U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - News Release

STORM, COLD MOVE MOST WATERFOWL, SAYS USFWS

Monday’s storm chased nearly all the waterfowl out of northern North Dakota, but good hunting opportunities still exist in many other areas. However, according to the weekly report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, continued cold temperatures could cause more departures.

Large numbers of ducks and geese have begun moving into southeastern North Dakota. Biologist Kristine Askerooth of Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge reports mallards and small flocks of about 500 snow geese are arriving. She says western Sargent County is hosting large numbers of birds, with Kraft Slough a "hot spot" for mallards. Askerooth adds all but the largest wetlands have a thin sheet of ice, and the corn harvest is progressing slowly.

Snow geese and Canada geese have been moving into Barnes County. Valley City Wetland Management District manager Ed Meendering says he has also seen good numbers of tundra swans and scattered large concentrations of ducks this week. However, he notes that ice covers all but the largest wetlands.

More snow geese and migrant Canada geese have reached southeast-central North Dakota. Deputy refuge manager Travis Carpenter of the Kulm Wetland Management District says there are still quite a few ducks around, but that could change because even the larger wetlands are starting to freeze over.

Fair numbers of waterfowl are still being reported at Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, north of Jamestown. Biologist Paulette Scherr says the Refuge was holding 12,000 ducks, at least 4,000 snow geese, almost 100 Canada geese and about 150 white-fronted geese early this week. She adds most of the 10,000 puddle ducks were mallards, and the 2,000 diving ducks were a mix of many species. Scherr notes some of the Refuge pools are developing ice, while nearly all wetlands in the surrounding areas are either dry or frozen over.

Hunters may still have some opportunities in Stutsman and Wells counties. Chase Lake Wetland Management District manager Tomi Buskness says most wetlands are frozen over, but she is still seeing some geese and tundra swans, as well as a few ducks.

Large numbers of snow geese moved over northeastern North Dakota early this week, most without stopping. Biologist Cami Dixon of the Devils Lake Wetland Management District says hunters may still have some success field hunting for snow geese and Canada geese, and duck hunters can find lots of scaup on big water, but all the semi-permanent wetlands are iced over. She warns big-water hunters to be especially careful since water temperatures are very cold.

Snow geese continue to move in and out of Audubon National Wildlife Refuge. Wetland manager Mike Goos says numbers have fluctuated from 5,000 to 25,000 this week, while the Canada goose population has ranged from 5,000 to 10,000. About 2,500 ducks continue to use the Refuge. Goos reports some snow geese, Canada geese and a few mallards on bigger wetlands in the surrounding area, as well as a slow increase in the number of Canada geese on the Missouri River system.

About 85,000 snow geese and 6,000 Canada geese were using the remaining ice-free areas of Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge at mid-week. Biologist Gregg Knutsen says the geese are taking advantage of the fact that harvested fields in the area have very little snow. The few remaining ducks on the Refuge are mallards and a variety of diving ducks. Knutsen notes there are large concentrations of snow geese and Canada geese scattered throughout the three counties, roosting on large, deep wetlands and feeding in recently harvested corn fields.

An 8-inch snowfall and cold temperatures early this week have effectively ended waterfowl hunting for the year in northwestern North Dakota. Refuge manager Tim Kessler of the Crosby Wetland Management District reported a constant stream of snow geese heading south on Monday and Tuesday. He reports just a few stragglers on the ice near Crosby on Tuesday.

This week’s snow and cold have driven most waterfowl out of Mountrail County. Biologist Cory Lawson of the Lostwood Wetland Management District says Lostwood refuge was still holding about 500 Canada geese and an equal number of snow geese at mid-week.

Nearly all the snow geese have pulled out of Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge near Kenmare. Manager Dan Severson watched large flocks of snow geese leaving the Refuge’s upper lake on Tuesday, and he reported others flying over on Monday evening. On Tuesday, the Refuge still had pockets of open water near Kenmare, which were holding about 500 tundra swans, Canada geese and some ducks, but most were gone by Wednesday.

The Oct. 30 storm pushed out nearly all the waterfowl that reached Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge last week. Over the weekend, the refuge northwest of Minot was holding more than 100,000 snow geese. However, deputy refuge manager Tom Pabian reported nearly all of them disappeared after the five-inch snowfall and cold temperatures that froze some of the pools on the lower end of the refuge. He said a few small bunches of Canada geese and some ducks remained on Wednesday, but he did not consider them "huntable" numbers. Pabian reported watching a steady stream of migrating waterfowl on Tuesday.

Snow and cold temperatures have put an end to hunting opportunities around J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge in north-central North Dakota. Assistant refuge manager Gary Erickson says the Refuge is completely iced over and snow covers most food supplies.

Waterfowl populations have fluctuated with the weather this week at Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern South Dakota. Biologist Bill Schultze says the Refuge held 150,000 snow geese and 200,000 ducks early this week, but dropped to 85,000 snow geese and 160,000 ducks at mid-week. Schultze says most of the ducks are mallards concentrated in the small open-water areas of Mud Lake and Sand Lake, and feeding in adjacent harvested corn fields. Another 960 tundra swans were sitting on the ice in both those lakes. Schultze notes that three whooping cranes spent four days near Sand Lake last week before apparently departing on Sunday. He believes the low temperatures predicted for the area will freeze up the remaining open water.

Hunters are reminded they must leave one fully feathered wing or head on all waterfowl during transportation.

Hunters using Waterfowl Production Areas must note that motor vehicles may not be used off established roads or trails, and upland bird hunters using WPAs are restricted to nontoxic shot and must use shotguns capable of holding no more than three shells.

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