Hot and dry conditions have had an adverse effect on the hunting for a lot of blinds scattered across West Tennessee but there have been some exceptions where ducks have flocked to water and a few hunters experienced good shooting.

I’ve had some decent mornings where we bagged pintails, widgeons, mallards, greenwing teal, gadwall and even a black duck.

The approaching rain should help inundate some bottoms and fields where many blinds haven’t been hunted due to lack of water. Others have been pumping and managed to create their own backwater but the ducks have been reluctant to fly normal patterns and some spots with good reputations for attracting ducks have not fared well.

Several Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency wildlife management areas in the Kentucky Lake area and elsewhere across the region have been somewhat below normal pool levels during the drought conditions but will likely see normalcy return with this weekend’s rains.

Hunting should improve early next week as ducks have been sitting around basking in the sun for several weeks now, not having to move around much in search of food. Once lazy ducks sit around for a spell drastic weather changes make them nervous and stimulate movement so next week’s cold front should put ducks in the air.

Hunters in this area, and elsewhere for that matter, have not seen any new ducks migrate to the region since mid-November. So an influx of new birds is badly needed and should occur next week.

A recent report from Ducks Unlimited’s migration report shows big numbers of waterfowl still hanging out in South Dakota.

"The most recent survey of waterfowl on the Missouri River had around 750,000 mallards and just over 300,000 Canada geese using those waters in the central part of the state," says Rocco Murano, chief waterfowl biologist with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. "There are still a large number of both ducks and geese using the pothole country of eastern South Dakota as well."

Right now warm weather remains to our north where ducks are still holding up in the upper portion of the Mississippi flyway. Our neighbors to the north report big numbers of waterfowl still hanging around up there where no lakes or ponds have frozen up and temps have been above normal throughout November and early December.

Decent numbers of ducks were reported in portions of Missouri and northeastern Arkansas in late November but since the early season opener for those areas the activity has diminished.

Locally, a lot of pintails, greenwing teal, gadwall, widgeon, and mallards have been using the big reservoirs and entering some private clubs that have water. However, I’ve been out almost every morning and witnessed a lot of big bunches of ducks headed back north.

The movement of big groups of birds headed back north is somewhat of a mystery but lack of water may be contributing to the unusual flight patterns and redistributing them.

The most recent aerial waterfowl surveys report by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service taken back on November 19 showed Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge near Dover holding 13,835 ducks.

Duck numbers there were up 179 percent from the previous survey taken in early November and up 45 percent from last year at this time. The figures were also up 49 percent above the 10-year average for this time of year at CCNWR.

Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge here on Kentucky Lake, which was surveyed the same day, showed 59,727 ducks and 1,257 geese. The duck numbers were up four percent from the early November survey and four percent above the 10-year average.

Aerial surveys will be flown in the next week to ten days to update the waterfowl scene.

DUCK SEASON OFF TO GOOD START FOR SOME…OTHERS NEEDING RAIN

By Steve McCadams - November 28, 2012

Our duck season got off to a good start here on Kentucky Lake last weekend thanks to a variety of factors. We bagged a variety of species and numbers were above average. Across the region reports were mixed as some popular zones didn’t have much water and were also short on ducks.

After a 5-day closure Tennessee’s duck season resumes on Saturday for a 58-day straight stretch, taking waterfowlers all the way through January 27, 2013 before the curtain falls.

Duck hunters were hoping for another nice north wind and cool snap as was the case last week when brisk weather arrived right on time to kick off opening morning. However, it appears conditions this weekend will be more akin to fall fishing weather as mild sunny days are in the forecast with temps expected to climb into the low to mid 60’s.

Still, several ducks are in the area and after a few days free from hunting pressure and boat activity the second opening could be decent for some areas, although many are still in need of water.

Last weekend’s two-day segment was a good one for some hunters as big numbers of greenwing teal, gadwall, widgeon, mallards, pintails, and some diver species such as ringneck and scaup were taken. Many open water areas fared well as water was the issue, along with the abundance of aquatic vegetation that attracted ducks to shallow areas.

Several TWRA wildlife management areas in the Kentucky Lake area and across West Tennessee were low on water, a scenario that likely sent ducks winging elsewhere. Some blinds did fair if they had water; others simply did not have enough water to hunt or were too shallow to access by normal boating routes.

West Sandy, Gin Creek, and Big Sandy were all somewhat below average as to water levels. Hunters in those areas reported mixed results with a few wood ducks taken in the early morning hours but overall the harvest results were down as to big ducks in several public hunting areas.

Camden Bottoms wildlife management area had decent water levels but hunting success there was down compared to years passed. Normally a few blinds harvest big numbers on opening weekend but that was not the case last week. Same report for Big Sandy and Gin Creek as duck numbers were down on both units and West Sandy hunters were also in the same boat.

Open water areas along Kentucky and Barkley reservoirs did well last weekend as normal lake levels, an abundance of aquatic vegetation, dry conditions elsewhere, and a perfectly timed cool front coincided to produce good shooting. This year’s record high fall flight forecast for ducks may also have sent good numbers to the area early as dry conditions persist along the Mississippi River drainage area throughout the 5-state region.

Several different species of ducks were taken with the most abundant being gadwalls, mallards, pintails, greenwing teal, widgeons and a few lesser scaup and ringnecks. (See photo of our 38 duck bag on opening day).

Lack of rain has been a factor in the overall waterfowl picture and those who have water have done quite well. Ducks have concentrated in areas where puddle water exist. For the most part those who have water have ducks.

Some private hunt clubs are attempting to pump up soybean and corn fields while others are still doing a rain dance and hoping for runoff. Dry conditions remain across much of the Mississippi flyway and the soil is really soaking up light rain and pumping efforts.

No doubt things will change as there are 58-days left in the long season. Rains and cold weather will come sooner or later and redistribute waterfowl across the five state region.

The most recent aerial waterfowl survey report by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service taken early last week prior to the season opener showed Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge near Dover holding 13,835 ducks but only 572 geese.

Duck numbers there were up 179 percent from the previous survey taken in early November and up 45 percent from last year at this time. The figures were also up 49 percent above the 10-year average for this time of year at CCNWR.

Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge here on Kentucky Lake, which was surveyed early last week as well, showed 59,727 ducks and 1,257 geese. The duck numbers were up four percent from the early November survey and four percent above the 10-year average.

Numbers have likely changed somewhat since the surveys but it will take another influx of weather to stimulate some movement in the migration as waterfowl have grown complacent across the flyway with the extended spell of mild, dry weather.

TIME TO RISE AND SHINE...MARSH MADNESS BEGINS

By Steve McCadams - November 21, 2012

Waiting in the wings have been big numbers of waterfowlers since season closed back in late January. The wait is almost over as duck hunters will rise and shine this weekend when the first of Tennessee’s two segment duck season kicks in Saturday morning one half hour before sunrise.

It’s another big window of opportunity for duck hunters here in Tennessee and across the nation as a 60-day season and six-duck bag limit returns thanks to another good spring in the prairie pothole region where ducks raise their broods.

In fact, the fall flight forecast will be the highest on record since the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service began gathering data in the early 1950’s. That alone is reason for optimism among the ranks of knee-booters who are already under the spell of “marsh madness”.

After a two-day (November 24-25) weekend opener, waterfowlers in Tennessee will have a five day closure before the season resumes December 1 for a 58-day straight stretch, ending on January 27, 2013. Season for Canada geese parallels the duck season dates but this year the bag limit has increased to three daily.

Although mild weather has dominated the outdoor scene the last week or two, several ducks are already in the area as recent aerial surveys by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists indicate good numbers are using the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge here on Kentucky Lake and also Cross Creeks NWR on nearby Barkley Lake.

Dry conditions have concentrated ducks around water and good numbers have been observed on reservoirs and in some of TWRA’s wildlife management areas that have recently received water from pumping efforts by the agency. A few private hunt clubs have also been pumping grain fields and where there is water there are ducks.

Drought conditions earlier this year across portions of the north and Midwest could work in favor of southern duck hunters as not much corn was planted in areas that hold on to ducks during winter months, especially with warm and wet conditions linger as they did last year.

So the stage is set for a much better year here in Tennessee. And, low water along the mighty Mississippi River and its tributaries should also help push ducks to southern states which have water and flooded food.

Waterfowl surveys taken earlier this month on both refuges reported duck numbers were well above average for this time of year. And, since season hasn’t opened it’s quite likely more ducks are off the refuge than on, thriving in the off-limits wildlife management areas this week and partaking of the abundance of aquatic vegetation up and down the Tennessee River.

The most recent aerial survey was flown on Monday by USFWS biologist Robert Wheat who reported 59, 727 ducks and 1,257 geese observed on TNWR at Kentucky Lake. This week’s tally was 15 percent above the first survey taken in early November but Wheat indicated a lot of ducks were using areas near, but not necessarily on, the refuge boundaries.

Dominating the specie chart were mallards at 33,971, followed by gadwalls at 9,082 and greenwing teal at 5,273. Ringnecks were estimated at 1,823 with lesser scaup at 1,423 and widgeons at 1,406.

It should be a pretty good opening weekend for duck hunters who have water. Some areas to the west and many private clubs are still doing a rain dance as most rely on rainfall and runoff. A few are pumping around the clock in an effort to flood grain fields but extremely dry ground and a low water table are really sucking up the moisture.

There’s a long season ahead and ample time for cold weather and rainfall to enter the picture but a lot of waterfowlers are enthusiastic about opening weekend and rightfully so.

Some areas benefit from flooding conditions along the Mississippi River drainage when it backs out and inundates thousands of acres. Others like it cold and dry, a scenario that sends ducks to areas with water and food.

Right now the cards favor Dixie duck hunters as season opens. We’ve got a little water in places and a lot of southern hospitality. It’s a recipe that should appeal this year to hungry, thirsty ducks that stopped short last winter but may well venture further south this year to meet their needs.

DUCK NUMBERS HIGH IN EARLY SURVEY…OPENING DAY LOOKS PROMISING

By Steve McCadams - November 15, 2012

The first aerial surveys of the fall were taken last week (Nov 7th) by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Robert Wheat on both Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge and Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge.

A series of cold fronts over the last two weeks have pushed several duck into the area, setting the stage for good start for a season that opens in just over a week. Tennessee’s statewide season will open for a two-day segment on November 24-25. After a 5-day closure the second segment returns on December 1 and runs 58-day straight, ending January 27, 2013.

Duck numbers in the fall flight forecast this year are the highest on record. The forecasts began in the mid to early 1950’s and each year biologists with the USFWS and Canadian Wildlife Service fly surveys on breeding grounds to gather an idea on the hatch and survival rates and waterfowlers have a reason for optimism this year.

On the local scene ducks have been filtering in for a few weeks, pushed by a couple of cold fronts and gale north winds that stimulated some early migration to our area. Both Kentucky Lake and Barkley Lake regions are attracting good numbers of ducks as dry conditions elsewhere have made the big reservoirs and some of their backwater attractive.

A lot of aquatic vegetation has helped attract ducks to the shallow mudflats this year too. There is an abundance of milfoil, duckweed, coontail moss, spiny leaf naiad and some hydrilla in shallow water areas. The variety of aquatics are appealing to species such as gadwall, widgeon, greenwing teal, shovelers, mallards and more.

Meanwhile, aerial survey numbers indicate duck numbers are up on the refuges compared to last year at this time and also above the five and 10-year averages for this time year.

Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge here on Kentucky Lake was holding 52,072 ducks when the survey was taken back on November 7th. Compared to last year at this time ducks are up a whopping 216 percent. The present numbers are also 60 percent above the 10-year average and 63 percent above the 15-year average.

A breakdown of species shows mallards already topping the list at 20,485 followed by gadwalls at 14,473. Third on the roster were greenwing teal at 7,742, followed by widgeon at 2,400 and pintails at 1,843.

Numbers of geese were low, however, with only 412 observed in the survey, which is down 54 percent from last year.

The Duck River unit of the TNWR was holding the lion’s share of ducks as a few impoundments there had water and food. Out of the total count some 42,263 ducks were there leaving a balance of 9,717 on the Big Sandy unit and a mere 92 using the small Busseltown unit.

Over on Barkley Lake at Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge at Dover there were 4,954 ducks observed and 877 geese. Duck numbers there are up 118 percent over last year at this time and geese are up 127 percent.

In additional to the waterfowl there were 721 white pelicans, 141 loons and 46 eagles using the TNWR.

Wheat indicated another aerial survey will be taken next week so check back for updates in next week’s posting.

DUCK POPULATION AT ALL TIME HIGH…REASON FOR OPTIMISM

By Steve McCadams - July 10, 2012

Be quiet and listen up! Ducks are coming in a big way. No kidding so be still and watch the sky.    

Waterfowlers have a reason to perk up and pay attention. Good news quacked its way into the web footed pipeline this week as the annual report from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service was released and it’s a doosie!    

North America's total spring duck population is the highest ever recorded, according to the annual Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey.    

Conducted each May by the USFWS and the CWS, the survey puts the duck population at 48.6 million birds. That represents a 7 percent increase from 2011's record number of 45.6 million.     

"This is the highest duck count since we started the survey in 1955," says Dr. Frank Rohwer, Delta Waterfowl's scientific director. "We had excellent wetland conditions in 2011, the second-highest pond count ever. So last year, we made a pile of ducks. This year, we're counting them."     

Mallards, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, gadwalls, canvasbacks, northern shovelers and scaup are all up significantly from last year, with both species of teal and shovelers at all-time highs. Blue-winged teal are estimated at 9.2 million, green-winged teal number more than 3.4 million and shovelers now top 5 million.     

Mallard breeding numbers sit at 10.6 million, a 15 percent increase over 2011 and 40 percent over the long-term average.     

Gadwall increased 10 percent over last year, and now total 3.5 million. The population is nearly double the long-term average for gadwalls.  American wigeon are up slightly to 2.1 million, but are still 17 percent below their long-term average.     

Scaup numbers are up 21 percent to 5.2 million, the seventh-straight year that the bluebill count has gone up. Scaup are at their highest breeding population since 1991.     

Redheads declined slightly to just under 1.3 million, but still registered the second-highest population estimate in the history of the survey. Canvasbacks jumped 10 percent to 760,000, the fourth-highest count on record.     

"All in all, this is a great duck count," says Rohwer.

Duck hunters in Dixie---and everywhere for that matter--- are glad to hear the optimistic report. The lion’s share of duck hunters sure sent a lot back north last season as an unusually warm winter didn’t treat us very nice. Overall numbers of ducks were down below the Mason-Dixon Line and harvests were off as a lack of cold weather and wind didn’t push ducks to their normal wintering areas.    

Ample water was present in much of the flyway but ducks hung around up north where puddle water never froze up and abundant food was present. So, they pretty much rode out the winter there fat and sassy, leaving a lot of duck hunters in our region scanning empty skies during most of the 60-day season.    

Every year is different and all waterfowlers depend on weather to stimulate the migration and move ducks around once they get here. However, knowing a record number of ducks are in this year’s fall flight sure sounds encouraging.    

Just knowing the ducks are there gives every duck hunter a reason for optimism this season as the resource has to be there before weather can push them. So the big ingredient for a successful recipe this year has already been added to the soup, namely a record high flight forecast.    

Season dates and bag limits will likely be similar to last year yet official dates won’t be set until Tennessee’s wildlife commission meets in mid-August. Prior to that, USFWS will send framework to the Mississippi Flyway states and from there specific dates and limits will be chosen.    

"As good as the population news is this week, waterfowl and wetland habitats continue to face significant long-term threats. The Farm Bill and North American Wetlands Conservation Act are up for renewal by Congress this year and both are crucial to our ability to conserve this critical habitat. We are also fighting to increase our investment in wetlands conservation by raising the price of the federal duck stamp," said Memphis based Ducks Unlimited CEO Dale Hall. "Conservation is indeed at a crossroads this year."    

Nesting habitat across the Prairie Pothole Region continues to decline, particularly following the mild, dry winter. In many places in Canada, the mild conditions allowed farmers to tile and return shallow wetlands to production. On the U.S. side of the border, expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts, high commodity prices and other economic factors are not only pressuring wetland drainage, but also pushing conversions of grasslands to cropland.

YOUTH WATERFOWL WEEKEND ARRIVES…DUCK NUMBERS DECLINE

By Steve McCadams - February 2, 2012

Young waterfowlers have a special weekend hunt coming up to call their own. It’s the annual Youth Waterfowl Hunting Season, a special two-day hunt held each year the week after the regular season closes.    

It’s open to youngsters age 6-15 years of age. And yes, they are required to be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age.    

Each year several states offer the special weekend hunt to youngsters in hopes of introducing kids to the sport of waterfowling in a different atmosphere from the regular season hunts where they often compete with adults for shooting opportunities.    

With the youth hunt it’s the kids who either hit or miss. Odds are they will shoot a few holes in the air but it’s a nice opportunity to see kids participate with their young buddies during a hunt specially designed for them.     

Hopefully, the adults will steer them in the right direction as to gun safety and hunting tips while also providing a nice atmosphere in the blinds where hot biscuits and sausage help pass the down time if ducks are scarce.    

Here’s hoping the kids have a couple of good mornings and share those sunrises with friends and family in the great outdoors.

#    #    #

DUCK NUMBERS DOWN    

Recent aerial surveys taken on Kentucky Lake at the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge and on Barkley Lake at Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge confirm the decline in duck numbers the last week or two of season.    

Refuge biologist Robert Wheat reported duck numbers on TNWR on Kentucky Lake were down 35 percent from last year’s survey at this time and also down 26 percent from the 5-year average and down 13 percent from the 10-year average.    

Is it any wonder that most duck hunters in this area suffered through a long, dreary season with very few good days throughout the 60-day season? No doubt the warm winter has been a factor.    

Meanwhile, the survey estimated 138,925 ducks using the three units of the refuge. There were a mere 4,151 geese observed, which showed a whopping decline of 63 percent compared to last year at this time and 56 percent below the 5-year average for geese here. In the 10-year average the numbers of geese wintering here were down 45 percent!    

Numbers of diver ducks such as canvasback, ringneck, scaup, bufflehead, and goldeneye were down dramatically compared to times past, a further indication that cold weather never pushed these species down south as lakes up north never froze over during the unusually mild winter.    

Over on Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge at Dover the aerial survey showed 48,413 on ducks and only 2,596 geese. Ducks were actually up 13 percent compared to last year’s count at this time but down 4 percent on the 5-year average there.    

Numbers of geese were down 42 percent compared to last year at this same time and off a whopping 50 percent compared to the 5-year average.     

The aerial surveys were taken back on January 18th at CCNWR and January 20th at TNWR.

WATERFOWLERS WINDING DOWN FROM WARM AND WET SEASON

By Steve McCadams - January 26, 2012

Duck hunters are tuning up their calls for Sunday’s swan song. Tennessee’s 60-day season draws to a close at sunset for both ducks and geese.

Although it has been a warm and wet winter, it appears a cold front will arrive this weekend and perhaps end the season on a good note. Most hunters deserve a reprieve as it has been a slow and unproductive season for the majority of waterfowlers across West Tennessee and the region in general.

There have been a few good days when rare cold fronts delivered change and ducks responded favorably but the north winds and cool spells have been rare and overdue. To put the season in perspective hunters have won a battle or two but lost the war.

Not everyone has had a tough season as there have been some success stories scattered among the torn and tattered moral of mallard seekers. However, for every blind or hunter that boasted of good hunts there have been ten that reported negative results, empty skies and below average harvests throughout the long, weary season.

Some very popular hunt locations across the Kentucky Lake region and West Tennessee that have a proven track record recorded one of their worst seasons in recent memory. Ducks just didn’t arrive in numbers sufficient to supply southern duck hunters with replacements when needed.

It was supposed to be a good year with a fall flight forecast that projected record high numbers of ducks coming off a wet spring on the breeding grounds where several species were at or above long term averages in their population.

Despite the optimistic forecast weather played the dominant role and a very mild winter across much of the north did not stimulate much of a migration. Ducks remained north of the Mason-Dixon Line in record numbers, partaking of ample food and open water that never froze.

Once hunting seasons in states to our north expired ducks and geese had no hunting pressure so they road it out there, fat and sassy as mild weather lingered for months in one of the warmest seasons on record.

Heavy rains inundated a large portion of a four state region back in early December and some areas never recovered from the scenario that scattered ducks in backwater acreage that was high and dry this time last year. Once those areas got slash water it never iced over so ducks and those hunting in a few select areas experienced favorable conditions while the lion’s share of hunters stared a hole in empty skies.

Locally some blinds in Big Sandy, Camden bottoms, and West Sandy chalked up some good days and actually started the season on a high note only to fall from grace once season matured. Not many blinds in local wildlife management areas held up to their reputation this year.

Most private hunt clubs in and around the Kentucky and Barkley Lakes area suffered too. Even flooded corn fields and water controlled dikes that offered excellent feeding and resting areas just didn’t appeal.

Elsewhere across the region the popular Mississippi River drainage areas such as the Obion, Forked Deer, and Hatchie River backwaters never attracted ducks in sufficient numbers. Beautifully flooded corn fields were no match for the abundance of backwater and shallow rice fields in the Bootheel of Missouri and eastern Arkansas or the high waters of the Mississippi and Ohio River once they back out.

Even those areas were inconsistent for most of the season despite a few surges in activity at times. Bottom line is that duck weren’t here in very high numbers and those that did visit didn’t have to move around much. Extended spells of bluebird days where stagnant winds hung around were appreciated by winter fishermen but despised by dreary duck hunters.

As the season winds down for us old folks the youngsters get another crack at it when a special youth waterfowl weekend arrives February 4-5. Kids ages 6-15 years of age have a waterfowl weekend to call their own if accompanied by an adult who cannot hunt ducks but can participate in other open seasons for geese such as snow and white-fronted species.

TOUGH SEASON WINDING DOWN FOR DREARY DUCK HUNTERS

By Steve McCadams - January 19, 2012

In real estate there are three key words for success: location, location, location. For waterfowlers there are also three key words for successful seasons: weather, weather, weather!

Duck hunters across the region had a very short honeymoon the last week or two with rare visits from cold fronts. Last week saw a major migration take place one day when a dramatic weather change brought falling temperatures and gale winds to the area but within 24 hours a south wind took over and temps bounced back above the norm for this time of year.

This week was almost a carbon copy as a minor cool snap passed through at midweek but it only lasted one day before moderate weather chased it away. Forecasts for the weekend indicate temps will climb into the upper 50’s and low 60’s, a weather pattern that has pretty much dominated the duck season here in Tennessee and elsewhere across the southern region.

While a few hunters enjoyed significant improvement last week for a day or two, action quickly slowed as bluebird days filled with high skies and no wind seemed to curtail the short surge of activity. Ducks have been sluggish to move around much, a scenario that had been common throughout this year’s mild and wet winter.

No doubt the warm weather in states to our north has been a big factor. Lakes that normally ice up this time of year have remained open and big numbers of ducks have stayed north of their normal wintering grounds where ample food and open water have met their needs.

The National Weather Service recently reported a January day when some 163 cities across the nation set record highs and some 65 others tied a record.

It has been an unusual winter and added to the above average temperatures over an extended time has been wet weather that further scattered ducks.

Although local hunters had a brush with cold weather on a few rare days it hasn’t enough to erase some two months of mild weather. Overall it has been tough season for most hunters south of the Mason-Dixon Line yet there are always a few success stories and isolated spots that have fared well.

Generally speaking, this year’s duck season has been disappointing for many hunters, and mild weather is a likely culprit. Many weather stations in the Dakotas and other parts of the northern plains were recording record high temperatures earlier this month. In fact, the mercury soared to 73 degrees at Rapid City, S.D., on Jan. 5, which was 4 degrees warmer than the high temperature in Miami that day.

Over in neighboring Arkansas, high temperatures reached 60 degrees somewhere in the state on more than a third of the days between Dec. 1 and Jan. 15, according to a recent waterfowl report from Arkansas Game and Fish. And the cold air that has made its way into the state hasn’t stayed for long.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reported more than 650,000 ducks in the Show Me State as of Jan. 13, a record number for this time of year. Missouri’s five-year average for the first week of January is about 242,000 ducks.

Here in the Kentucky Lake area duck numbers have been below average all year on all the aerial surveys taken at Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. The same goes for Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge on Barkley Lake at Dover.

Back on January 3 an aerial survey on TNWR showed 147,110 ducks on all three units, which was down 30 percent from last year at this time. A comparison to the 5-year average showed the count to be 23 percent below normal and 14 percent below the 10-year average.

Nearby CCNR had 32,502 ducks on a survey flown a day later, which at the time was 28 percent below the 5-year average for this time of year and 13 percent below the 10-year average.

An updated aerial survey will likely be taken in the days ahead but the surveys throughout the season have reflected what duck hunters already knew and that was low numbers of ducks in the skies day in and day out.

Local hunters may take some gratification in knowing that neighboring state duck hunters have pretty much been in the same boat.

The window of opportunity is narrowing as season ends in Tennessee on Sunday, January 29th. Hunters are about to hit the home stretch in a season filled with long and winding roads.

After an excellent fall flight forecast waterfowlers were braced for a good season with high expectations thanks to record high numbers of ducks raised on the breeding grounds this spring. However, the dismal picture once again shows just how important weather is in pushing ducks.

Weather is the most active ingredient in the recipe for successful ducks seasons. Local hunters are hoping to end on a good note but someone better send the weatherman some flowers. Thus far he’s been at odds with duck hunters.

DUCK NUMBERS DOWN…COLD FRONT COMING COULD BOOST HUNTING

By Steve McCadams - December 29, 2011

Will a cold front projected to arrive as the new year enters the picture salvage what has been a poor season for Tennessee duck hunters? Ducksters sure hope so as the drastic weather change is a good way to start off the second half of season and perhaps lift the spirits of weary waterfowlers.    

Since the second segment of season opened in early December duck hunters have been at odds with the weatherman. There has not been much duck weather to work with and as a result, hunting has been below average over a large region.    

Temperatures throughout the month have been above average and the warm and wet trend has extended to northern states, a scenario that has kept a lot of ducks north of the Mason-Dixon Line this season. Most lakes to our north have not frozen over and a mild winter has lingered there as well.    

Many feeding and resting areas that are normally frozen over this time of year have remained accessible to ducks that have parked north of their normal wintering grounds during the lion’s share of December. It appears the first significant cold front in well over a month will arrive Sunday night and that should stimulate a migration by lazy ducks that have grown complacent in northern states.    

Temperatures were expected to be in the lower 60’s as New Year’s Day arrives but plummet that night and fall some 25 degrees courtesy of north winds. This will be an overdue cold snap as highs early next week will struggle to reach the upper 30’s as the National Weather Service is predicting an “Artic Blast” for this area.    

Meanwhile, to put the season in perspective thus far there has not been a single day when ice was a factor for duck hunters or their decoys. There has yet to be a single morning when an ice cycle formed on the bill of a decoy.    

Added to the mild month has been excess rain that inundated low lying areas over a five state region and pretty much all tributaries to the Mighty Mississippi River were flooded out for a spell. Slash water has lingered in many bottoms, which scattered ducks over a wide area.    

So, things may be on the threshold of changing for the better as duck hunters enter the second half of the 60-day season.    

Recent waterfowl surveys taken on the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge further confirm the duck dilemma. Aerial estimates taken last week (December 22nd)  showed 131,896 ducks and 3,128 geese using the Kentucky Lake refuge units.    

The duck numbers are down 22 percent compared to last year at this same time and 22 percent below the 5-year average. Ducks were down 11 percent when compared to the 10-year average according to U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service figures.    

A breakdown on species showed mallards topping the list at 81,997, followed by gadwall at 16,904. There were 8,455 greenwing teal, and 8,280 ringnecks observed in the survey. Another footnote to the aerial survey is the lack of diver ducks represented. Very few scaup, bufflehead, redheads, goldeye, and canvasbacks were seen, which clearly shows the influence thus far of a mild winter here as those species have yet to arrive.    

Locally, the Big Sandy unit had 43,797 ducks out of the total refuge count.    

Odds are ducks and geese will increase in the area by next week as this will be the first real push of weather since late November. Hunting should improve and waterfowlers across a vast area are hoping the second half of season is better than the first.     

Tennessee’s duck season will run through January 29, 2012.

DUCKS DODGE HUNTERS DURING AS MILD WEATHER LINGERS

By Steve McCadams - December 22, 2011

Most waterfowlers across West Tennessee and several other neighboring states are hoping Santa brings a cold snap and some new ducks.  It appears slightly cooler weather will arrive Christmas Day but no significant cold fronts are in the forecast.    

Since the second segment of duck season opened back in early December mild temperatures and very wet conditions have dominated the duck hunting scene. After more than a week of flooding that backed out water over a five state region water began receding late last week but above average temperatures have lingered.    

A day with north winds and falling temperatures is what waterfowlers would like to see under their tree or stuffed in their stockings. It has been an unusual season thus far with only two or three days when a north wind was present. Most days have had either rainy mornings, calm winds or some fog.    

Bottom line is there just hasn’t been much duck weather and overall hunter success has suffered because of it. Reports from across a vast area indicate duck hunters are dreary due to a lack of success. Skies have not been filled with ducks but given the conditions since the second season opened the diminished success rate comes as no surprise.    

Spot checks from Springville bottom echo what other wildlife management areas are doing. From Camden bottoms to Big Sandy, Gin Creek and over on Lake Barkley at Dover bottoms comes word of low duck numbers and inferior harvest numbers when compared to last year at this time.    

Further west the reports mirror tough conditions as many private flooded grain fields across the Ob ion, Forked Deer, and Hatchie River drainage are facing empty skies at times or low numbers of ducks that are still beneficiaries of abundant food and water. When mild conditions hang around the ducks just don’t have to move around much to meet their needs.    

Open water on Kentucky Lake has not produced consistent hunting and neither has the Reelfoot Lake area of northwest Tennessee.    

While overall conditions have not been favorable not all news is bad as some blinds have scored double digit harvests on days when some wind and partly cloudy skies were present. But it has been inconsistent and pretty much a “hit and miss” game as some days the fog and stagnant winds have not stimulated movement from lazy ducks that have been basking in the mild weather.    

Although it doesn’t always have to be a blustery day with bone chilling temperatures to make for good hunting, a change of weather is needed from time to time to both bring new ducks to the area and stir up those that are already here.    

For the last week daytime highs have hung around the 59 to 63 degree range and the nights have been above average as well. Mix above average temperatures for an extended spell with lots of water across a big area and the hunting swings toward below average.    

Things will change as soon as an Alberta clipper enters the picture and brings a change to the region where ducks have grown complacent the last week or two. Hunters know things will improve quickly once a cold front comes but a weather change is long overdue. Last year at this time we were shoveling snow and shooting ducks.    

Aerial surveys taken recently at nearby Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge on Lake Barkley near Dover reported 21,190 ducks and 2,534 geese on hand. The survey was flown on Monday.    

The numbers are 24 percent below last year’s survey taken at this time and 11 percent below the 5-year average. However, ducks there are 12 percent above the 10-year average according to U. S. Fish and Wildlife data.    

Surveys from Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge were underway on Wednesday but final numbers were not available as this report was updated.    

Even though the majority of ducks hunters have experienced tough sledding the last week or two season has yet to reach the half-way mark so there is plenty of good hunting time ahead. Weather is always the big factor as to success for Dixie duck hunters.    

Despite a good fall flight forecast with record high numbers of ducks coming off the breeding grounds the season has yet to deliver. Great expectations have given in to the reality of a mild late fall that has not stimulated any significant migration but one that would probably have been much better had it not been for all the recent flooding that really scattered ducks.    

Next week’s cooler conditions may help some but it’s high time a north wind entered the waterfowl scene and put some ducks in empty skies. If the ducks just knew how early we rise, how much we spend, and how far we drive they’d be more respectful.    

Rodney Dangerfield would have made a good duck hunter. Hey, he couldn’t get any respect so he would have fit right in!

DRENCHED DUCK HUNTERS TRYING TO DRY OUT…ACTION SLOW ACROSS THE REGION BUT IMPROVING

By Steve McCadams - December 15, 2011

Duck hunters across the region were hoping to dry out some after last week’s flooding from heavy rains that drenched a big area and sent small creeks and rivers raging. Most ducks have been very scattered this last week as they had thousands of acres inundated across a five state region, a scenario that proved to be tough on hunters who have not fared well since high waters entered the picture.    

This week waters did indeed recede some but rains have reentered the picture as the weekend approaches, pouring more water on an already saturated area. Both the Mississippi and Ohio River drainage areas were out of their banks last week and when that happens it influences ducks to fly different routes as they have picking choice of just about anything they want in any direction.    

Even areas that were holding good numbers of ducks such as state and federal refuges or private hunt clubs where an abundance of standing, flooded corn offered a buffet free from hunting pressure have not been able to hold on to the ducks as they up and left.    

Things should show some improvement by next week barring any flooding as rivers and streams have fallen back in their banks and some swamps are back down to normal. Warm weather has also played a factor as several days have seen temperatures dance around the 61 to 64 degree range so balmy conditions have not been kind to duck hunters either.    

Kentucky and Barkley Lakes were some five feet above normal last week and are falling fast. Several refuges and wildlife manage areas were flooded out last week and some blinds in public hunt areas were not huntable due to high water while other hunters chose to move up to shallow water in the upper ends of bottoms and hunt from temporary setups or wade in shallow timber, tossing out small spreads of decoys.    

A spot check from across the region showed some improvement earlier this week in the open water where we bagged mallards, gadwalls, and experienced some influx of divers such as bluebill, goldeneye, and buffleheads.    

Further west the Obion, Forked Deer, and Hatchie bottoms areas were dealing with high water that proved to be a hit or miss for most duck hunters who saw birds moving up river bottoms but it was tough to pinpoint their locations. Several established hunt areas with blinds known for good reputations as to harvests saw their kill decline dramatically.    

When so much water inundates a five-state region is proves to be a high hurdle for duck hunters and that was the case last week. With water levels now falling ducks should resume normal flight patterns in the near future and action should improve as a cold snap is expected to arrive early this weekend, bringing with it north winds and falling temperatures.    

Highs on Wednesday and Thursday were in the 61 to 65 degree range but expected to fall about 20 degrees as the high on Friday will be only 44. Night time temperatures will be in the upper 20’s.    

No recent aerial waterfowl surveys were available from nearby refuges but officials are slated fly early next week so water for updates posted here.    

From various local wildlife manage areas under Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency comes word of medicore hunting in Camden bottoms and West Sandy where activity had fallen off the last few days. The same reports were also coming in from Big Sandy and Gin Creek units, along with Dover Bottoms on Lake Barkley.    

A few select blinds were getting shooting in the early morning hours but falling off after that. No doubt ducks had left the areas during the flooding conditions but hunters should start to see numbers increase soon as winter weather and normal water levels will work in favor of bringing birds back to these units.

While it has been a warm and wet second season thus far, things may be headed in the right direction as to weather and water. Hunters here haven’t even reached the halfway point of season yet so there is ample time left to turn things around.

TOO MUCH WATER SCATTERS DUCKS ACROSS FIVE STATE REGION

By Steve McCadams - December 9, 2011

Lots of water may be good for ducks but it’s bad for hunters. Flooding conditions this week in the aftermath of heavy rains that drenched an already saturated area have inundated thousands of acres in low lying areas across portions of Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky and Missouri.    

What does that mean for dreary duck hunters? Right now ducks have a million places to go for feed and resting areas and normal flight patterns have changed somewhat. The backwaters are attractive to ducks but they can be in one place today and gone tomorrow as ample opportunity awaits them in the form of flooded timber, soybean, rice and corn fields.    

Some of the more popular hunt clubs and wildlife management areas across west Tennessee have seen their productivity decline this week, a scenario that’s common when flooding occurs over a vast area. There’s really no need for ducks to flock to a specific spot right now as they can find everything they need most anywhere.    

Locally, lake levels on Kentucky Lake have surged this week and jumped about five feet from last week at this time. Most of the reservoir is well above the summer pool mark, which covers up shallow sandbars and inundates islands, a situation which greatly alters the hunting scene.    

Hunters were busy this week chasing lost decoys and runaway blinds in some areas. In West Sandy and other units throughout the region some blinds were flooded out if they were built in a stationary style or not high enough.

Reports indicate a few ducks had moved to the upper end of West Sandy where shallow areas were appealing. Acorns were abundant in the backwaters and a few hunters were wading and using temporary setups for hunting in willow breaks and tall timber.    

Further west it appears the Obion, Forked Deer, and Hatchie are out of their banks and backing up into grain fields and swamps. Many hunters that have sunken pits have been flooded out due to the rising waters while other hunters have used boat blinds and temporary setup to log some good hunts in areas that are normally dry ground.

A cold front entered the area on Monday and heavy rains preceded snow flurries at midweek. Temperatures fell for the last three days and it appears rain is out of the forecast for the next five days, which may allow some streams and small tributaries to crest by this weekend.    

Although the hunting is not all bad across the region and may improve as waters crest and recede by next week, it’s not unusual for hunters to face tough conditions for a few days when flooding occurs over such a wide region. Ducks simply have too many places to go right now.    

The Mississippi River had begun to flood out around the region and the Ohio River was out too. From the air it must look like an ocean to waterfowl which have picking choice of places that may well be away from hunters and blinds.    

Due to inclimate weather no recent aerial surveys have been taken on national wildlife refuges but updates are expected later this week or early next week.    

The duck picture has been rearranged this week due to massive flooding but things should improve by next week once waters recede somewhat and put the ducks back on normal flight patterns. For some it’s a temporary hurdle and a bump in the road but most know there is a long season ahead and ample time to rebound while others might be fortunate to take advantage of a situation that puts ducks in places they normally don’t go.    

All of us know things can change quickly and every day is different out there as the ducks make the rules and change them as they go along.

SEASON OFF TO GOOD START…COLD FRONT COINCIDES WITH DUCK SEASON OPENER

By Steve McCadams - December 1, 2011

Duck season got off to a good start this past weekend for the lion’s share of watefowlers in west and middle Tennessee thanks to a cold front that arrived on Sunday that really stimulated movement.  After a 73 degree day on Saturday that had some hunters shedding their shirts, temps fell drastically on Sunday as northwest winds delivered a 24 degree drop mixed with rain that had ducks restless.    

The weather change had excellent timing and appeared to bring new ducks into the region and also stirred up the ones that were already here. A lot of rain has fallen across a four state region and ducks have multiple places to feed and rest as most low lying bottoms and tributaries to the Mississippi River/Tennessee River drainage are inundated with runoff.    

Snow flurries arrived on Monday and the damp, bone chilling winds lingered. Hunters sure hated to waste some cold, windy days (season closed Sunday and will reopen Saturday) as ducks continued to move around in response to the flooded backwaters and changing weather that has rearranged the landscape for waterfowl and those who hunt them.    

Here in the Kentucky Lake region we had good numbers of ducks and a variety of species ranging from mallards, pintail, gadwall, widgeon, and greenwing teal to some bluebills and ringneck in the open water areas. Most of the bottoms had an abundance of wood ducks as well.    

Wildlife management areas across the region such as West Sandy, Camden bottoms, Big Sandy, Dover bottoms, and west toward Gooch and Tigrett reported good shooting as ducks had been using the areas all week where units were off limits to boating traffic.    

Backwaters off the Obion, Forked Deer, and Hatchie River bottoms reported increased activity on Sunday and will likely pick up ducks this week as the headwaters often lure ducks to new food sources. Right now, thousands of acres are flooded ranging from rice fields on the West side of the Mississippi River to swamps, soybean and corn fields on the east side.    

“It’s shaping up to be a good year”, said Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency state waterfowl biologist Tim White. “The last two years most of the Obion, Hatchie, and Forked Deer bottoms were dry but all units have good water, along with beaver ponds, sloughs, and fields that are flooded.”    

“Old Hickory and Cheatham wildlife management areas in middle Tennessee had decent openers with a mixed bag taken. Most hunters were seeing ducks and I think it was a good start across the state.”    

Overall the opening day hunt in most public areas was good and ducks used the upper ends of units where shallow water proved to be attractive. Most all areas in both open water and shallow flooded fields or swamps experienced increased activity on Sunday once the cold front kicked in and put ducks in the skies for everyone.    

Temperatures remained quite cool throughout the week and were below average until Thursday. It appears a warm up will arrive for this weekend’s second season opener. Rain and snow was still falling Monday and Tuesday so rivers and backwaters will likely rise for the next several days.    

Last year at this time much of West Tennessee was dry, a scenario that likely sent many ducks further west in the flyway.    

Much of eastern Arkansas, west Tennessee (the Reelfoot zone has been closed since mid-November and will reopen Dec 3rd with the statewide segment) and Kentucky, along with the bootheel of Missouri had lots of ducks and lots of water. In fact, there may be a little too much water right now as ducks are likely to scatter across a wide region for the next week or so.     

Hunters in the bootheel of Missouri reported good hunting when season opened there on Thanksgiving Day as the flooded rice fields were attracting a lot of ducks, although many hunters were bagging mixed species that lacked mallards.   

Many West Tennessee hunters that didn’t see big numbers of ducks leading into opening day but got a pleasant surprise on Sunday as skies filled with flocks that apparently migrated into the area almost overnight. There were a lot of private hunt clubs holding ducks too and once the shooting started it helped stir up ducks that had been basking in the warm weather for well over a week and hadn’t had to move around much.    

Tennessee’s season resumes on Saturday (Dec 3rd) for a 58-day straight stretch that will take hunters all the way through January 29, 2012. There is a lot of hunting time left and a spot check across the region indicates the season got started on the right foot and for most it was much better than last year’s opening weekend.    

Duck numbers are reported to be up this year and the fall flight is 11 percent above last year and the best forecast since surveys began back in 1955. Still, hunters know that weather is the big factor in pushing ducks but most duck hunters have a good taste in their mouth after a nice opening weekend.     

It’s a long race but there’s nothing like a good start.

WATERFOWLERS AWAIT STATEWIDE DUCK SEASON OPENER  
By Steve McCadams - November 23, 2011

It's Thanksgiving weekend and that means a lot of hunters will trade their turkey for ducks. Waterfowlers are anxiously awaiting the arrival of season as a rainy week will give in to a cold front this weekend and set the stage for duck weather.

The wait is almost over as Tennesee's statewide season opens Saturday, raising the curtain on a 60-day window of opportunity split between two segments.

After a two-day weekend season comes a 5-day closure before season resumes December 3 for a 58-day straight stretch taking it all the way through January 29, 2012. Thanks to a very optimistic fall flight forecast duck hunters throughout the Mississippi flyway will be the beneficiaries of another long season with a liberal bag limit.

Somewhere in there will be bone chilling winds and spitting snow when ducks migrate and hunting is great. There will also be some foggy mornings when stagnant winds and above average temperatures see ducks sleep in. Empty skies produce broken hearts at times.

We all know the weather giveth and it taketh away. About the only control duck hunters have throughout the season is being there. It's true we have influence over the blind, camouflage, decoy spread, boat motors, wake-up calls, gun maintenance, and a choice of outdoor clothing that helps battle the elements.

Some think they can outguess the weather too, choosing to play the forecast and go when north winds approach and deliver precious cold fronts. Yet trying to outsmart the ducks and predict their surge of activity has put many gray hairs on the heads of duck hunters from the breeding grounds to the wintering areas.

There are days when wind seems to stir up the ducks and make them restless, a scenario that works in favor of hunters. Other times it seems the ducks just didn't get the memo.

Flooding can have a lot of influence and too much water scatters the ducks over a wide area, especially when the mighty Mississippi River goes on a tear and backs out over thousands of acres in several states, giving the birds an abundance of places to feed and rest. When that happens it's good for ducks but tough on hunters.

In the final analysis, the best time to go is when you can. Stay home and your buddies will burn their gun barrels up shooting ducks and you'll never hear the last of it!

Meanwhile, how does the forthcoming season look? That's a question on the minds of all duck hunters this time of year and it appears there is reason to think positive.

It's easy to get lost in the figures when you stress your eyes looking at empty skies but first and foremost is the numbers game as to ducks heading south from the prairie pothole regions of Canada and the Dakotas. This fall hunters will benefit from an 11 percent increase over last year as some 45.6 million ducks will head south.

The fall flight is the largest total estimate since surveys began in 1955. Mallards are up 9 percent and pintails were up a whopping 26 percent. Although scaup and wigeon are below their long-term averages, most of the more popular species had a great year on the breeding grounds due to abundant water conditions that teamed up with ample habitat.

Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl both paint a pretty picture for the season ahead as does the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service which allowed another 60-day season and 6-duck bag limit as the criteria again met the liberal season requirements.

Just how the birds are distributed throughout the region will depend on weather and water conditions, not to mention accessible food once cold conditions arrive. So, a great season is not automatic for every duck blind and duck hunter. Still, it's nice to know the resource is there in sufficient numbers to provide great hunting should the weatherman cooperate.

Locally, aerial waterfowl surveys were taken last week by USFWS on the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge here at Kentucky Lake and ducks were estimated to number 64,132, which is down 7 percent from last year at this time but 12 percent above the 10-year average.

Mallards are topping the list at 27,112, followed by gadwall at 11,962. Greenwing teal are usually here early and the number 8,240 with pintail at 5,651 and ringnecks at 4,230.

With all the water now inundating river bottoms between here and the Mississippi River courtesy of a 5-inch rain last week and another 3-inch rain on saturated ground earlier this week there has been a lot of runoff. Soybean and corn fields are flooded over West Tennessee. Rice fields in the bootheel of Missouri are also covered with water as is eastern Arkansas and West Kentucky so ducks have a buffet awaiting them over portions of four states.

Several state wildlife management areas are holding ducks too and this week has been off limits to boat traffic, giving ducks access to food and roosting areas free of disturbance.

"We've got good water in most all the units and ducks are showing up in good numbers in the upper end of West Sandy, all across Camden bottoms, Big Sandy and Dover bottoms," said TWRA area manager Ronnie Cole. "I'm seeing a wide variety of species too and some geese are using the open fields. For some reason there aren't many ducks in Gin Creek but most of the other WMAs look ducky."

Once season opens and some of the private and public hunt areas begin shooting, ducks will be up and moving.

Bag limits are similar to last year, allowing six ducks daily but not more than four mallards and only two of those can be hens. Rounding out the daily bag can be one black duck, three woodies, two pintails, one canvasback or two scaup and two redheads.

There's a long season ahead with plenty of time to put points on the board. Some hunters think the early opening days are best while others prefer late season periods when colder weather and new ducks have entered the area.

It's a guessing game we all play and remember; the only real control you have during the duck season is being there!

(Note to Editors: Download the species chart and other photographs from Delta's website: deltawaterfowl.org/media/images.php)