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Duck breeding surveys are in for the 2011 season, and American waterfowlers once again find plenty of good news as water conditions continue to be good to excellent across most of the major breeding areas. In the traditional survey area, total ducks were estimated at 45.6 million up from 40.9 million in 2010, an 11 percent increase over last year and 35 percent above the long-term average.

* Mallards 9.2 million up 9 percent from 8.4 million last year and 22 percent above the long-term average.

* Blue-winged teal up 41 percent and 91 percent above the long-term average.

* Green-winged teal down 17 percent but still in good shape 47 percent above the long-term average.

* Gadwall similar to last year when population was 80 percent above the long-term average.

* Pintails 26 percent above last year and close to the long-term average.

* Redheads 27 percent above last year and 106 percent above the long-term average.

* Canvasbacks similar to last year and 21 percent above the long-term average.

* Scaup similar to last year and 15 percent below the long-term average.

* Wigeon still on the decline, down 14 percent and 20 percent below the long-term average.

* Black ducks in the eastern survey area were similar to last year, 13 percent below the long-term average.

Return to American Waterfowler web site: http://waterfowlermag.com

An annual spectacle of hundreds of thousands of snow geese migrating through the state of South Dakota has begun. 

To assist hunters with scouting snow geese, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) has created a Waterfowl Hunting Opportunity Thunderstorm Map.  The map, located at  http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/waterfowl/migration ,was created last year to help hunters follow duck and goose movements.  GFP will be updating the map frequently with reports from Conservation Officers and other field staff.

Under a Conservation Order, hunters are able to harvest 20 snow, blue phase and/or Ross’ geese a day.  The use of electronic calls and shotguns holding more than three shells is also legal.

American Waterfowler also has been getting reports that snow goose hunting has begun in earnest in the mid-Atlantic Flyway states.

Here’s something I’d like people to weigh in on.
Why is it that you can legally flood and hunt corn, rice, soybeans, milo or other crops in Illinois, Missouri and points south,, but if a standing barley crop is laid over by hail in North Dakota it is posted by conservation officers as a baited field? Also, in one case a cornfield in Nebraska where an abnormal amount of shelled corn was spilled while loading was the scene of the arrest of hunters who were using the field.

I believe the Federal law states that the grain in a hunting area must be the result of a “normal agricultural practice.” How is growing a crop of corn, then flooding it up to the ears a “normal” agricultural practice?

This is not an attack on any kind of hunting or any single locale.I don’t have an opinion on that. I just wonder whey the rules seem to be different in different places?

Just got back from South Dakota and wanted to report on what we saw. Nothing like last year, when crops were flooded and birds were concentrated. Lots of birds moved in after the big storm at end of October, but they got lots of pressure and have balled up on refuges and bigger waters as well as private land lakes. Field feeding ducks were difficult to locate and harder to hunt due competition from other hunters for limited spots. We had a good goose shoot on some private land we gained permission to hunt where geese were using a wet patch in a disked corn field as a daytime loafing area. We had a good shoot because the geese had been there a couple of weeks, both Hutchies and honkers about 1,500 strong, and they really wanted back in. Note to self: the small geese love to move early and were there early in the a.m.– not like lazy honkers.
Ducks being tough to pin down, we focused on a couple of private land wetlands (with permission) and after hauling gear in on our backs took mallards coming back in with their crops stuffed with corn. Bluebills seemed abundant, but we also saw shovelers, redheads, a few green-winged teal and pintails. Seems late for shovelers and prairie bluebills and redheads, and it is, but temps were low 20s overnight and low 40s daytime.
Hearing about a lot of birds that are still farther north into Canada, so there’s movement yet to happen. “When” is the question. Saw snow geese, but no great numbers and it seemed that the late birds like mallards and green-winged teal weren’t as strong as they should have been for this time of year. The big snowstorm that hit eastern Minnesota over the weekend completely missed the Dakotas and western Minnesota.
The water we hunted was extremely cold and took a lot out of the dogs when they had to make long retrieves. Despite the obstacles, a great time to be afield with the dogs, and though tough in many ways, the hunting was great!

New waders, twice used, already patched.

I haven’t patched a pair of waders in years. Call it experience, or luck, but I’ve learned to avoid the most common wader dangers. For me, they are barbed-wire fences, boat trailer edges and corners (in the dark) and sharp underwater objects. Where we hunt, the first two are by far the most common. After you’ve punched or torn waders for the third or fourth time on barbed-wire fence, it finally starts to sink in–”this isn’t working.” From then on it’s avoid fence climbing at all cost, even if it means flattening your body like a worm to crawl under.

Boat trailers are horrible. Normally, we keep our waders indoors overnight to keep them warm, not for the sake of the waders, for our comfort. Putting on a pair of cold waders sucks, especially because the feet take so long to warm up. When we get to our spot we’re always in a time crunch. Not having to “wader up” in the dark saves time when there’s a boat to get into the water and gear to load or haul. But boat trailers are sneaky. They like to creep up on you in the dark and cut you with a sharp corner or some other pokey piece of metal that’s far tougher than neoprene or rubber.

We always wear chest waders, for many good reasons. First, we live and do most of our hunting in the north. Chest waders are warm. Secondly, almost everything about a boat is wet, and getting your back side wet from a boat seat, or from sitting on the ground or on a muskrat hut or water that is unexpectedly deep is an uncomfortable distraction from what should be a joyous experience. Finally, hip boats look funny!

My luck ran out last week. We were hunting a backwater bay off a river reservoir that is uncharacteristic of our normal huntig spots. Usually we are on prairie-type potholes where the sharpest thing around is a cattail. This new spot has lots of downed timber along its edges and some floating and sunken within its depths. Wood ducks love it. It will also attract everything from small groups of geese to mallards and even the occasional diver. As I was sloshing about trying to hide our small boat a sharp stick punched a hole in the side of my NEW wader boot. You’d expect the upper to tear or puncture, not the boot. But when the cold water came running in to fill the area around my foot I couldn’t believe my luck.

So last night, while watching the Texas Rangers thrash the New York Yankess in the ALCS playoffs, I returned to an old trade: patching waders. Oddly, it felt good to be back!

Well, here’s something I heard rumors about that finally is confirmed. Winchester is ready to jump into 2011 with its new nontoxic Blind Side shotgun load. I was blind-sided by how unique the load really is.

Imagine a piece of plated-steel shot with six flat sides and all corners rounded. Got it? Trust me, there will not be a geometry test at the end of this post. Suffice to say that this new shot may greatly influence waterfowl hunting over the coming years.

Searching for a steel pellet that would bring maximum trauma to the target yet fly and pattern well was Winchester’s early goal. That’s where the new shape came from. Winchester calls it Hex shot. Delivering this unique payload in a wad that would mimic the spread of existing steel loads also became Winchester’s goal. The wad had to release the shot evenly, with no tilt or yaw that might sling the pellets out of perfect pattern.

Blind Side hull, Diamond Cut Wad and Hex Shot.

What resulted was the Diamond Cut Wad, using three winged cutouts pointing toward the target to insure full and even deployment, delivering the Hex shot on target. So far so good—at least on paper.

Earlier this week I traveled south, along with a small group of writing brethren, to visit with Winchester and view and shoot the new BLIND SIDE load in a number of different tests. Bottom line: I’m excited by the fact that so much innovation could be put into a single new steel load, and I’m predicting good things for the aptly named Blind Side when it reaches market next year and starts bringing down waterfowl.

As you can see in this photo, the load certainly LOOKS different. So does the wad.

Here are a few things the new load brings to a shotshell.

The shot “stacks” inside the hull. Well, it doesn’t really stack, but having so many flat sides, it does pack better than traditional round shot, which allowed Winchester to create a 1 3/8-ounce load with 15 percent more shot than a standard 1 3/8-ounce load. Actually, they fit 174 No.2 pellets into a space the size of a 1 ¼-ounce load. They still had room for added powder and more velocity, or about 1,400-feet per second. Pretty impressive speed for a 1 3/8 ounce payload.

We tested the load in gelatin and though I’m no expert in this area, I can report that super-slow-motion video showed pretty ominous disruption of the gel and penetration at 35 yards to a depth of about 7 inches.

The base of the new Diamond Cut Wad incorporates Winchester’s redesigned Drylok system. Drylok has long standing as an industry-leading method for keeping water away from powder–a fully waterproof system. This system also includes a lacquered primer to seal out moisture from below. The shot itself is plated, so no worries about pellets rusting together if moisture does reach them from the top. The wad connects to the shot cup with a hinged system that reduces the peak pressure of the added powder.

Blind Side full choke pattern at 45 yards.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about this load is that this new flat-sided shot responds extremely well to chokes, something steel loads aren’t generally known to do. We tested the load at various ranges with various chokes and I can confirm that the patterns were all well-formed for the chosen chokes. We tested the load from 25 to 35 to 45 yards with improved, modified and full chokes and the results can be seen in the photo here.

We also had a chance to shoot the load at flighted mallards that offered longer-range (about 45 yards) pass shooting. The load performed well, crumpling a good share of the birds we hit–pretty impressive with modified chokes, though I’d have preferred a full choke with this load. I may get a chance to shoot the load later this fall on a wider variety of shots at wild birds and I’ll try to bring back a report.

Blind Side won’t be available at retailers until about June of next year. When it does come out it will be in a handsome black foil box of 25 rounds. It will initially be offered in 3-inch and 3 ½-inch in No. 2 and BB shot sizes. The 3 ½-inch loads will carry a 1 5/8-ounce payload. Blind Side hulls are black and the brass is blackened and the result is an all-business look that won’t lie around your blind and look unnatural.

Mock up of the new Blind Side box.

I think there’s a lot to get excited about with this new steel load, given its departure from what’s been available, and I’m impressed that Winchester’s claims of added shot, adequate velocity and great choke patterning could all be proved. J.S.

I’ve got Canada geese on the brain after our September issue where I titled my editor’s column Honker Nation, given that almost the entire magazine is dedicated to black feet and the whole country seems to have become dark goose central. However, two weeks into our early goose season I haven’t even set a decoy, except in the yard where I cleaned and touched up 100 full bodies a few weeks ago. I’m still waiting and watching to see where I might jump in on the early honkers in my area, but mostly I’m just too busy with the new magazine. Too, the only honkers I”ve got pinned down are a bunch that are using the same water as my opening day ducks, and I hate to send the ducks into a frazzle. Fields are highly pressured and highly sought after early in the north woods where I live, so not worth battling for in the first week or so. Normally, I can bide my time and by now I would have some geese cornered, but the patterns are all changed up this year with all the wet weather and high water. The geese are roosting and flying in areas where I almost never see them and the traditional roosts are absent birds, so go figure…
I’d like to share some facts and figures on resident honkers that impressed me as I researched some of the stuff for the September issue. These figures certainly explain how the big geese have become so popular. By the way, these numbers all apply only to U.S. birds. Not migrators from Candada.
Consider that the Atlantic Flyway has more than 1 million geese. New York alone has a resident flock of about 200,000. In Maryland, from 1990 to 2000, honkers numbers grew three-fold, from about 26,000 to 90,000, and Maryland’s not that big.
In the Mississippi flyway there are about 1.6 million resident birds. In 2010, Minnesota is estimated to have 311,000 breeders! Wisconsin has 166,000 and Illinois has 239,000. Jeeze! And, as noted in the September issue, South Dakota’s most recent high of 166,500 birds is so far over the states 90,000 target goose population that the state went to an August 15 season opener with an eight bird per day, 32 possession limit.
And early goose seasons aren’t limited to northern states. Alabama has an early goose season! California just turned the corner and opened their first-ever early goose season this year.
It’s a good thing that ducks had a decent breeding year this year, because now we’re hitting on all cylinders. But when ducks fair poorly, and they will likely again have tough years, it is a shame to have Canada geese covering up the sins of degraded duck habitat Ducks still need to be the barometer of how we measure our conservation efforts.

In my editor’s column in the first issue of the magazine I mentioned an unusual day in early October in North Dakoa when I shot a couple of snow geese over duck decoys on a small slough. One of the birds was banded! I called in the band, but never received a certificate. A month ago I entered the band number on line and it was treated as a new report, so I’m not sure what happened to the first. I finally received the band certificate a few days ago.

The banded goose was a male at least 10 years old, hatched in 1999 or earlier. That snow-whipped afternoon in October certainly wasn’t his best day.

Critters must have good and bad days, just like us. Sometimes we’re lucky–sometimes not. I’m sure anyone who has driven a car can recall some bit of luck that saved them from a serious accident.

The banded snow goose was among one of scores of flocks I saw on that strange day when falling temperatures, sideways snowfall and gusty winds dominated the morning. Most of these geese were on the move, coming out of Canada (I was five miles from the border) and fighting the wind as they turned toward a refuge that lay ony a few miles away.

Suddenly one of the flocks stalled over the slough. “Well, this could be interesting,” I told the dog as the flock turned back into the wind hundreds of yards in the air. They were looking, doing that snow goose head-craning thing and slowly losing altitude. Another turn downwind, another stall and they started to slide and flap toward the water. I slipped in a couple of goose loads. They keyed on the open water, seeming far too big a flock to fit, but on they fell. A side of the flock drifted my way and I realized I might actually get one shot before they were swept out of range by the gale. I picked a mature white bird, gave him extra lead for the wind and fired. He dropped like a stone.

A full 750 miles from his nesting ground and an equally long distance from his wintering groound, this veteran of at least 10 years in the flyway, met his end, NOT at the hands of snow goose hunters over a kick-ass spread, but rather at the hand of a duck hunter on a small slough. Certainly not as he would have planned it and absolutely not his lucky day. An hour later, an immature snow, perhaps tired, or lost, actually came in to the duck decoys.

I hadn’t known the mature snow goose was banded until the dog brought him to hand. With a limit of ducks and a couple of bonus snows, I wasn’t going to argue with luck!

In the past week the upper Midwest including the prairie states, lost much of its snow pack amid above freezing nights, some rain and lots of melting snow with temps in the upper 40s and 50s.
On March 14 the first small bunch of snow geese reached Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Aberdeen, South Dakota. This in itself is not a major event, but of course, for hunters, it has great implication. Somewhere not far behind these birds is one heck of a pack of snow geese.
One can imagine more than a million geese sweeping northward with this small group the spearhead of the living mass. But this would be wrong. Geese don’t really move in that manner. The migration is much more broken and staggered than it is precise. Still, there are now flocks stretched from northeastern South Dakota down to Missouri and with crop fields and the remnants of last fall’s flooded corn and soybeans awaiting in SD, and the ground bare for the picking it’s only a matter of days, not weeks, before masses of birds will be pushing the boundaries of the snow line in the Dakotas.
This is an early push, about a week or two ahead of schedule and certainly well ahead of last year when we stil had subzero weather in the third week of March in the upper Midwest. It’s supposed to cool off over the weekend, and the geese will probably cool off too.
But you can’t stop a flowing river or a tide of geese.
The goose hunting news from Missouri has been good for the past couple of weeks, but tallies were lower than some years because of the lack of juveniles in the flock.
Out East, the Atlantic Flyway boys have been killing their share in this second year of the spring conservation season. The mostly white birds are still showing a bit less experience with spring decoy rigs. Bands and neck collars prove that older birds are making rookie mistakes.
One has to wonder, with the lack of young birds, how long before conwervation season hunters catch up with these populations of birds? Do you think the USFWS will someday pull the plug on the spring season?

I was talking to Tyson Keller from Avery Outdoors today and he mentioned that Tony Vandermore of Habitat Flats guide service reported that on Thursday, the 25th of February, they decoyed and shot their first snow geese of the spring season.
Apparently the geese began showing up on Wednesday and on thursday they had a decent shoot while seeing a moderate number of flocks. Reportedly today, flock numbers increased and the shooting picked up too! The birds appear to be right on time because they typcially show up for Missouri hunters at the tail end of February.
Farther north, in the Dakotas, it’s going to be awhile unless the weather really opens up with a big thaw. There’s quite a snow pack and no food available…yet. Typically,, Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeast South Dakota gets its biggest buildup of snow geese in the last days of March, but just 100 miles south of there birds can show up in big numbers well before that time. Still, for those South Dakota hunters there’s no need to hook up the trailer yet, unless you’re going to Missouri.

Here’s to a great Spring Conservation Season!