Minnesota Waterfowl Migration and Hunting Report Oct. 1st, 2015

[mnfowl]

The following report is a compilation of state and federal wildlife manager reports and waterfowl surveys from across Minnesota. This is the 2nd report for 2015.

Reports will be compiled weekly throughout the hunting season and should be available by Thursday afternoon each week. The Conservation Officer Report, available on the DNR web site, also contains information about waterfowl hunter success across the state.

General: 1 October 2015

Duck hunters had a good opening weekend across the state based on reports from state and federal wildlife managers. Blue-winged teal, wood ducks, and mallards were the top 3 ducks in the bag in most locations. In some locations, redheads and ring-necked ducks were the most common species on opening day.

The number of ducks/hunter at various locations across the state on opening day in 2015 compared to 2014 was: Lac qui Parle WMA (3.6 vs. 2.4), Swan Lake (2.1 vs. 0.8), Thief Lake WMA (2.5 vs. 2.5), Big Rice by Remer (2.6 vs. 2.8), Big White Oak (3.0 vs. 1.1), Mud Goose WMA (1.8 vs. 3.0), Roseau WMA (2.1 vs. 2.4), and Carlos Avery WMA (1.0 vs. 1.3). Hunting success on most areas was above the long-term average and many locations reported one of the better duck openers in the past 15 years.

Canada goose hunting success was fair.

Hunting pressure was similar to last year in most locations. Waterfowl stamp sales through opening weekend were 70,700 compared to 73,100 last year. Duck hunter numbers have been very stable the past 7 years, but remain at historic low levels.

Temperatures are expected to be in the 60s over most of the state into next week with stable high pressure across the state, south or southeasterly winds and no major precipitation events.

See attached PDF for WMA counts and migration status.