1. sports
2. hunting and shooting

Minnesota Waterfowl Migration and Hunting Report November 13, 2014
The following report is a compilation of state and federal wildlife manager reports
and waterfowl surveys from across Minnesota. This is the 8th report for 2014.
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.
Hunters can also view waterfowl counts from the Upper Mississippi River in SE
Minnesota at: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Upper_Mississippi_River/Fall_Flights.html
General: 13 November 2014
Duck hunting was good over the past week for the few waterfowl hunters that were
still out. Good numbers of ducks moved in and out of the state rapidly beginning
last weekend. The first major winter storm of the season began on Monday
bringing significant snow to much of central Minnesota and extremely cold
temperatures statewide. Most of the state is ice-covered except for the very large
lakes.
NW
Roseau
Karlstad
Thief Lake
Agassiz
NWR
Baudette
NC
Crookston
Tamarac
NWR
Park
Rapids
NE
Grand
Rapids Rice
Lake
NWR
Fergus
Brainerd
Falls
Aitkin
Little
Glenwood Falls
Cloquet
WC
Big
Stone
NWR
Cambridge
Sherburne NWR
Carlos Avery
LQP
Willmar
Appleton
Slayton
Talcot
Lake
Sauk
Rapids
Swan
Lake
Windom
SW
C
MN Valley
NWR
Upper
Miss.
Rochester
Owatonna
Winona
SE
Canada goose numbers increased in most areas but with the snow depths and lack of open water, many geese continued south.
Some late season ducks are still present in the state, but numbers are low with the lack of open water.
The weather forecast calls for very cold temperatures to continue statewide for at least another week, with daytime highs only
reaching the low 20s and lows in the single digits. Some additional snow accumulation is possible this weekend.
Field hunting opportunities remain in some areas of the state but open water hunting options are extremely limited.
Reminders:
Duck season dates:
North Zone:
Sept. 27-Nov. 25
Central Zone: Sept. 27-Oct. 5 and Oct. 11-Nov. 30
South Zone:
Sept. 27-Sept. 29 and Oct. 11-Dec. 6
Canada goose season dates
Sept. 27-Dec. 25
Sept. 27-Oct. 5 and Oct. 11-Dec. 30
Sept. 27-Sept. 29 and Oct. 11-Jan. 5
Bag limits are 6 ducks/day, with no more than: 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 scaup, 3 wood duck, 2 pintail, 2 redhead, 1 canvasback, 1
black duck. Mergansers: 5 per day, no more than 2 may be hooded mergansers. Canada goose bag limits are 3/day.
Possession limits: 3 times the daily bag limit for all migratory birds.
Shooting hours begin ½ hour before sunrise and end at sunset the remainder of the season. Motorized decoys are prohibited on
state wildlife management areas the entire season.
The sandhill crane season is closed.
Open water hunting: On Lake Pepin, Lake of the Woods, Lake Mille Lacs, and Lake Superior, open water hunting is allowed as
long as boats remain anchored. On the Mississippi River south of Hastings, hunting is allowed not more than 100 feet from any
shoreline, including islands. Hunters should consult the 2014 Waterfowl Hunting regulations (available from license vendors or
online at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/regulations/hunting/index.html) for additional details and regulations.
Safety Never Takes A Holiday: treat every gun as if it were loaded, be 100% certain of your target before pulling the trigger,
wear your life vest, pay attention to other hunters and your hunting partners, and watch the weather.
The following is a summary of pre-season waterfowl habitat and hunting conditions from various reporting stations across the
state.
Area
Habitat conditions
Northwest
Thief Lake WMA
Frozen on Monday Nov. 10.
North central
Park Rapids
Shallow lakes and marshes are
ice covered. Some large lakes
remain open but shoreline ice
may make access difficult.
Most rivers remain open;
however, many have significant
ice shelves.
Aitkin county
Only larger lakes remain open
Grand Rapids
Shallow lakes, and small water
bodies are frozen over
Waterfowl migrations and weather conditions
Hunter Activity and Success
Below normal temperatures have persisted this
week. Winds have been strong ushering in light
bands of snow daily. Snow cover is currently 1
to 2 inches in much of the immediate Park
Rapids area. A large migration of tundra swans
was noted on 11/9. A few late season migrants
remain in the area using larger lakes and rivers
for roosting. Predominate species include:
goldeneyes, mergansers, and mallards. Good
numbers of geese still remain in the area.
Large increase in swan and Canada geese moving
through. Significant snow early in week. Some
mallards are still around.
Below normal temperatures have been here since
Saturday. There is about an inch of snow on the
ground. Large lakes and rivers may still be open
this weekend but access ramps may be frozen in.
Tundra swans were observed migrating out of the
area on Saturday. Canada Geese and
Goldeneyes are still in the area.
Very little hunting activity has
been noted. Ice formation and
cold temperatures are expected to
continue. Hunting opportunities
will be limited.
Low hunter numbers.
There are still some hunters out
where they can get access.
Area
West Central
Tamarac NWR
Fergus Falls
Glenwood
Central
Carlos Avery
WMA
Habitat conditions
Waterfowl migrations and weather conditions
Hunter Activity and Success
All marshes and shallow lakes
are frozen. Deep lakes range
from 50 to 80% frozen. Most
should freeze within a night or
two!
Last week’s snow completely melted. We
received about ½” of new snow Saturday night
and have about 1/2” on the ground now. High
temperatures have not gotten above freezing this
week. All geese and swans have moved out.
Only 50 ring necks and a few mallards,
bufflehead and goldeneye remain on the refuge.
Major cold front and northwest winds have
dominated the weather scene. Lots of swans and
geese seen migrating but very few ducks. Goose
numbers up significantly from last week.
There was a great push of ducks later last week
continuing into the weekend. With the colder
temps smaller and medium basins have frozen
over, with the forecasted temps. I would expect
the lakes to freeze as soon as the wind dies. As of
Thursday Geese and mallards continue to be
found in pockets with a few late season divers
still on area lakes, but I would expect this to
change very quickly. Field hunting should remain
for a least a few more days. Snow cover varies
greatly across the work area
On Saturday 8 hunters had 27
ducks, (8 mallards, 6 lesser
scaup, 5 bufflehead, 4 red heads
and 4 ring necks). 6 hunters had
6 ring necks on Sunday.
A large migration of waterfowl occurred over
East Central MN this past week. Swans and
geese could be heard overhead day and night. A
few birds were still migrating on Weds the 12th,
but it is quiet this morning. Some flocks stopped
at Carlos Avery WMA for short periods before
continuing south.
Six waterfowl hunting rigs with
boat trailers were counted on
Carlos Avery WMA on Saturday
morning. For comparison, 179
deer hunting rigs were counted.
About 4 inches of snow on the
ground. Pretty much all but
deep water lakes have frozen
over
Basins have begun or are
frozen over
All pools on the unit were
frozen over as of Wed. 11/12.
10-13 inches of wet snow fell
here on Monday. Since the
ground was not frozen at the
time, much of that moisture
will recharge groundwater and
wetlands over the winter.
Few hunters out (deer season)
and little reported success for
ducks. Excellent opportunity for
geese for those who went.
Again almost no hunting activity
being late in the season and deer
hunting opening, for those that
got out late last week and this
weekend hunting was good.
Area
Habitat conditions
Waterfowl migrations and weather conditions
Hunter Activity and Success
Cambridge
Large lakes are open, but small
basins and wetlands are
freezing over.
Hunting pressure has been very
low this week.
Brainerd
At time of survey many small
wetlands had just froze over,
making food sources less
available. Many rice stands
had frozen over as well
The Cambridge area received 16.5 inches of
snow this week. The storm moved many ducks
through the area. Divers and Canada Geese have
been observed on larger lakes where water
remains open.
High 21°- 41° F
Lows 19° - 34° F
0.15 inch of rain
At time of the survey we had 3 inches of snow on
the ground and it was still snowing. Temperature
was 24°F
Waterfowl hunting pressure has
really dropped off over the last
week, especially with the firearm
deer opener last weekend. Field
hunting for birds is getting more
productive this week. Hunters
who have gotten out either in the
water or on fields have been very
successful. Mixed bags of
Mallards, Canvasback, Greenwing teal and Gadwall have been
common.
Still a fair chance at field feeding
mallards and geese, though might
not last long.
Most of our ducks, geese and
coots appear to have migrated.
Little to no waterfowl hunting
noted during the week, nor on the
weekend of deer firearm season
opener.
Southwest
Marshall
With the exception of a few
pockets, all water bodies are
completely frozen up. Crop
harvest 99% complete, some
food available in crop fields.
Winter migration is at a peak. Large flocks of
Canada geese and mallards in the area. Some
snow geese and a flock of Sandhill cranes were
also observed. Temperatures are well below
normal, with daytime highs in the low 20s
hovering around 10 degrees at night. Strong NW
winds and blowing snow this week.
Approximately 2-4” snow on the ground, colder
temps expected this weekend.
Windom
Crop harvest and tillage done in
most cases. Marshes getting
pretty hard. Many lakes frozen
over, except for some holes
being kept open.
Cold front starting Friday 11/7, extending thru
the weekend, pushed in cold temps and
waterfowl. A lot of the waterfowl moved
directly thru the area, or started to move out by
early in the week. Still have mallards and geese
keeping some holes open in lakes and wetlands.
Area
Habitat conditions
Waterfowl migrations and weather conditions
Hunter Activity and Success
Willmar
The landscape in the area has
changed drastically since last
report. Everything is covered
by 11+ inches of snow, all but
the deepest lakes are frozen
over. Fall is over, winter is
here.
Following a very light migration this past
weekend, the area got hit dead center by a major
winter storm on the 10th with gale-force winds,
heavy snow and plummeting temperatures. At
present we are 20 degrees colder than normal and
it feels like January. Noted heavy movement of
Tundra swans coming through on the llth and
12th as well as some flocks of migrating geese.
Nothing was stopping. Apparently all the
waterfowl that had been “north” came down
during the storm or right after.
Had a good influx of mallards and geese after the
snowstorm up north. All birds are on small open
hole on the larger lakes in the area.
Hunter activity was good over the
past weekend with anticipation of
a big push ahead of the storm, but
in general, most were very
disappointed in this area. This
has been the case for the last few
weeks.
Slayton
All wetlands are frozen over,
only a few larger lakes have
some small open holes.
Harvest is complete with fall
tillage 90-95% complete Much Forecast if for cold temps to continue into next
below normal temps have
week.
frozen much of the water in the
area. Have a light dusting of
snow on the ground.
Hunters will now have to wait
until next year or travel south
along with the birds.
Hunting activity for ducks and
geese have been slow possibly
due to deer season and frozen
conditions.
Area
Habitat conditions
Waterfowl migrations and weather conditions
Lac qui Parle
WMA
90% ice cover and I expect
both Marsh Lake and even
larger and deeper Lac qui Parle
Lake to be completely froze
solid by tomorrow.
NW winds dominated this reporting period with
declining temperatures.
Winter arrived with a vengeance on 10
November with heavy wet snow and powerful
NW winds that still persist yet today.
Temperatures 20-30 degrees below normal.
Hunter Activity and Success
Ducks - Marsh Lake was holding
a decent, but not a spectacular;
number of mallards as the door
slammed shut. I expect a few
parties had a good finish. I made
a loop through Big Stone County
The long-range forecast does
Sunday afternoon into evening
not offer hope for these water
Steady movement, and really the first significant and was disappointed with the
bodies to reopen.
movement, of migratory waterfowl began on
lack of waterfowl observed
Saturday, 8 November and continues.
overall. No massive numbers of
12-14 inches of snow on the
Unfortunately the winter storm and resulting
ducks and it would appear most
ground - fields are mostly white snowpack prompted almost all waterfowl to keep overflew the local area.
and food buried except for
moving south. Lesser amounts remain to our
limited wind-blown fields.
north.
Geese - LQP State Game Refuge
- let me sum up the season. On
Only 6000 Canada geese on the Lac qui Parle
Friday 7 November the vast
State Game Refuge (13 November) I fear this
majority of migratory EPP geese
will be our peak count for 2014 and will rank as remained in Manitoba, Canada.
one of the lowest goose counts going all the way By 11 November the vast
back to the 1950’s.
majority of EPP geese were in
Iowa or Missouri with lesser
amounts north of Lac qui Parle.
We had a 3 day season. The few
birds that remain will offer very
limited opportunity and I am not
confident this meager number
will stay much longer - intense
cold and more snow forecast.
The hard truth, backed up by 40
years of weekly migration counts,
is that this type of season will
(has already) become more
typical as migratory geese
intensify the tradition of staying
in Canada well into November.
Area
Habitat conditions
Waterfowl migrations and weather conditions
Rochester
65% corn harvested
Shallow ponds freezing over.
Owatonna
Water conditions are hard in
most of our area lakes. Open
water remains on some deeper
lakes and rivers, but with
continued cold that can change
quickly. The area is snow
covered, but snow is not deep,
so ducks and geese continue to
have access to waste grain.
Weather conditions remained seasonably cool
and windy through Monday. Good numbers of
mallards, shovelers, redheads, ruddies, and scaup
were staged in refuges and the lakes in
drawdown. An intense cold front brought light
snow and very cold conditions November 11th.
There was a substantial push of late migrants
with the cold front. Most shallow water froze
over November 11 – 12th and most waterfowl
have moved on.
Hunter Activity and Success
Southeast
Hunting pressure was light with
competing deer season interests
and few ducks moving prior to
the Veterans day storm. Most
hunters had limited success.
Hunters having success had a
mixed bag of mallards and other
late-season migrants. Waterfowl
hunting opportunities will be
limited as winter grips the area.
Waterfowl Count Data, week of November 10, 2014.
Canada geese
Ducks
a
Number seen :
Area
Date
Swans
this
week
This
week
Last
count
Number seen:
Last
year
This
week
Last
count
Last
year
This weeks duck
Species - %
b
composition
Coot
this
week
Comments
NORTH
Thief Lake WMA
3,600
6,100
Frozen
Rice Lake NWR
100
77,000
Frozen
CENTRAL
Tamarac NWR
11/12
0
0
10
Brainerd
11/10
10
100
250
70
60
5,000
250
850
80% RN, 8% MAL,
8% BUF
300
50% MAL, 40%
HOOD, 10% SCP
0
3,000
SOUTH
Lac qui Parle WMA
11/10
6,000
1,300
41,000
Slayton area
11/12
12,000
1,500
1,500
Rochester
11/13
4,600
3,000
5,000
1,500 100% MAL
a
- Numbers seen during the current survey, last survey: the previous count from this year, last year: the number recorded during the same or nearby week last year.
b
- abbreviations: MAL = mallard, GAD = Gadwall, WIG = Am. wigeon, GWT = Am. green-winged teal, BWT = blue-winged teal, SHOV = Northern shoveler, PIN =
Northern pintail, WD = Wood duck, RED = Redhead, CAN = Canvasback, SCP = Scaup, RN = Ring-necked duck, HOOD = Hooded merganser, NS = No survey.