ND Waterfowl Update

A few more ducks and geese have moved into North Dakota, but continued dry weather means a dwindling number of small wetlands and receding levels in larger bodies of water. The weekly report from managers and biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service doesn't show much change from last week, but many resident hunters were successful on opening weekend.

J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge near Upham is still holding good numbers of mallards and pintails, and a few small flocks of snow geese started showing up late last week. Project leader Bob Howard says some lesser Canada geese have arrived and quite a few local geese remain, although they are usually found in groups of five to 20.

Waterfowl populations have improved slightly in Mountrail County, although the area remains very dry. Todd Frerichs of the Lostwood Wetland Management District says hunters who find large marshes could do well on mallards and local Canada geese. At mid-week he saw a few snow geese and some swans.

Very little waterfowl movement has been taking place at Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge near Kenmare. Refuge manager Dan Severson says there has been no increase in last week's population estimates of 150 snow geese, 400 Canada geese and 2,000 ducks.

In northwestern North Dakota, poor water conditions have forced most hunters to do field hunting. Monte Ellingson of the Crosby Wetland Management District says the large wetlands are receding, leaving lots of mud and no cover around the edges. He reports low waterfowl populations and very few new arrivals.

About 500 snow geese have joined the 5,000 ducks and 1,000 Canada geese at Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge northwest of Minot. Manager Dean Knauer says most of the ducks are poorly colored mallards and pintails.

In the Devils Lake area, waterfowl populations may be lower than expected, but the outlook remains fair for this weekend. Mark Fisher of the Devils Lake Wetland Management District says a few more snow geese and lesser Canada geese are arriving, and sandhill crane numbers are fair to good and building in Benson and Towner counties. He suggests hunters try the Lake Alice and Lakota areas, where water conditions are average or better, but he warns that much of the private land is posted. Fisher says it appears that cooler temperatures have driven most blue-winged teal out of the area.

The Canada goose population at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge near Coleharbor has jumped from 5,000 last week to about 10,000. Biologist Craig Hultberg says the refuge has about 5,000 mallards and gadwalls, but only about a dozen snow geese. He expects fair to good hunting around large wetlands in McLean and Sheridan counties, and says that hunters who find water should also find ducks.

The sandhill crane population at Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Moffit has reached 5,000. Biologist Tomi Buskness says the refuge is also holding lots of local ducks and several hundred Canada geese. She reports good concentrations of ducks and sandhill cranes in northern Kidder County, which has fair water conditions.

The Canada goose population has doubled at Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge near Jamestown. Biologist Paulette Scherr estimated 1,100 Canada geese on the refuge at mid-week, along with more than 5,000 ducks; mostly mallards, gadwalls and shovelers, along with a few small flocks of scaup and canvasbacks.

A few more Canada geese have reached Wells and Stutsman counties. Matt Filsinger of the Chase Lake Prairie Project predicts some successful hunts this weekend, but warns that many small potholes have disappeared, and hunters will have to do their scouting. He adds that more sandhill cranes have been spotted in the past few days.

The above information was provided by the USFWS.

For more waterfowl reports see the Fishing Buddy Outdoors ND Waterfowl Report pages...