U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - News Release

Oct. 18, 2006

MORE GEESE ARRIVING; DUCK NUMBERS STEADY, SAYS USFWS

Larger numbers of snow geese and migrant Canada geese are being reported in parts of North Dakota. However, the weekly report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows no big change in the duck population.

Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge near Kenmare was holding up to 20,000 snow geese at mid-week, but manager Dan Severson says the numbers are constantly changing. The Refuge also had about 4,000 Canada geese and 20,000 mallards. Severson reports recent cold weather drove most local ducks out of the area, and concentrated the mallards on the Refuge, which also has 750 tundra swans.

Lake Sakakawea has attracted most of Mountrail County’s resident Canada geese and some migrants. Biologist Cory Lawson of Lostwood Wetland Management District says small numbers of sandhill cranes and tundra swans are scattered around the county, but ducks are hard to find. He adds Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge was holding 500 Canada geese, 500 mallards, 100 tundra swans and some sandhill cranes at mid-week.

Most of the 30,000 snow geese that spent the weekend near Crosby moved on early this week. Toby Placek of the Crosby Wetland Management District says last week’s wintry weather didn’t result in a gain in duck numbers for northwestern North Dakota, but he says waterfowl hunters shouldn’t give up. He believes the bulk of the waterfowl remain in Canada.

Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge near Minot has posted a healthy gain in snow geese. Officer Shawn Tripp says the birds are scattered from Tolley to Carpio. He reports duck numbers have increased from last week’s estimate of 20,000. Tripp says some wetlands have been icing up.

More snow geese have moved into north-central North Dakota. Biologist Gary Eslinger says J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge was holding about 20,000 snow geese at mid-week. He reports little change in duck and Canada goose numbers, but believes that could change in the next week or so.

Snow geese are moving into northeastern North Dakota. Biologist Cami Dixon of the Devils Lake Wetland Management District says most of them are in the northern portions of the District. She says hunters are also reporting quite a few scaup, but the big mallard migration has not happened yet. Hunters willing to do lots of scouting are reportedly doing well on ducks and Canada geese.

Migrant Canada geese continue to gather at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge near Coleharbor. Wetland manager Mike Goos says the Refuge was holding up to 10,000 Canada geese and 2,000 ducks early this week, with a few more diving ducks arriving. He believes the ducks will be moving to larger wetlands, and cold-tolerant species like scaup will be more common. He does not feel this week’s blast of wintry weather will bring an end to waterfowl hunting opportunities.

Hunters will have to do their scouting to find the scattered concentrations of mallards in harvested corn fields in Burleigh and Kidder counties. Biologist Gregg Knutsen of Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge reports a small increase in the number of migrant Canada geese in the northern part of the area. The Refuge is holding a modest concentration of ducks, mostly shovelers and gadwalls. The Canada goose population on the Refuge is holding steady, and the sandhill crane population of 1,500 is down from last week.

Central McIntosh and Logan counties continue to hold quite a few ducks. Deputy refuge manager Travis Carpenter of the Kulm Wetland Mangement District says he has not seen any large movement of ducks or geese, although a few snow geese have moved in.

Many ducks and geese left Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge near Jamestown last week, but "replacements"were starting to arrive at mid-week. Biologist Paulette Scherr says the 6,000 ducks on the Refuge are half mallards and half diving ducks. The mid-week arrivals included quite a few Canada geese. The Refuge is also holding about 100 Canada geese and 700 tundra swans.

More migrant waterfowl have reached Stutsman and Wells counties. Chase Lake Wetland Management District manager Tomi Buskness says she is seeing more Canada geese, swans, mallards and a few pockets of snow geese and white-fronted geese.

Good numbers of Canada geese moved into east-central North Dakota last weekend. Wetland manager Ed Meendering of the Valley City Wetland Management District reports the area still has fair numbers of mallards and diving ducks, although some may have left late last week.

Ducks, geese and swans are trickling into southeastern North Dakota. Biologist Kristine Askerooth of Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge says some migrant Canada geese, a few tundra swans and a few diving ducks have reached the area, although gadwalls make up a large portion of the ducks being hunted. At mid-week, she reported that birds were congregating in southern Richland County. Askerooth adds that the bean harvest is wrapping up, and the corn crop is starting to come off.

The first snow geese and quite a few more ducks have reached northeastern South Dakota. Biologist Bill Schultze says Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge is holding 2,500 snow geese, 90,000 ducks and 2,300 Canada geese. He reports a build-up of mallards and green-winged teal over the past week. Schultze adds that recent precipitation has slowed the area’s corn harvest.

Violations of the "hunter’s choice" bag limit are still being reported. 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. Officers say the best way for hunters to avoid "mistakes" is to make positive identification of their target before pulling the trigger.

Successful tundra swan hunters are urged to make their bird available for testing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. For more information, they should check the materials included with their swan license..

Upland bird hunters are reminded they can possess only nontoxic shot while hunting 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