Migration Alert: Changing Conditions Bodes Well for Wisconsin Waterfowlers

Following a slow start to the waterfowl season, last week’s cold front ushered in “duckier” weather, bringing new flights of waterfowl to many parts of Wisconsin. “With the cool down the past several days, we have seen more birds moving in,” says Taylor Finger, game bird biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).

The Mississippi River separates Wisconsin from Minnesota and Iowa. The namesake of the Mississippi Flyway, this massive river represents one of the most important waterfowl migration corridors in North America. Waterfowl numbers are building along the 230-mile Wisconsin stretch, including on the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. This area hosts massive numbers of canvasbacks annually, and numbers typically peak from the end of October through the first two weeks of November.

“Divers are here, numbers are building, and all puddle duck species are present,” explains WDNR Mississippi River Wildlife Biologist Brenda Kelly. “Water levels are lower than what hunters may be used to from the past several years. This may make some locations more difficult to access based on what type of equipment they are using.”

Kelly reports that she recently participated in a mentored hunt, and all participants went home with plenty of stories—and birds—including mallards, wood ducks, pintails, gadwall, shovelers, and ring-necked ducks.

On the east side of the state, Dave Heath, of Heath Outdoors, has observed a relatively slow migration through Door County and northern Green Bay, although he has recently seen fair numbers of long-tailed ducks show up on the big water as well as some mallards and lingering teal and wigeon on adjacent marshes.

In the southeast, waterfowler Jon Klema reports, “The little cold front last week did push some new birds in, including mallards, but it is still pretty mild here. We’re really hoping for some north winds and chillier temperatures.”

This same sentiment can be said for the entire Great Lakes region. With fresh birds pushing in with more regularity and duckier weather in the forecast, the best stretch of the season will soon arrive for Wisconsin waterfowl hunters.