Taylor
Well-Known Member
fyi...this report from guide Steve McCadams.
Updated January 11th, 2010)
WARMER WEATHER REPLACES LONG COLD SNAP...CHANGE LIKELY TO HELP DUCK HUNTERS
By Steve McCadams
After some ten days of below average temps the region is experiencing a slow warm up which may well work in favor of duck hunters in the region, many of which have suffered ice problems in shallow and backwater hunt areas for the last several days.
Last Thursday the region experienced a migration where big numbers of ducks passed through riding a snow storm and cold front that really stimulated movement. Nice bunches of mallards, pintails, and ringnecks were seen and areas that had some open water had good shooting.
Although many hunt areas were frozen over, those that had a pothole of water or hunted main lake areas which still had open water enjoyed a good hunt as new ducks entered and filled the air.
The last several days ducks have not moved much, sitting tight and dry feeding on refuges in some areas. Hopefully, the approaching warm up will stimulate ducks to return to feeding areas that have been frozen over for almost a week.
While cold weather is always on the minds of waterfowlers, there are times when extended spells of frigid temps work against hunters as ducks change flight patterns and often lay up for several days await the thaw. Other times ducks will choose dry feeding areas and alter their usual flight paths, a scenario that often works against established blinds and hunt areas or roosting and resting spots.
Meanwhile, high numbers of ducks are still in the region and although movement has been curtailed due to ice and severe cold, the warming trend may well open up some flooded fields, backwater sloughs, and river bottoms by the end of the week.
Updates on the latest duck counts are as follows:
Aerial survey taken Monday (Jan 4th) by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service showed the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge had an influx of ducks. Total refuge numbers showed 200,609 ducks and 6,462 geese.
Here on the Big Sandy unit there were 56,334 ducks and 2,485 geese. The Duck River unit had the lion�s share of waterfowl with 138,515 ducks and 3,477 geese. The balance of the total observation was on the small Busseltown unit where 8,760 ducks and 500 geese were residing.
Topping the list as to species were mallards at 130,411, followed by gadwall at 25,038. Next on the list by were pintails at 13,210, ringneck at 7,064 and black ducks at 6,352.
By comparison to yesteryear the total duck count is one percent below last year at this time but 19 percent above the 5-year average and fourteen percent above the 10-year average.
Duck numbers also increased dramatically on nearby Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge on Lake Barkley near Dover. TN where aerial surveys taken last Tuesday (Jan 5th) estimated 51,562 ducks and 4,588 geese.
The total on ducks is 16 percent above last year's survey at this same time and 29 percent above the 5-year average. When compared to the 10-year average the survey is 54 percent above the average.
Season remains open here through January 31, 2010.
Updated January 11th, 2010)
WARMER WEATHER REPLACES LONG COLD SNAP...CHANGE LIKELY TO HELP DUCK HUNTERS
By Steve McCadams
After some ten days of below average temps the region is experiencing a slow warm up which may well work in favor of duck hunters in the region, many of which have suffered ice problems in shallow and backwater hunt areas for the last several days.
Last Thursday the region experienced a migration where big numbers of ducks passed through riding a snow storm and cold front that really stimulated movement. Nice bunches of mallards, pintails, and ringnecks were seen and areas that had some open water had good shooting.
Although many hunt areas were frozen over, those that had a pothole of water or hunted main lake areas which still had open water enjoyed a good hunt as new ducks entered and filled the air.
The last several days ducks have not moved much, sitting tight and dry feeding on refuges in some areas. Hopefully, the approaching warm up will stimulate ducks to return to feeding areas that have been frozen over for almost a week.
While cold weather is always on the minds of waterfowlers, there are times when extended spells of frigid temps work against hunters as ducks change flight patterns and often lay up for several days await the thaw. Other times ducks will choose dry feeding areas and alter their usual flight paths, a scenario that often works against established blinds and hunt areas or roosting and resting spots.
Meanwhile, high numbers of ducks are still in the region and although movement has been curtailed due to ice and severe cold, the warming trend may well open up some flooded fields, backwater sloughs, and river bottoms by the end of the week.
Updates on the latest duck counts are as follows:
Aerial survey taken Monday (Jan 4th) by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service showed the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge had an influx of ducks. Total refuge numbers showed 200,609 ducks and 6,462 geese.
Here on the Big Sandy unit there were 56,334 ducks and 2,485 geese. The Duck River unit had the lion�s share of waterfowl with 138,515 ducks and 3,477 geese. The balance of the total observation was on the small Busseltown unit where 8,760 ducks and 500 geese were residing.
Topping the list as to species were mallards at 130,411, followed by gadwall at 25,038. Next on the list by were pintails at 13,210, ringneck at 7,064 and black ducks at 6,352.
By comparison to yesteryear the total duck count is one percent below last year at this time but 19 percent above the 5-year average and fourteen percent above the 10-year average.
Duck numbers also increased dramatically on nearby Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge on Lake Barkley near Dover. TN where aerial surveys taken last Tuesday (Jan 5th) estimated 51,562 ducks and 4,588 geese.
The total on ducks is 16 percent above last year's survey at this same time and 29 percent above the 5-year average. When compared to the 10-year average the survey is 54 percent above the average.
Season remains open here through January 31, 2010.
