By Steve McCadams
Updated December 8th, 2008
Duck hunters in Tennessee and across the region are the beneficiaries of another cold front that is fast approaching and increasing the number of ducks down south. Some much needed rain is also in the forecast for Tuesday/Wednesday and expected to turn to snow as temps fall.
Hunting has been pretty good in some areas during the first week of season here as those who had water had ducks but dry conditions have been a factor in the western portion of the state and on many public hunting units where below average water levels have been a factor and denied access to several shallow water blinds and backwater swamps.
That may change as rain is expected all day on Tuesday and a portion of Wednesday when temps will fall and northwest winds enter the picture with much colder weather that should stimulate duck movement here for hunters. The rest of the week looks pretty good for waterfowlers.
Recent aerial surveys taken by USFWS last Thursday here on Kentucky Lake at the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge showed numbers of ducks and geese have increased in the last two weeks. The recent survey showed 114,390 ducks and 2,300 geese using the refuge.
Duck numbers are 55 percent above the 15-year average for this time of year. The survey is up 62 percent from the previous count taken two weeks ago.
Topping the list as to species breakdown were mallards at 72,961. Ringnecks were second with 9,660, followed by 8,156 greenwing teal, 7,948 gadwall, and 3,605 pintails. There were also 31 bald eagles using the refuge.
The Big Sandy unit of the refuge was holding 43,000 ducks out of the total with the bulk of the count using the Duck River unit.
The most recent aerial survey taken last Thursday at nearby Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge on Lake Barkley near Dover, TN showed a significant increase in ducks there as well. There were 34,834 ducks and 3,607 Canada geese observed.
Duck numbers at Cross Creeks NWR were 76 percent above the 5-year average and 133 percent above the 10-year average there for this time of year according to U. S. Fish and Wildlife biologists.
We've had some pretty good shooting in the early morning hours in open water on days when brisk winds stirred up the ducks. By midday action slow as winds subsided and ducks settled in and rafted. A variety of species have been taken this week as we bagged black ducks, wigeon, shovelers, scaup, bufflehead, pintail, gadwall, and mallards. Three Canada geese were taken on Monday as well.
From TWRA public hunt areas across West Tennessee comes word of good shooting in a small portion of blinds in West Sandy (Springville bottoms) in the lower end between the levee and the pumphouse as upper end blinds are lacking water.
Gin Creek and Big Sandy WMAs have had fair action but also in need of some rain fall to inundate backwater. To the south Camden Bottoms WMA has gotten off to a good start with good shooting here during the first week of season. Dover Bottoms over on Lake Barkley has also reported good shooting this week on days when wind helped hunters.
Further west toward Reelfoot Lake and the parameter of the Mississippi River near Dyersburg many fields and hunt clubs have been below average as lack of water has hurt that zone overall. Some have pumped up fields and are holding ducks but others are in need of overdue rains to inundate feeding areas.
It should be a good week ahead for duck hunters as waterfowling weather enters the picture.
Steve McCadams
www.stevemccadams.comEditor's Note: Positive waterfowling reports have been sparse, to non-existent, from East Tennessee.