Report from Avery Outdoors
Photo by David J. Sams
Canada:
Name: Brody Edmondson
Date: October 19, 2016
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Weather: Seasonally warm (highs 15c-23c)
Snow Cover: N/A
Water Conditions: ALL OPEN
Feeding Conditions: Lots of stubble fields still around, farmers are starting to cultivate and corn is still standing.
Species and Numbers: Large numbers with oak hammock and other large roosts holding hundreds of thousands of Canada geese. A fair amount of ducks came in early this week.
Migrations: Large pushes of Canada Geese have come through and small amounts of mallards.
Season Stage: Mid-season
Hunting Report: Hunting has been excellent.
Gossip: With lots of corn, it should make for a plentiful mallard harvest.
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Name: Chris Stoddart
Date: October 18, 2016
Location: Lac Nilgaut, Quebec
Weather: Colder, lows in mid-30’s.
Snow Cover: Nil
Water Conditions: Open
Feeding Conditions: Ducks are still feeding in back bays and ponds.
Species and Numbers: Good numbers wood and black ducks; moderate number of ring-necks. Excellent numbers of Canada geese.
Migrations: Canada geese migrating daily to the farm land to the south.
Season Stage: Mid-season
Hunting Report: Friends in the farm land to the south have had some good Canada goose hunts.
Gossip: Moose hunting has been good for the majority of hunters.
Name:Â Angelo Casbarro
Date:Â October 20, 2016
Location:Â Toronto, Ontario
Weather:Â Temperatures have been ranging from 0C to 18C this past week.
Snow Cover:Â N/A
Water Conditions:Â All water is open (water levels are low).
Feeding Conditions:Â Most crops are still standing; some hay and barley fields have been cut.
Species and Numbers:Â While the goose population remains high, duck numbers appear average.
Migrations:Â More birds moving south with colder temps.
Season Stage:Â Regular waterfowl season opened on September 24th, 2016
Hunting Report:Â Hunters should enjoy plentiful goose hunting opportunistic again this year as numbers remain high.
Gossip: Season open; goose hunting has been strong with duck hunting picking up.
Name:Â Ray St. John
Date:Â October 18, 2016
Location:Â London, ON
Weather: Sunny and breezy this week.
Snow Cover:Â None
Water Conditions:Â Water levels are average for this time of year.
Feeding Conditions:Â Excellent feeding conditions. Â Â
Species and Numbers:Â Canada goose numbers are good. Duck numbers on the upseing.
Migrations:Â Migration is well underway. New birds moving in daily.
Season Stage:Â Regular season for ducks and geese.
Hunting Report:Â Winter is definitely on the way with cooler temps of late.
Gossip:Â None.
Pacific:
Name: Zach LaBorde
Date: October 17, 2016
Location: Olympia, Washington
Weather: Heavy rain. Highs in the low 50’s, lows in the low 40’s. Wind from SSE at 15-25 mph.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: With the massive amounts of rain we received, most fields have standing water and several are flooding from the irrigation ditches.
Feeding Conditions: Most birds are in grass or flooded silage cornfields.
Species and Numbers: Quite a few pintail and wigeon showed up. Along with some green-winged teal and a few mallards. Several thousand cackling geese have also moved into the area over the last few days.
Migrations: Large strings of cackling geese could be seen moving down I-5 and into the area. They should stay for the next few weeks before moving on to Oregon.
Season Stage: This was opening weekend for duck and goose in Washington state.
Hunting Report: Hunting was awesome. Limits of geese were taken in short order both days.
Gossip: After hunting an X for 2 days, we decided to mix it up and traffic migrators moving into the area. We set up in a bright grass field and threw a large spread to make ourselves as visible as possible. This worked really well.
Name: Jared Shepard
Date: 10/17/16
Location: Wenatchee, WA
Weather: Last week saw highs in the upper 50’s and lower 60’s with overnight lows as low as 38. The forecast for this coming week is exactly the same. Feels, looks and smells like fall around here!
Snow Cover: No snow yet.
Water Conditions: Water conditions remain normal for this time of year, however, we received a large amount of rain over the past week, filling ponds, raising river levels and causing mud slides in the mountains.
Feeding Conditions: Wheat fields galore north of here but the birds still seem content eating grass in the parks and on the edges of irrigated orchards.
Species and Numbers: No significant change. Mostly local Canada geese, mallards and wigeon.
Migrations: No notable migrations were observed this past week.
Season Stage: Regular season for duck and goose is now open. Just a reminder, for those of you who are new to the area or in town for a short hunt, make sure to observe the selected goose hunting days of Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, with a few exceptions that are listed in the 2016-2017 Waterfowl Guide.
Hunting Report: No report at this time.
Gossip: Still no gossip.
Name: Allen Riggs
Date: 10-15-16
Location: Metaline, WA
Weather: The weather continues to turn cooler. Daytime highs are in the low 50’s while night time temps are dipping into the 20’s. Skies are cloudy and we are experiencing days of rain.
Snow Cover: Mountain tops have some new snow.
Water Conditions: Water conditions in the lakes are normal for this time of year. River levels are very high.
Feeding Conditions: Birds are feeding in harvested fields and in bodies of water. There is plenty of food right now and the conditions are perfect.
Species and Numbers: Good numbers of Canada geese for this time of year. Mallard, teal, and wigeon numbers seem to be about average.
Migrations: Not in the migration right now.
Season Stage: 1st week of the season.
Hunting Report: Lots of teal and mallard. Canada geese are also present. Reports of success for the opener.
Gossip: Should be a good year.
Name: Kent Contreras
Date: 10/17/2016
Location: Newport, WA
Weather: Mild weather conditions with cooler temps this week. Highs will be in the upper 50’s and lows in the mid 30’s. Some showers predicted through the week.
Snow Cover: Mountains received snow over the weekend. Nothing in the valley floor.
Water Conditions: Pend Oreille River is rising at this time. Ponds and sloughs are filling up. Albeni Dam is releasing more water and should continue thru the coming weeks keeping river level high.
Feeding Conditions: Good, plenty of birds using fields and ponds that have water.
Species and Numbers: Resident birds are plentiful and seem to be at normal numbers.
Migrations: None at this time.
Season Stage: Opening week
Hunting Report: Lots of good reports up and down the valley.
Gossip: Seems that opener was a little slow on geese.
Name: Chad Yamane
Date: 10/18/2016
Location: Layton, Utah
Weather: This past week has been cloudy, windy and rainy at times. Good hunting weather for the most part.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: All ponds are full. The irrigation water was shut off the first of October and now the refuges are getting that water.
Feeding Conditions: The impoundments that kept water in them this summer have a lot of forage in them for the ducks. The ones that dried out have little to no feed in them. Most of the Bear River Refuge is this way. The fields are late in getting the silage corn off this year. Farmers are just finishing that and will start to harvest grain corn shortly. Geese are using the fresh cut corn and grain stubble still.
Species and Numbers: Lots of resident ducks and geese still around.
Migrations: The only migration that has happened is our ducks leaving for better weather. No new birds here yet.
Season Stage: 3rd week of our season.
Hunting Report: Hunting has been extremely slow the past couple of weeks. Occasional reports of good bags but the majority of reports are little to no birds being harvested. The weather has been good for moving birds, they seem to know that the edges are dangerous though and don’t come near them much.
Gossip: Duck hunting has been tough this year for most hunters. Bring on some cooler weather and fresh birds! I’m tired of swatting mosquitoes!
Name: Travis Madden
Date: 10/18/2016
Location: Lehi, UT
Weather: Cloudy and windy
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: Water conditions are decent to good. The WMA’s do have water and will continue to see more.
Feeding Conditions: Feed conditions are good for the most part. Readily available due to the good weather. Lots of ponds were dry during the summer which doesn’t do much for feed with no water.
Species and Numbers: Duck numbers are decent. Puddle ducks are to be had, especially gadwall. There are a few divers in the area as well.
Migrations: Nothing to get excited about.
Season Stage: Just getting going!
Hunting Report: Seems it has slowed down a little since the opening weekends.
Gossip: Nothing at this time.
Name: Tailor Sponcey
Date: 10/17/16
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho
Weather: Mild with highs in 60’s.
Snow Cover: 0
Water Conditions: Water is plentiful.
Feeding Conditions: Some birds are feeding in corn but mostly on water still.
Species and Numbers: Local puddle ducks and Canada geese.
Migrations: 0
Season Stage: Opening week
Hunting Report: Hunting is slow on the river but fields for geese is productive.
Gossip: Nothing at this time.
Name: David Harper
Date: 10/17/16
Location: Boise, Idaho
Weather: Highs in the mid 60’s and wet with showers off and on all week. Cool nights are upon us with frost time to time.
Snow Cover: None yet in the valley.
Water Conditions: Irrigation water is due to be off soon so reservoirs should start filling and flooding into grasses.
Feeding Conditions: Some birds are seeking out grains and coming out of Boise for them but mostly birds are still feeding in city parks and on the water.
Species and Numbers: Resident geese are abundant this year as are puddle ducks and teal on the Snake and Boise Rivers.
Migrations: Little migration so far, some small teal populations moving through.
Season Stage: Opening week
Hunting Report: The opener was productive for most around here.
Gossip: Nothing at this time.
Name: Gene Carter
Date: 10/16/16
Location: Yuba City, California
Weather: Cooler all week mid 70’s – rain Friday through Sunday.
Snow Cover: None at this time.
Water Conditions: California is still in a drought, but water conditions are very favorable this season.
Feeding Conditions: 100% rice crop planted, conditions are excellent
Species and Numbers: Lots of sprig, wigeon, mallards and thousands of specklebellys in the Sutter refuge behind my duck club.
Migrations: Underway!
Season Stage: Early fall
Hunting Report: Opens 10/22/16.
Gossip: It is going to be a great year in CA!
Name: Dan Chang
Date: 10-16-16
Location: Santa Ana, California
Weather: Highs in the 70’s to low 80s during the day,
60’s at night.
Snow cover: None
Water conditions: No new rain, water is still low in the area.
Feeding conditions: With no rain, feeding conditions are not good. Luckily fields and refuges are being flooded.
Species and numbers: At this time good numbers of ducks are being cited in the clubs and refugees, no geese yet.
Migration: With weather changing up in the north we should see some new birds. None at this time.
Season stage: Opener this coming weekend October 22.
Hunting report: None at this time.
Gossip: Looking forward to this weekend opener, will have more to report then.
Name: Travis Lyle
Date: 10-17-2016
Location: Fernley, NV
Weather: Cooler with lots of rain. Finally!
Snow Cover: Few inches fell with this last storm above 7000 feet level.
Water Conditions: Bad. Still very, very low. With the way the water had been handled for some of the PUBLIC hunting area that are funded by taxpayer’s money, it is shocking there is any water for hunters, but with this last storm should help put some back water into the marsh.
Feeding Conditions: Corn and lots of it. Water came late for the marshes so not much out there.
Species and Numbers: Seeing lots of teal, gadwalls, wigeons, and spoonies. The geese are now scattered and most have moved back into town.
Migrations: Not seeing any big pushes yet.
Season Stage: Game on boys….you got until January.
Hunting Report: With this weekend storm it put limits in the freezer. Watch those weather patterns and use them to your full advantage.
Gossip: Hope you have a big game tag! Gonna be a packed season.
Central:
Name: Kirk Steffensen
Date: 19-October-2016
Location: Lincoln, NE
Weather: Highs have been consistently in 60s to lower-70s for a couple days with lows in the 40’s.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: Poor to fair – water in the rainwater basins are limited but the area lakes and ponds are in good shape. NGPC is pumping several basins for the upcoming season. See NGPS’s website for pumping information.
Feeding Conditions: Approximately 40% of the corps are out with soybean harvest is in full swing and a few early season corn fields also being picked.
Species and Numbers: Poor to fair number of GWT around and a few flocks of divers and brown ducks.
Migrations: Most BWT moved out of the area late last week with a few flocks of GWT showing up. Heard a few groups of high flying specks.
Season Stage: Duck zones 2 and 4 opened and the East Unit for dark goose season doesn’t open until 31-October.
Hunting Report: Fair, shooting GWT but very limited big duck ducks.
Gossip: Nothing at this time.
Name: Vance Stolz
Date: 10-18-16
Location: Johnstown, Colorado
Weather: Warm temperatures with very dry conditions continue in the region this week. Highs for the week expected to be in the upper 70’s with lows in the 40’s. Another weak front will arrive mid-week with little precipitation expected.
Snow Cover: N/A
Water Conditions: Water levels lower than average in most locations due to the very dry summer.
Feeding Conditions: Harvest has been on track throughout the early fall on most crops. Picking corn harvest is beginning in the area and most winter wheat has been planted. Birds have plenty of feeding options throughout the region.
Species and Numbers: Resident goose numbers seem to increase each year and this year is no exception. Nearly all species of duck numbers are gradually increasing, but numbers are low in most areas for this time of year.
Migrations: No significant migration has taken place along the Front Range. Duck numbers continue to gradually increase.
Season Stage: The first split of duck and early goose opened on October 1st. or 8th depending on the region. Early goose will close on October 19th then re-open on November 19th.
Hunting Report: The hunting conditions continue to be difficult with the warm/ dry weather pattern and below average water levels. Lots of mixed bags noted with the different species of ducks in many locations. The early goose season has been average throughout the area and closes on 10-19.
Gossip: Most talk is concerning the weather and when the cold fronts from the north will arrive. The birds will get here just like they always do…the timing will be key for our area.
Name: Richard Foley
Date: 10/18/16
Location: El Campo, TX
Weather: The weather has still remained warm. High temps hover around the
90-degree mark, lows are in the mid 70’s. However, we are forecasted by the
end of the week to have a 20 degree drop in temperature.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: We are dry!
Feeding Conditions: A lot of the birds are still on moist soil units or
harvested rice fields. Due to temps, birds are stale. Still feeding on
proteins for day to day nutrition.  Â
Species and Numbers: We still have a good number of blue-wings and
whistlers (black-bellied tree ducks). Have been seeing more and more pintails and shovelers. Specks showed up in small number last week.
Migrations: We have been seeing small amounts of birds trickle down, I
expect a good push of birds to show up Thursday and throughout the weekend.
Season Stage: Three weeks away from opening day.
Hunting Report: N/A
Gossip: Nothing at this time.
Mississippi:
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Name: Will Harvey
Date: 10/17/16
Location: Glenwood, MN
Weather: Warm, could use a cold front.
Snow Cover: N/A
Water Conditions: Close to average.
Feeding Conditions: 90% of beans have been harvested and farmers are going at the corn pretty hard.
Species and Numbers: Decent numbers of geese, duck numbers are low.
Migrations: Saw a couple small pushes in the last week or so, but it doesn’t seem like much of anything stuck around besides a few extra geese in the area.
Season Stage: Early/Mid
Hunting Report: Hunting has been ok.
Name: Casey Hopfer
Date: 10/18/2016
Location: Richmond, MN
Weather: Mostly sunny, highs in the 50-60’s.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: Lakes and ponds are still high, standing water in fields is beginning to dry up.
Feeding Conditions: Corn fields are now being harvested.
Species and Numbers: Diver ducks have begun to show up, still some mallards in the area. Low goose numbers.
Migrations: Our first push of new birds happened last week, bringing some mallards and divers into the area.
Season Stage: Mid-season
Hunting Report: Hunting has been tough unless you are able to find the areas holding pockets of birds.
Gossip: This push of divers into the area has offered some birds to hunt again, otherwise it had been a slow season thus far.
Name: Richard Shamla
Date: 10/18/16
Location: Clara City, MN
Weather: Overcast with high in the 50’s and in lows in the 40’s.
Snow Cover: N/A
Water Conditions: Water levels are high with sheet water present.
Feeding Conditions: Plenty of harvested fields and some flooded fields for waterfowl to feed in.
Species and Numbers: Geese numbers are good as are ducks numbers in the area.
Migrations: Slight movement of new birds but nothing big yet.
Season Stage: Mid-season
Hunting Report: Good duck and goose hunts are spotty but still reported. Pheasant opener was last weekend most did well.
Gossip: N/A
Name: Ben Cade
Date: October 15th, 2016
Location: Watson, MN
Weather: Warmer than average.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: Good
Feeding Conditions: Improving with more corn being harvested.
Species and Numbers: Excellent numbers of Canada geese and puddle ducks.
Migrations: We had a good migration on Saturday as NW winds moved in along with a front. I saw many new high flocks entering the area. Good push of birds.
Season Stage: Mid-season
Hunting Report: Hunting has been excellent on Canada geese and puddle ducks.
Gossip: Many were out pheasant hunting.
Name: Malory Owens
Date: Oct 17th 2016
Location: Winona, MN
Weather: Lows in the 40’s and highs in the low 70’s.
Snow Cover: N/A
Water Conditions: Steady rain and cloud coverage. Mild!
Feeding Conditions: Poor. The wild rice crop is below average this year. We have had a very wet summer and the water level has consistently been up.
Species and Numbers: The birds that are around are very spread out. And numbers are way below last year.
Migrations: I have seen some flocks of migrating geese, divers are in.
Season Stage: Just opened form the split.
Hunting Report: Better numbers reported than the past few weekends.
Gossip: Mallards are getting curled up.
Name: Greg Owens
Date: Oct 18 2016
Location: Reno, MN
Weather: Lows in the 30’s and highs in the 70’s.
Snow Cover: N/A
Water Conditions: It’s high still, but it’s falling.
Feeding Conditions: Poor. The wild rice crop is really poor this year. We have had a very wet summer and the water level has been high all summer. The farmers are taking advantage of this nice weather to go full bore at their harvest of beans and corn. Most of the bean fields are harvested and the corn is coming out quickly.
Species and Numbers: We still have a good number of woodies and teal around, and the divers are showing up in good numbers down here.
Migrations: Yes!! Sunday was an awesome migrator day down here!
Season Stage: Duck and goose opened up from our split on Saturday.
Hunting Report: Many limits were shot over the weekend.
Gossip: Vote for Trump!
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Name: Tyler Huettenrauch
Date: 10/16/2016
Location: West Yellowstone, Montana
Weather: 40s overnight and increasing to mid-50s by midday. Rainfall over night and partly cloudy throughout the day. Winds 15-25mph.
Snow Cover: Minimal in mountain peaks. None down in valley.
Water Conditions: Plenty of rain recently making fields a little bit muddy, river systems are about average.
Feeding Conditions: Geese still feeding mostly on old wheat fields and the few corn fields around.
Species and Numbers: Good number of geese in the area coming off local ponds or the river. Duck numbers are still low on fields, majority on the rivers.
Migrations: Small push of geese into the area with little bit of colder weather past week.
Season Stage: Third weekend of duck and goose hunting.
Hunting Report: Local wheat fields are still able to produce limits of geese. Good hide and average sized spreads, birds are finishing very nice.
Gossip: Max Barta can’t hit the broad side of a barn!
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Name: Max Barta
Date: October 17, 2016
Location: Yellowstone, Montana
Weather: Rain early Monday, rest of the week high of the mid 50’s during the week, lows in the mid 30’s overnight.
Snow Cover: N/A
Water Conditions: Lots of rain lately, the potholes, sloughs, and rivers rose a little. Plenty of water for the birds.
Feeding Conditions: Ducks are hitting the fields right at first light, geese are about 20-40 minutes after sunrise. Still mainly feeding in wheat/barley, with the occasion chopped corn field.
Species and Numbers: Still not a whole lot of ducks. Canada geese starting to group up more, average feed of 150-300 birds. Birds are still local, and getting smarter every day.
Migrations: More ducks and geese should be on the way soon, very soon.
Season Stage: Early, 3 weekend of the season.
Hunting Report: An afternoon scout is more than okay to find a decent field of honkers. The trouble is the permission. Always seems like someone beats you to it. A ton of hunters around, hardly any ducks though.
Gossip: Fall fishing is unreal, browns munching on the meat.
Name: David Ortley
Date: October 18, 2016
Location: Kalispell, Montana
Weather: A week ago we were reminded that winter was not far away. Thankfully the snowy reminder turned into a week of rain, wind, and cooler temperatures. Highs have reached into the low fifties and lows have dipped to the mid-twenties a couple of nights. The forecast is for moderating temperatures with highs in the fifties and lows into the low forties. The real story has been rain. In the past week we received record rainfall with up to four inches in some areas. The rain is predicted to continue.
Snow Cover: We have snow at the upper elevations only.
Water Conditions: The current river flow continues to increase because of the rain. Normal river flow is about 4,000 cfs and we are 10,700 cfs. The river is running faster than normal and is brown with run off. This is good for the backwaters and small bodies of water that hold birds.
Feeding Conditions: Feeding conditions are still really very good. The wet conditions have brought an end to any work in the stubble so the birds continue to have free reign.
Species and Numbers: As was the case last week fewer local ducks have been on the wing and in the local sloughs. The hunting pressure, light as it is, has driven the birds into the far reaches. We still have local birds but no new arrivals and no growing flocks. The number of geese is surprising! Geese can be seen and heard throughout the Valley.
Migrations: They have been no new arrivals. I suspect some local birds jumped south to the Missoula area.
Season Stage: We are in the fourth week of our general season.
Hunting Report: The rain and wind continues to affect hunting. Field hunters continue to have great success!!
Gossip: The record rainfall is bringing hope for great hunting in advance of the freeze. General deer season opens Saturday the 22nd and it looks like it will be a banner year based on the number of deer. Lake trout fishing continues to be great with the spawn in full swing.
Name: Russell Brzezinski
Date: October 15th, 2016
Location: Berkley, Michigan
Weather: Cool, partly cloudy shifting to sun.
Snow Cover: N/A
Water Conditions: N/A
Feeding Conditions: Corn just coming off in a number of areas.
Species and Numbers: Fair number of mallards and black ducks, but most small ducks (teal, woodies and ring-necks) have apparently moved on. Did see a good number of geese which probably coincides with the corn coming off the fields).
Migrations: Nil – expect the migration to come in with the full moon later this week and next.
Season Stage: Week after opener
Hunting Report: Fair success on ducks, but geese were better. About half the bag is geese vs. ducks. The weather wasn’t helping with the fair conditions and little northerly winds to move anything around. Waiting for the next push of ducks!
Name: Gerry Mazur
Date: October 18th, 2016
Location: Bono, Ohio
Weather: Sunny and in the upper 60’s.
Snow Cover: No sir
Water Conditions: Levels are consistent for the area but strong southwest wind pushing water out.
Feeding Conditions: Beans are starting to come down and wheat fields are grassing up for some different food and feeding areas.
Species and Numbers: Local geese and some ducks. Full moon has pushed in some new birds.
Migrations: Specklebellies moved through the area on Sunday morning along the western basin of Lake Erie.
Season Stage: South Zone for Michigan continues, Lake Erie zone in Ohio just opened and north zone in Ohio opens the 22nd. As always hunt with you lawyer and federal land surveyor.
Hunting Report: Plenty of shooting at a few ducks in the area. Circus atmosphere described by officials.
Gossip: Nothing at this time.
Name:Â Justin Bomia
Date: 10/17/16
Location: Onslow, IA.
Weather: 60’s and 70’s daytime, 40’s and 50’s at night.
Snow Cover: None.
Water Conditions: Fair to good. Rivers have gone down some.
Feeding Conditions: Good feeding conditions with harvest in full swing. More out by the day.
Species and Numbers: Mallard, pintail, gadwall, teal, and goose numbers are all slightly up due to cooler temps last week.
Migrations: Very small migration of new birds late last week.
Season Stage: Early season, duck and goose just opened back up for the rest of the season.
Hunting Report: Good hunts over the weekend with mallards and pintails harvested.
Gossip:Â The warm weather is back, hopefully not for long.
Name:Â Steve DeMaster
Date: 10/17/16
Location: Peoria, Illinois
Weather: Sunny and warm. Mid-60s to lows at mid-40s.
Snow Cover:Â None
Water Conditions: Plenty of water due to large amounts of rain.
Feeding Conditions:Â Moist soil and fresh cut corn fields.
Species and Numbers: Large number of puddle ducks in the area with good amounts of geese. Some specks are coming into the area.
Migrations: One decent push has happened with specks coming in over the weekend.
Season Stage: Opener is this weekend
Hunting Report:Â N/A
Gossip:Â Most birds around for opener we have had in many years.
Name: Shaun Patrick
Date: 10-19-16
Location: Troy, MO
Weather: Highs in the 70’s lows in the 60’s.
Snow Cover: N/A
Water Conditions: Good, pumping starts this weekend.
Feeding Conditions: Good, harvest is almost complete.
Species and Numbers: Still seeing some early arrivers in the area, with a good cold snap on the way later this week we should see some new birds coming into the area.
Migrations: Small pockets of early migrators around.
Season Stage: Opens Nov. 5
Hunting Report: N/A
Gossip: Hopes are high in the area for the season because of the great crops most were able to get in around the bottom areas this year.
Name:Â Jacob Bailes
Date: 10-18-16
Location: Columbia, Louisiana
Weather: HOT and dry
Snow Cover:Â N/A HA!
Water Conditions: Turned my pumps on yesterday! Let the flooding begin!
Feeding Conditions: Prime, water in the fields will offer optimum food sources.
Species and numbers: N/A
Migrations: Too hot! Front coming in this week though that should change that.
Season Stage: 31days 8 hours and 15min till opening day
Hunting Report: N/A
Gossip: It’s been a long hot summer and fall.Â
Name:Â Nick Patin
Date:10-18-16
Location: Sunset, LA
Weather: Hot, a front on the way through by the end of the week will help. It’s not good for the migration to be setting records for high temps in October!
Snow Cover: At the North Pole maybe. Â
Water Conditions: Pretty dry, need several inches of rain.
Feeding Conditions:Â Poor, no water in harvested fields.
Species and Numbers: Some local wood ducks and mallards, nothing from the north.
Migrations: No movement yet with hot conditions.
Season Stage: About a month out.
Hunting Report:Â N/A
Gossip:Â No birds…a lot needs to change.
Atlantic:
Name: Eric Bartlett
Date: 10/15/16
Location: Hollis, Maine
Weather: Sunny and seasonable temps.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: Fair
Feeding Conditions: Cool water with an almost over abundance of acorns with shallow water dabbling.
Species and Numbers: 20 black ducks, 15 greenheads, 20 wood ducks and about 30 Canada geese.
Migrations: Several species of have been seen coming through but with the influx in temperature it has put a slow down to it.
Season Stage: Here in southern Maine we just finished our first season and are now in the split.
Hunting Report: Traveling around the state the past couple weeks I have seen a lot of ducks and geese state wide. Varying amounts wherever you travel, but still a lot of birds to come south.
Gossip: With so many acorns in the water I am sure the ducks are doing well and at least this year we are seeing them. As of late we have already surpassed the amount we shot last year by more than double. As we enter the split we will be looking to the woods for some upland bird and keeping our eyes to the water for incoming ducks.
Name: Marshall Starkey
Date: 10/17/16
Location: Essex, MD
Weather: Warm this week and cooling over the weekend.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: Average
Feeding Conditions: Cut corn and bean fields.
Species and Numbers: Good numbers of Canada geese on the upper shore.
Migrations: Every north or northwest wind brings in new geese.
Season Stage: October split of duck season is open.
Hunting Report: Wood ducks have been great for some and a bust for others. Par for the course.
Gossip: It needs to cool off for early muzzleloader next weekend.
Name: Kevin Addy
Date: 10/18/16
Location: Morgantown, PA
Weather: Above average temps this week.
Snow Cover: None
Water Conditions: The rivers and ponds are still very low.
Feeding Conditions: Winter wheat, grass, and corn for geese. Smartweed and acorns for ducks.
Species and Numbers: Lots of Canadas around and the numbers appear to be growing. Mallards, lots of woodies, few black ducks and some teal here now.
Migrations: Canadas continue to push down.
Season Stage: Sept goose season ended on Sept. 24th. North zone duck opened on October 8th and south zone opened on the 15th.
Hunting Report: The south zone open was pretty good. Lots of wood ducks, some mallards and a few green-wings. I did see a group not far from us got some blue-wings.
Gossip: This warmer weather has slowed the deer and duck movements.
