Ducks Unlimited Podcast

In this episode, Matt Harrison and Dr. Jared Henson discuss the current state of bird migration across various flyways, focusing on the impact of recent cold fronts and weather patterns. They provide insights into the conditions in the Central, Atlantic, and Mississippi Flyways, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for waterfowl hunters. The conversation emphasizes the importance of wetlands for bird habitats and the value of staying informed through migration alerts to enhance hunting success.

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Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.

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Creators and Guests

Host
Jerad Henson
DUPodcast Conservation Host
Host
Matt Harrison
DUPodcast Outdoor Host

What is Ducks Unlimited Podcast?

Ducks Unlimited Podcast is a constant discussion of all things waterfowl; from in-depth hunting tips and tactics, to waterfowl biology, research, science, and habitat updates. The DU Podcast is the go-to resource for waterfowl hunters and conservationists. Ducks Unlimited is the world's leader in wetlands conservation.

Matt Harrison:

Hey, everybody, and welcome back to the Ducks Unlimited podcast. I'm your cohost, Matt Harrison, and also joining us is doctor Jared Henson. Doctor Jared, how are doing this morning?

Jerad Henson:

I'm good, Matt. Happy to be here. We're gonna give a quick update on on how birds are moving around right now. Excited about it. Can we do a mic check, please?

VO:

Everybody, welcome back to the Ducks Unlimited podcast. I'm your host, doctor Mike Brasher. I'm your host, Katie Burke. I'm your host, doctor Jared Henson. And I'm your host, Matt Harrison.

VO:

Welcome to the Ducks Unlimited podcast, the only podcast about all things waterfowl. From hunting insights to science based discussions about ducks, geese, and issues affecting waterfowl and wetlands conservation in North America. The DU podcast, sponsored by Purina Pro Plan, the official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited. Purina Pro Plan, always advancing. Also proudly sponsored by Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails.

VO:

Whether you're winding down with your best friend or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

Alert:

Please stand by. A migration alert has been issued. Repeat. A migration alert has been issued. Please visit ducks.org/alerts for more info.

Matt Harrison:

Hey, everybody, and welcome back to the Ducks Unlimited podcast. I'm your cohost, Matt Harrison, and also joining us is doctor Jared Henson. Doctor Jared, how are doing this morning?

Jerad Henson:

I'm good, Matt. Happy to be here. We're gonna give a quick update on on how birds are moving around right now. Excited about it.

Matt Harrison:

No doubt. Me too. I I always enjoy when me and you get together on the podcast to be able to talk about what people are seeing and hearing and how their hunting's been going. So we're just gonna dive straight into it, and we're gonna start out with the central flyaway. Gonna talk about one of our migration alerts that that we just received not too long ago.

Matt Harrison:

It came out on December 4, I believe it was, or fifth. And if you're not familiar with our migration alerts, you can be sure to go ducks.org and search migration alerts, sign up for that, and you will receive all different migration alerts. It's a great way to stay informed and stay up to date. But we noticed that talking about the Central Flyway, how they have had a very postseason Thanksgiving cold blast, and it has started to make things shake up a little bit. And doctor Jared, what what did you kinda take away from this as far as what they've been seeing migration wise?

Jerad Henson:

Yeah, Matt. I think one of the things that I'll talk about, and I think this is kinda gonna be a theme for all three of the Mhmm. The Flyway reports is we got a good weather push. Right? Right or right after Thanksgiving, that cold front's pushing through.

Jerad Henson:

It's moving ducks and geese. And so it's starting to freeze up the Dakotas, up into Northern Nebraska, and it's pushing birds into Nebraska along the rivers and then also really pushing ducks further down into Northern Missouri. They got a big uptick in ducks. Northern Missouri did the last week or so, last two weeks, doubled their duck numbers. So still a little below average, but but a big push of birds came in in Northern Missouri in the past two weeks.

Jerad Henson:

So that cold front keeps pushing down. That ought to push birds further south too. I know it's gonna heat up a little bit next week or just kinda plateau as far as temperatures go the end of this week and into next week, but but birds are moving. And so Nebraska's seeing good good numbers of gag walls and widgets, cold front pushing Canada geese and snow geese through. Looks like the rainwater basin and the sand hills, all the wetlands around there are starting to freeze up.

Jerad Henson:

So pushing ducks into those river systems and really concentrating some birds for some really good hunting opportunities.

Matt Harrison:

No doubt. Like you said, that's one thing I noticed when I was reading the report as well is a lot of their wetlands and shallow water, places that these ducks low fat and, you know, spend a lot of time at, they're they're starting to lock up with all this really cold weather. And so those ducks are really hitting the river, really hitting those deep water, you know, swift moving systems that you can find a lot of concentrated birds at. So it's a great opportunity to start hunting some of them rivers up north. You know, I know a lot of those places that you see videos and stuff, the skinny water, those swift currents that that hold a lot of ducks this time of year just because everything else is froze up, and those ducks don't have many places to go unless they plan on heading south.

Jerad Henson:

That's it. That's it. And we've got if you look under the the forecast, we've got a couple more cold fronts coming up, it looks like, in the next couple weeks, so it ought to keep pushing birds south.

Matt Harrison:

Yeah. And with this report, you know, it it noted that, you know, hunters both in Nebraska and Missouri are set up for a strong season finish. So That's it. The the numbers are starting to look good for them. They're having, like you said, birds show up in good amounts.

Matt Harrison:

And the good thing, yes, too, is when you have these big amounts of birds showing up, all these new birds, a lot of times, and this is a personal opinion here, this ain't scientific proven, but, you know, I think a lot of hunters would agree, is when you have a lot of new birds, these birds are new to the area as far as, you know, they may have been in that area before, but they're pushing down. They're looking for new opportunities to feed and get on some new bodies of water, so it's a great opportunity to get out there. And my one of my favorite days of hunts is a fly duck day, you know, because you can really break some ducks out, and you have a great opportunity at at tricking some ducks into finding a new spot to to feed and whatnot. So it's a great opportunity to get out there and see some new ducks and also have a chance at at shooting some of these ducks. That's it.

Jerad Henson:

Yeah, Matt. I mean, that's that's a that's a big factor, especially on a year like this year and last year where you didn't get great duck production. You got a lot of adult birds. So getting on them until they, you know, until they actually get on that that safe routine, that sanctuary routine, there's three or four days while they get kind of accustomed to a new habitat that are really good hunting, and then they'll start to find those those rest areas and sanctuaries where they can get away from that hunting pressure. But for a few days, it can be real good.

Matt Harrison:

No doubt. Well, let's shift over now to the Atlantic Flyway and the Chesapeake Bay area. You know, like you said, with all three of these, they kinda all have a common factor in it, and that's, you know, a lot of these these states and these flyaways are seeing a cold push and a cold snap. But one thing that I did notice with the Atlantic Flyaway areas, they still haven't just seen quite the numbers that they wanna see, but they're staying very optimistic. But, you know, it says with the cold fronts and freezing wetlands northward, the hunters are, you know, in that area really relying on this cold front to push more birds down, which, again, they haven't quite seen exactly what they were, you know, hoping for, but they've had some rainfall, and due to the drought in previous months and such, they're they're finally starting to see, you know, some wetlands kinda come back, and also, you know, more opportunity to chase ducks.

Matt Harrison:

So that's one thing with the Atlantic Flyway is they still haven't quite seen those numbers that maybe the Central Flyway has seen with this colder weather.

Jerad Henson:

That's it. Yeah. And and again, like you mentioned, they've been in a pretty good drought, and so they're coming out of it. They're getting the rainfall to help with that, but they still need a little more water to, and I think you could say that for a lot of The US, need a little bit more water to to bring those habitats up to to a much more desirable condition. But birds are not quite there yet, but should be on their way, I guess, would be a good way to say that.

Jerad Henson:

I will say that they are seeing plenty of diving ducks and sea ducks, I think, in those areas in some areas. So and geese are starting to arrive, and the swans are beginning to arrive. So so their their season's picking up. Conditions are looking better. So

Matt Harrison:

They're anticipating some more colder weather coming in and some more rainfall. So that's the two components that they seem to really be lacking, you know, in this area is is more water and the little bit colder weather that they need, and it looks like in the forecast they potentially may be getting that. So great opportunity ahead, what it sounds like for, you know, the Atlantic Flyway. So always, always, always gotta stay optimistic whenever you're chasing duck.

Jerad Henson:

That's it. That's it. And it looks like, you know, things are setting up right for Maryland's opener of migratory goose season, so so, you know, I think that kicks in the nineteenth. So, hopefully, things keep going in the right direction, and that brings some birds down for for people in in Maryland. No doubt.

VO:

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Matt Harrison:

Well, now let's shift over now to the Mississippi Flyway and the Great Lakes, and this article was written by Jay Anglin. You know, with the frigid temperatures that they've had, and they've also had some some heavy snow that's set in the past couple weeks, So they're finally starting to see some push of geese and also ducks. But one of the things that this specific, you know, alert talked about was the Canada geese and still some of the, you know, Western Lake area, the Michigan, Ohio area, they they they've seen some geese, but the the large groups of geese are still absent, and they're still waiting for that push. I did see where someone mentioned in this article that some of the bigger lakes up north of them are still holding a good bit of Canada geese, and, you know, you always have the local geese that that stay in these types of areas along the shoreline and such. But they they mentioned that, you know, hopefully here soon, kinda kinda as well as the, you know, Atlantic Flyway, they're hoping this this cold snap and this this weather that's been pushing through ends up pushing these birds down, but they still haven't quite seen the uptick in numbers as far as geese goes as they would like to see.

Jerad Henson:

That's it. Yeah. And, you know, some of those more northern states, Wisconsin and some of Minnesota, they're seeing a few birds, but, like, you know, there's they know there's more migrators, and they're waiting on them. So hoping that those come in soon with this next front that should be coming down in the next week or so. Some some play people are finding success, and that's one of the cool things kinda from this report is some people are having some really good hunts and stuff, but but they know that there's still more more migrating geese coming down, and that ought to ought to increase their opportunities quite a bit. So

Matt Harrison:

And they said in Indiana, the numbers are continuing you know, with the cold weather, continued to improve with the snow and white front of geese. They're starting to show up. So, you know, still, like I said, just staying optimistic and knowing that what is in store as far as weather goes that we should in these areas see an uptick. You know, overall counts are still a little below average, but hopefully soon, you know, this time of year, you'll really start to see a a good push, especially in geese and such. That's it.

Jerad Henson:

And it's and as this as things get colder, right, those larger lakes, rivers, and and any of those warm water releases on rivers from from, you know, factories and and power plants and things, those are gonna start really holding on to birds as everything else starts to lock up around them. So that's gonna concentrate birds, hopefully make some really good hunting opportunities for some people as we move into the winter in in these much colder temperatures. I know I've got some some friends that were talk I was talking to yesterday on a call, and they were up in in Michigan, and they're like, it's it's cold. It's it's and it's getting colder.

Matt Harrison:

With this time of year, you know, this is this is the time of year that a lot of, you know, waterfowl hunters, especially in in our flyway here, in the Mississippi flyway and Central Flyway area, and eve even also Chesapeake Bay, you know, people that their season is still open in areas that they're still chasing ducks. This time of year is when it typically will start to really pick up because we start to see some of this cold weather finally set in. You know, we have some kinda hints of it here and there. One morning, it'll be 32, but then the next, it'll be back up to 55, you know, but typically this time of year, and of course, there's always variables that goes into this, and there's always factors, but typically around this time of December, you'll start to see some of this colder weather really start to sit in, and, you know, this is a great time of year to chase ducks. It's one of my favorite time of year.

Matt Harrison:

You know, we're right off the Thanksgiving break and going into Christmas time. You know, this these couple weeks coming up, I love to chase ducks during this time of year. And, of course, later in season two, here in the South, we typically see an uptick in numbers, but this specific time of year, think a lot of it has to do with the holidays, but, you know, I know a lot of people start to see an uptick in birds this time of year.

Jerad Henson:

That's it, Matt. And I think one of the things that's exciting for me, reading through these these migration reports and you know, you and I are pretty biased. We're we're both Southern Mississippi flyaway duck hunters for the most part. But this is the first year in a couple years that we've had some good cold fronts in in December, early December, and then the November. I mean, it's been we've had really, really warm start to our winters the past two years and hadn't really gotten those cold temps until January.

Jerad Henson:

So we're excited down here. That's bringing a lot of excitement to to duck hunters in the South and and the Lower Mississippi Flyway, knowing that there's enough weather to actually push some birds further down and and maybe bring us, you know, some of them green headed ducks.

Matt Harrison:

No doubt. You know, like you said, you know, we we start to see some, you know, cold weather this time of year, but it can kinda come in and come out, and that's that's what I was just speaking on is, you know, here recently, especially where where we are, we've seen a sustained cold weather. You know? I mean, we I don't think it's gotten up above, much above probably 60 where we're at. You know, evening time, it's in the forties, thirties just about every single night, and it, you know, it it just it gets you excited because we are in our split right now, you know, down here in the South and in Arkansas.

Matt Harrison:

Mississippi, you know, has been they've opened up as well, but as far as Arkansas goes, in a split right now. And with this weather that has been just constantly cold, and I've seen video after video up north of a bunch of snow on the ground. You know, a lot of stuff is locking up far up north. So I truly think here with this next split, we'll see great numbers of ducks, and, you know, that's just, again, my opinion. I'm I'm hoping.

Matt Harrison:

I'm staying optimistic. I'm trying to speak it into existence. But, you know, we have seen great weather so far. Starting out, it was very, very poor weather. I think we talked about that on one of our last podcast episodes.

Matt Harrison:

We were literally swatting mosquitoes. But, you know, this whole month of December so far has been pretty good weather for us down here south.

Jerad Henson:

It's been cold. We need we need more rain. We need some more precip. We need more water on the landscape, but that'll come. But we, you know, we've got the the colder temperatures to to get birds moving, and and that's exciting.

Jerad Henson:

So well and and I wanna give a a quick shout out again. Remember to all of our listeners, y'all can jump on ducks.org, go to migration alerts, and you can get a good look at and a good read at all of these migration alerts. We've got great contributors like Matt, you mentioned. Jay England wrote the one for Mississippi Flyway. John Pullman wrote the the Central Flyway migration alert, and then Ken Perrow wrote the Atlantic Flyway, Chesapeake Bay one.

Jerad Henson:

So we've got some great contributors that are on the ground, really in tune with what's going on. So go online, check those out, and then also sign up for those. You'll get a quick update. They're not long reads. They're super short, you know, two, three paragraphs long, and they'll give you a really good idea on what's kinda going on across the country as far as flyaways.

Matt Harrison:

No doubt. And like you said, these contributors, especially the ones that you just mentioned and some others as well that I won't get off into all the names because I may miss somebody, but these individuals do a phenomenal job of truly taking their time and also being as specific as they can. Know, they get quotes from local DNRs, they get quotes from biologists, they get quotes from people that run guide services, you know, they do their due diligence whenever it comes to getting factual information and putting it out there. So it's a great way, as Doctor. Jared mentioned, to truly stay informed and also just know what's going on around The US, you know, and know what people are seeing and what people are, you know, how they're being successful as far as waterfowl hunting goes and just staying informed.

Matt Harrison:

So as doctor Jared mentioned, be sure to go and sign up for these migration alerts. I promise you won't regret it.

Jerad Henson:

Well, Matt, I think we've about wrapped up all of those. You got anything else?

Matt Harrison:

That's it. That's it on my end. Getting ready to get back after them this week. I know that you will be too. Oh, yeah.

Matt Harrison:

Well, thank you so much, doctor Jared, for taking time to hop on the podcast with me to discuss all about these awesome migration alerts. We also wanna thank our podcast producer, mister Chris Isaac, and thank you so much for the the Ducks Unlimited podcast listeners who make this possible. Y'all stay safe out there, and God bless.

Jerad Henson:

Thanks, everybody.

VO:

Thank you for listening to the DU podcast, sponsored by Purina Pro Plan, the official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited. Purina Pro Plan, always advancing. Also proudly sponsored by Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails. Whether you're winding down with your best friend or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

VO:

Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to the show and visit ducks.org/dupodcast. Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of Ducks Unlimited. Until next time, stay tuned to the Ducks.