Migration Alert: Minnesota Hunters Welcome Change in Weather Following Slow Start to the Season

Minnesota hunters have already gotten their feet wet on the duck opener, and while the North Zone remains open, the Central and South Zones are now closed until October 11 and 18, respectively. A lot can change during October in the Great Lakes region, and in Minnesota the peak waterfowl migration kicks into overdrive later this month and usually extends well into November. 

Opening weekend was a cause for celebration among hunters itching to hit the marshes and fields, and according to reports from around the state, success rates varied. While bird numbers were not great in many locations, local mallards, wood ducks, and teal, bolstered by a mix of early-migrating species such as pintails, wigeon, ring-necked ducks, and redheads, provided some action. Unfortunately, hot weather stifled bird movement dramatically.

Water conditions run the gamut across the Prairie State with some areas reporting below-average water levels, while others are well above average, including much of the central region where some wetlands are holding more water than they have the past few seasons.

Minnesota’s famous lakes provide important stopover habitat for a variety of migrating waterfowl. Ducks are dependent on the lush aquatic vegetation, including Minnesota’s iconic wild rice, for food and cover. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR), the rice crop is mixed this year. Rice is often located in areas that are difficult to reach and often dependent on sufficient water levels, so consider pre-hunt scouting to find good stands of this vegetation.

Until colder weather arrives, Minnesota hunters will be focusing on “calendar ducks,” which will be moving through the state very soon as the days grow shorter. “It seems like we lost many of the teal that were here, but we did not pick up a ton of new ducks following the cold front late last weekend,” says DU Biologist Jake Chronister. “Pheasant season opens Saturday, and I suspect many folks will have their attention on upland birds this weekend if waterfowl numbers don’t improve.”

Many hunters remain optimistic despite challenging water conditions in some areas. “Following the opener, the usual lull began with unseasonably warm temps and south winds the following week,” explains Bret Amundson of Fish Hunt Forever, located in the waterfowl superhighway of west-central Minnesota. “Thankfully, cooler temps have birds on the move, and I’m hearing reports of early-season species showing up, including good numbers of green-winged teal.”

Minnesota offers some of the best Canada goose hunting in the country and returning molt migrants are especially reliable this time of year. Up to this point the goose migration has been relatively slow, but Amundson believes that may change soon.

“In recent days, the migration has started to pick up with more mallards and Canada geese starting to trickle into northern parts of the state, and with a storm predicted for Canada next week, more birds could be on the move southward,” Amundson adds.