U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - News Release

WATERFOWL MIGRATION SLOW; SCOUTING NEEDED, SAYS USFWS

October 4, 2006

Local ducks continue to provide most of the opportunities for waterfowl hunters in North Dakota, but the weekly report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows that some migrant ducks and geese are starting to show up.

Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge near Kenmare is holding about 2,000 Canada geese, 500 snow geese and 20,000 ducks. Refuge manager Dan Severson says the Canada geese are a mix of local and migrant birds. He adds that mallards make up about half the total duck numbers, with many local gadwalls, teal and pintails, plus a recent movement of diving ducks including canvasbacks and scaup. Severson reports the refuge tundra swan population is well above average at 350, possibly due to the lack of water in the surrounding area.

Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge near Minot continues to hold 4,000 ducks, about 1,000 Canada geese and 100 snow geese. Officer Shawn Tripp says most of the waterfowl are concentrated on the remaining large wetlands and on Lake Darling. He reports a fairly broad range in duck species, but notes that hunting pressure is relatively low.

More sandhill cranes are pushing into Mountrail County. Biologist Cory Lawson of the Lostwood Wetland Management District says some lesser Canada geese are starting to trickle through the area, but teal and gadwall are beginning to move out. He notes Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge is holding about 300 Canada geese, including a few migrants. Lawson reports hunter success has been varied.

Field hunters should have the most success in northwestern North Dakota, but not unless they do their scouting first. Biologist Toby Placek of the Crosby Wetland Management District reports pockets of ducks on large wetlands, along with some white-fronted geese in the northern part of the area, scattered small flocks of snow geese, and good numbers of sandhill cranes near Crosby.

Waterfowl numbers remain low in north-central North Dakota. Tedd Gutzke, project leader at J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, says there hasn’t been much movement in the past week. He reports about 300 snow geese and 1,000 sandhill cranes on the north end of the refuge. He adds the refuge is holding quite a few tundra swans, but no big numbers of ducks.

The waterfowl migration is slow in northeastern North Dakota. Refuge manager Neil Shook of the Devils Lake Wetland Management District reports seeing no big movement of birds this week, but adds that the local birds seem a little more scarce. The only snow geese he has seen are small, scouter flocks. Shook says hunters will have to do their scouting if they want to be successful.

More redheads and other diving ducks are showing up around Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge. Dave Azure, refuge manager, believes that represents the start of migration. He says hunting has been hit-and-miss, depending on water conditions. Azure reports seeing good flocks of mallards in southeastern Stutsman County.

Some hunters are doing very well, but the outlook remains just fair for southeast-central North Dakota. Deputy refuge manager Travis Carpenter of the Kulm Wetland Management District says he is seeing green-winged teal, mallards and pintails in hunters’ bags, but most of the blue-winged teal have migrated out of the area. Carpenter reports only a few small groups of lesser Canada geese.

Duck numbers are down around Valley City. Wetland manager Ed Meendering of the Valley City Wetland Management District says the diving ducks he saw in good numbers a week ago seem to have moved on. He reports fair numbers of resident Canada geese remain, and a few snow geese have been seen around Lake Ashtabula. Meendering believes the best duck hunting opportunities are in Griggs County.

Not much waterfowl movement has taken place over the past week in southeastern North Dakota. Jack Lalor, deputy refuge manager at Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge, says he hasn’t seen many new birds, but none seem to be departing. He adds gadwalls make up a good share of the local population, but there are good numbers of mallards and wood ducks. Lalor also reports a slow buildup of lesser Canada geese. He warns hunters that many fields are very soft.

The fall waterfowl migration is slow in Stutsman and Wells counties. Chase Lake Wetland Management District manager Tomi Buskness says the area still has some ducks, resident Canada geese, sandhill cranes and tundra swans, and hunters in southern Stutsman County are having fair success.

Good concentrations of ducks are being found on some wetlands in northern Burleigh and Kidder counties. Biologist Gregg Knutsen of Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge says the refuge is holding 6,000 sandhill cranes and 2,000 Canada geese. He reports a few small groups of snow geese and white-fronted geese, and some scattered groups of tundra swans are showing up.

Local ducks are bunching up on larger wetlands in McLean, Sheridan and Ward counties. Wetland manager Mike Goos of Audubon National Wildlife Refuge reports a slow buildup of lesser Canada geese and sandhill cranes, but no big numbers of snow geese or migrant ducks.

More mallards and northern shovelers have reached Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern South Dakota, raising the total duck population from 20,000 last week to 34,000. Biologist Bill Schultze says the duck mix also includes several small flocks of canvasbacks. He reports the 1,600 Canada geese are evenly distributed throughout the refuge.

Field checks show that some hunters are having difficulty understanding the "hunter’s choice"bag limit. The daily limit is five ducks, with these restrictions: two scaup, two redhead and two wood duck; and only one from the following group: hen mallard, pintail and canvasback

In addition, some hunters have been found in possession of lead shot while in the field. The possession or use of anything other than nontoxic shot is prohibited while hunting ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, tundra swans, mergansers, snipe and coot. And upland bird hunters need to remember they are restricted to nontoxic shot while on Waterfowl Production Areas.

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit the Service’s website at www.fws.gov