BONUS: Migration Alert! Central Flyway Listen Up!
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VO:Can we do a mic check, please? Everybody, welcome back to the Ducks Unlimited podcast. I'm your host, doctor Mike Brazier. I'm your host, Katie Burke. I'm your host, doctor Jared Henson.
VO: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.
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Matt Harrison:Hey, everyone, and welcome back to the Ducks Unlimited podcast. I'm your cohost, Matt Harrison. Also joining me today, doctor Jared Henson, also cohost of Ducks Unlimited podcast. And we're gonna be talking a little bit about some migration updates. Before we hop into that, doctor Jared, how are doing this morning?
Jerad Henson:I'm doing great, Matt. Always happy to talk talk about this stuff, and it's, it's that time of year. Things are starting to happen. Everybody's getting exciting.
Matt Harrison:It is.
Jerad Henson:Duck season's kicked off officially.
Matt Harrison:It officially has. It's here. Where I'm at, we finally had some really, really cool mornings. I know they're in Memphis. I was talking to somebody.
Matt Harrison:They said the other morning, I think, was in the forties, mid forties. So that is really getting me fired up for what's to come.
Jerad Henson:Oh, yeah. Yesterday was amazing. Got up. It was it was crisp. It was like, oh, I need to be outside in the in the woods or out in the field.
Jerad Henson:It's it it gets you kinda going for sure.
Matt Harrison:No doubt. Where are you gonna start out this year at, doctor Jared, as far as your first stop to hunt?
Jerad Henson:Well, I'll probably I've had a I've got a really busy October, so I'll probably be waiting for our Arkansas season to open. But jumping into for me, I'll I'll be jumping up in a tree to to do a little deer hunting first. So
Matt Harrison:Okay. There you go.
Jerad Henson:Got a little Taste
Matt Harrison:the deer before the ducks.
Jerad Henson:I try and fill a freezer before the ducks get here.
Matt Harrison:Hey. That's a good point. That's a great point. It is here. Like we said, we are super excited.
Matt Harrison:It has officially kicked off. There's been a good bit of people chasing them up north. We haven't opened up our season down here down south yet, but it will not be long at all now. But we're gonna update you on a migration update from the Central Flyway that was written by John Pullman, our migration editor. And you can find all of these migration updates on our website.
Matt Harrison:You can also sign up for migration alerts. It is a great, great tool to have if you like to be informed about what people are seeing in different flyways. It is a great great asset as a duck hunter to have. So you can find that on our website, the migration map. You can sign up there.
Matt Harrison:And it's like I said, it's a great great tool to to find out what's going on. So we're gonna dive into it. This one's gonna be focused on North Dakota. And if you read it, this one has already been published. You know, they've gotten off to a pretty good start there in North Dakota, but things have kinda tapered off a little bit there as far as John Pullman has said and kind of the kinda some of the word on the street up there.
Matt Harrison:So doctor Jared, what are some of those causes that have kind of caused it to where it's been a a good start to them, but now we're seeing it kinda taper off?
Jerad Henson:Yeah. Yeah. And and John does a good job kinda going into this, but it really comes down to there's some some localized pretty good production of ducks Mhmm. In the Dakotas. It wasn't great, but it was decent.
Jerad Henson:And so and there was water on the landscape for this fall. Right? So it spread the ducks out, offered a lot of opportunities for duck hunters. You give those ducks about a week of getting shot at without any new ducks coming in because they haven't had any good weather for us
Matt Harrison:somewhere coming in. To go.
Jerad Henson:And that's right. That's that's you know, ducks are good at not getting shot after a little bit. They learn. So so that's been the big big thing right there is I had some decent local production. Those local ducks are starting to get smart.
Jerad Henson:They're getting weary, and they're they're harder to find. And then just waiting on that that weather front to push some new ducks down from Canada, and they just haven't quite got it yet. So they said they did get a push from what I was reading, got a push of of some geese and cranes, but the ducks really didn't follow with that. So
Matt Harrison:Yep. Talking about, like you said, once you you, you know, don't get a good migration, you don't get a good push of birds, don't have that great cold front that you need to push new birds in, you know, it can get difficult as a waterfowl hunter. All faced those challenges of of hunting those birds that people either call them stale or, you know, just skittish birds, the ones that don't want nothing to do with where you're at. You know, it can it can become very difficult. But, you know, one of the things that they talked about on this certain article is scouting.
Matt Harrison:You've got to put in the time because John was saying that you can ride for miles and miles and mile I believe it was John. It's in the article for sure. But they were saying that you could ride for miles and miles and miles and see amazing habitat for waterfowl and there not be a single duck on it. And then they said around one corner, and boom, there can be a pile of ducks. And, you know, I think it's one of those deals, one of things that I've kinda found out with chasing ducks a lot of times, you know, is where you see some, especially when you don't get a great good push of new birds, you find a lot of them because it's like it's a safe haven.
Matt Harrison:They see, you know, live real ducks. They get in there. They start to pile up.
Jerad Henson:Yeah. They
Matt Harrison:start to scouting is essential. Yeah. Yeah. Scouting is essential whenever it becomes, you know, a little bit tough to find them. So once you get out there and you can find some, you know, I've found, like I said in in years past, that if you can find them, even when it's tough, a lot of times you'll find a a decent raft and a decent, you know, pile of ducks.
Matt Harrison:So they did mention that, and that's one of the things that, you know, like I said, scouting becomes your friend. And it is tough, but you gotta put in the miles to find them.
Jerad Henson:That's that's a big thing. And I did I had a friend of mine, a coworker here that that just spent last week up in South Dakota, and he said it was a pretty similar story there for them. Opening days, you know, were were great, But then after a a day or two of shooting, you really had to work a little more to go find some birds.
Matt Harrison:And really and truly, that's when it becomes a challenge. Right? That's whenever it becomes where the time that you put in is is is valuable. You know? Because it's it's always don't get me wrong.
Matt Harrison:It's always fun just to either put in a boat or ride a mile down the road and find them. But once you have to travel and scout and scout when you do find them, it's it's a whole lot more special. It's rewarding because It is. A 100%. A 100%.
Matt Harrison:And that's when, you know, there's a lot of people that maybe you keep up with or you follow that, you know, they're just always successful. They seem to always, you know, harvest some ducks, and they're those types of guys, they put in the time. If you talk to them, if you're friends with them, I guarantee you can ask them, and they tell you they put in a hours upon hours a week trying to find those ducks. So it's a challenge. It is, but that's what makes it fun in my opinion.
Jerad Henson:That's it. It is. And I think that's something else that that they mentioned in the article too is kinda waiting on those weather fronts. Right? Yep.
Jerad Henson:Waiting on new ducks. And one of the things they worry about as you get further into October that far north Yep. Is the inevitable freeze up factor. Right? So hoping they get a little bit more of a push with some weather events the next week or two before, obviously, a big weather event moves into North Dakota and just So turns it into an ice skating
Matt Harrison:Yeah. That's what that was interesting to me. You know, we don't really face those types of challenges where we're at here in the South in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas. Yeah. Don't get me wrong.
Matt Harrison:You for sure will get locked up sometimes and, you know, birds pass you up on a Right. On a push, but we don't face those challenges near as much as those ones, you know, further north of us. And it was interesting to read in that and exactly what you just said is the further they get into October and and even even into November, if that cold front push that doesn't lock everything up, if it doesn't come, they said it's almost like a curtain to just drop, and then that's when that big freeze will hit, everything locks up, and he said those birds just pass them right up. You know? So, hopefully, they they get a they get a a cold snap that pushes some of those birds because they did mention too that they've had a couple cold mornings and just haven't quite seen a push that they were hoping for.
Jerad Henson:That's it. Yeah. And that's something that's interesting. And and from friends of mine that hunt up there a lot, one of the things they've they've always told me is, you know, they like that mid October to late October time to hunt because
Matt Harrison:Mhmm.
Jerad Henson:You get more birds generally. Right? They're stacking up. You get more migrators in there, but you always that's what they say. You always flirt with that freeze line, and they've had several trips.
Jerad Henson:They get up there and get one or two great days of hunting, and then it's solid ice. And it's wild. He said it can happen overnight.
Matt Harrison:So Ain't that nuts? I mean, we've seen it, you know, we like I said, we'll we'll see it every so often here where we hunt, where it'll freeze up, and, you know, it it can be tough. Some sometimes that's your best hunting, though, but, you know, whenever you're talking about as cold as it gets up north, we're not talking about just some sheet ice that you can go out there and break up.
Jerad Henson:No. No. You're talking about going to play hockey?
Matt Harrison:No. It's a
Jerad Henson:different kind of cold.
Matt Harrison:It is. It is. And, you know, also in the article there, it mentioned that there was the first snowfall up into Canada, Saskatchewan, and they were hoping that it would push, you know, some birds down with that cold being that cold up north, but they still said that they just didn't quite see the migration and the push that they were hoping for with it snowing up above them. So hopefully here, though, soon, they'll get that push.
Jerad Henson:Hopefully so. I've been looking I kinda looked out the, you know, two week forecast kinda looking at it, and it gets cooler. There's some weather chances, and that will help a lot. We're not getting it doesn't look like they're gonna get that real, real cold snap at least in the next ten days up there, but but there are some some weather fronts that should bring some birds down. So that's you know, I'm optimistic about that.
Jerad Henson:I hope that brings opportunity to to those guys up there that are that are still hanging around waiting on some birds.
Matt Harrison:And, you know, I think we talked about this in one of the previous podcast. I can't remember exactly which one it was. But, you know, those ducks, if they're up in to farther north in, you know, North Dakota into Canada and such, if if they don't have a reason to come down, they're not coming. You know? It's until they have to come, I'm you know, they're they're gonna hold out.
Matt Harrison:So like you said, with checking the weather, hopefully, with some of these cold weather, you know, it'll start to freeze up some up north, and some of those those ducks will make their way down further south. But, you know, until that happens, those ducks are are comfortable. And and as long as they have food and water, I don't think they're gonna be moving until they have to.
Jerad Henson:That's right. I mean, we're already seeing you know, our Blue Wings are through here. We've got Yep. Pintails that are have have made that move. White fronts, you know, specs.
Jerad Henson:Spent the past weekend in the Arkansas Delta, and, you know, man, they were that's there was a big front came through Saturday night. Behind that front, there was a lot of lot of yodeling geese, hollering all night long and then all morning
Matt Harrison:the next
Jerad Henson:day. So so that was kinda cool. Like, you're you're hearing that first wave. But those those birds, the the white fronts, the pintails, blue wings, they're they're moving more, you know, on photo period and that type stuff. So Yeah.
Jerad Henson:Those birds are coming through, but, like, green winged teal mallards and things like that, they're they're waiting on weather to to push them
Matt Harrison:Until they have to come.
Jerad Henson:Into a new environment. So that's right. Yeah. So so those you'll start seeing a few trickle, but until we get that weather, it's gonna be a slow game.
Matt Harrison:Well, hopefully soon, they'll get some of that weather that pushes some birds, you know, into their area a little bit more. But as John mentioned, you know, don't let this if you if you're in the Dakotas, if you love chasing ducks, don't let the this report or or hearing me and doctor Jared talk. Don't let that hinder you from saying, oh, we know, we we don't have the birds to hunt. Don't hear that. As mentioned in the update on the website and the migration alert, you you can still find them.
Matt Harrison:So get out there.
Jerad Henson:Yeah. There's birds
Matt Harrison:boots on the ground, put some miles in, find them. There's birds there, as they mentioned, just a little bit more concentrated due to the pressure, due to, you know, season being open a little bit now. You know, those local birds have been hunting pretty hard, so you can still find them. You can still find them. Don't let that be a a hindrance of you going out and trying to find them.
Matt Harrison:It's like I tell my brother all the time, you don't know unless you go.
Jerad Henson:That's it. That's it. And a morning, you know, from a marsh or the the wetland or whatever, it's always a lot prettier than a morning sitting at your desk. So
Matt Harrison:No doubt about it. I would trade I would trade that right now for anything, being able to just get out and try to find some ducks. But hopefully here soon, you know, the the Dakotas will get a new push. I know our season, it won't be long at all now until we're we're able to chase them too. So I'm super excited.
Matt Harrison:I know you are too, doctor Jared. Hopefully, be a great season for us down here.
Jerad Henson:That's it. I'm hoping down here and and everywhere. And so
Matt Harrison:Everywhere.
Jerad Henson:Yep. I hope y'all y'all get out there, and I hope you you find some birds. Give us some feedback on if you're finding birds, you know, throw a comment in. Obviously, you're not gonna tell us where you're at. That's fine.
Jerad Henson:But but if you find some success, just say, we appreciate hearing stories and feedback. Yeah.
Matt Harrison:So. Absolutely. But as I mentioned, you can go up to our or onto our website at ducks.org and go to sign up for migration alerts, and you can subscribe there by email or phone, and it will give you these updates through your email or through your phone number. It's a great, great way to be informed, to know what's going on around The US, and just to kinda keep, keep your your knowledge up about all the different flyaways and all what's going on there. So be sure to go and sign up there for the migration alerts.
Matt Harrison:Thank you all so so much for taking time out to listen to the Ducks Unlimited podcast. Also, you so much to doctor to Jared Henson for taking some time out of his very busy schedule. And also, we wanna thank mister Chris Isaac, our podcast producer for making all this happen on the DU podcast. So thank you all so much. Y'all go out, have a wonderful waterfall season, stay safe, and God bless.
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.
