Slow Migration

Warm temperatures continue to dry up wetlands and keep waterfowl from migrating into North Dakota. A survey of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service managers and biologists shows very little change in duck and goose populations this week.

A few more ducks and geese have arrived at Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge near Kenmare, but manager Dan Severson says populations are still low. The refuge is holding about 5,000 ducks, fewer than 1,000 lesser Canada geese and snow geese, plus a few white-fronts. Severson believes the unseasonably warm weather has drastically slowed the migration out of Canada.

Water conditions remain very poor in extreme northwestern North Dakota. Tim Kessler of the Crosby Wetland Management District says he has seen a few snow geese between Noonan and Crosby, and some sandhill cranes south of Lignite, but duck populations consist mainly of local gadwalls and shovelers.

In Mountrail County, some of the larger wetlands have a few mallards, Shell Lake was holding a few geese and sandhill cranes early this week, and some snow geese were reported at Van Hook Arm of Lake Sakakawea. Todd Frerichs of the Lostwood Wetland Management District says the sandhill cranes seem to be more scattered than normal, but they are in huntable numbers.

Waterfowl populations remain low at Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge near Minot. Manager Dean Knauer says there has been very little movement this week, and the refuge continues to hold about 5,000 ducks, about 1,000 Canada geese and 500 snow geese.

Dry conditions and warm temperatures combine for difficult hunting around J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge at Upham. Assistant manager Gary Erickson says the geese aren't coming down from Canada, and local ducks seem hesitant to leave the refuge. He reports a few snow geese and some sandhill cranes in the area, but overall a "quiet" situation.

Wetlands are vanishing in northeastern North Dakota. Biologist Mark Fisher of the Devils Lake Wetland Management District says the warm weather has slowed migration to almost nothing, and the ducks already here don't need to go out and feed much. He reports heavy pressure on public lands in the area, but notes the best opportunities are near Lake Alice, Lakota and on the main body of Devils Lake.

Central North Dakota has more waterfowl, many more hunters, much more posted land and much less water than last year, so everything is concentrated. Audubon National Wildlife Refuge project leader Mike McEnroe says the refuge has about 6,000 Canada geese and up to 10,000 ducks, with another 2,000 to 3,000 Canada geese at nearby Lake Nettie refuge.

Waterfowl and sandhill crane populations are holding steady at Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Moffit. Biologist Gregg Knutsen estimates the refuge is holding about 1,500 Canada geese, almost 5,500 sandhill cranes and large numbers of shovelers and gadwalls. He says the best water conditions continue to be found in northern Burleigh and Kidder counties.

The warm temperatures have kept some blue-winged teal around Stutsman and Wells counties. Dave Bolin of the Chase Lake Prairie Project believes there hasn't been much migration in or out. He says no migrant diving ducks have arrived yet, and some mallards have moved out because of hunter pressure. Bolin also reports fair numbers of sandhill cranes west of Woodworth.

The above information was provided by the USFWS.

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

Homepage photo provided by Scott T., a Fishing Buddy Outdoors member. See the fullsize Photo of Scott's 2003 early season hunt in the FBO Photo Gallery.