With early teal seasons in the rearview mirror, the first regular-season duck openers kick off this weekend in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—and not a moment too soon. The first day of autumn brought cooler temperatures and the undeniable feeling that fall is finally here.
Reports of early migrants showing up on marshes across the Great Lakes states include pintails, wigeon, teal, and shovelers. Habitat is in great shape around the Great Lakes, but the water situation is more complicated.
Minnesota
“Things are looking good for the early season here in Minnesota,” reports Nate Huck, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources migratory game-bird consultant. “Areas in central and southern Minnesota had good production, and I am hearing reports of good bird numbers in those areas, while in northern Minnesota, reports are mixed, with some good and some not so great.”
According to Huck, until recently, significant drought conditions impacted marshes throughout most of the state and access was a big concern. However, recent rains, particularly in central and southern Minnesota, have significantly changed water availability on the landscape.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin has been affected by the same dry conditions, especially in the state’s northern tier. “As we approach the season openers, Wisconsin is still dealing with the results of an extremely dry summer,” explains Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Gamebird Ecologist Taylor Finger. “We did get some rain last week, but we will really need another 5 to 6 inches to put water on our wetlands, and right now many are pretty dry.”
Finger says that while many of the marshes in northern Wisconsin are dry to very dry, a good number of these wetland complexes have excellent moist-soil vegetation, a preferred food source for ducks. “If we are able to get some water over the next couple of weeks, they should be in really good shape for migrating waterfowl. There are still teal around, and I’m hearing reports that there are plenty of Canada geese throughout the state. As always, scouting directly correlates with success, especially with crops being harvested daily.”
Illinois
It should be no surprise to anyone that Illinois’s vast wetland complexes along the Illinois and Mississippi River valleys are holding pintails, wigeon, green-winged teal, and shovelers, and weekly aerial inventories conducted by Forbes Biological Station, based in Havana, Illinois, are also providing insight into water and vegetation conditions along these corridors.
Reports indicate that good numbers of ducks showed up this week, but the region still has a shortage of important moist-soil vegetation, much of which was wiped out by flooding this summer. However, a new flush of moist-soil plants is rapidly taking over on barren mudflats exposed as water levels dropped dramatically in the Illinois River Valley.
“Though probably too little, too late, we did observe some germination and early vegetative growth in recently exposed mudflats along the Illinois River,” reports Forbes Waterfowl Ecologist John Osborn. “Time isn’t on our side with these refuges, but hopefully we’ll see at least a little stunted growth and some seed production. Time will tell.”
Indiana
With few exceptions, Indiana’s scattered waterfowl habitat is in good shape. Consistent precipitation recharged a significant number of wetlands, though in several areas severe flooding will have an impact on moist-soil vegetation.
Though property manager Mike Schoof says more rain is needed, even drought-addled Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area in northwest Indiana picked up enough rain during recent storms to put more acres into play for hunters. In fact, this week some of the managed zones are receiving water that simply was not available a week ago.
While teal season was largely a dud around the Hoosier State, in many areas, hunters reported outstanding Canada goose hunting during the early season. Additionally, wood duck numbers appear to be strong and increasing as they take advantage of an outstanding mast crop this year.
Michigan
Michigan hunters continue to rack up fantastic goose hunts across the state, and reports of good numbers of puddle ducks have been coming in for well over a month. This is a very good sign and speaks to the power of water on wetlands through spring and summer.
“Managed wetland areas in the southeast portion of the state are in really good condition,” says Joe Robison, Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist supervisor. “There is plenty of water and food to attract and hold ducks throughout the season; we just need Mother Nature to cooperate.”
Ohio
Ohio also benefited from timely rains. “Our wetlands are in really good condition because we’ve had a lot of rain this summer. We should be at good water levels, and there is lots of moist soil as well as good submergent vegetation for waterfowl,” says Jacob Gray, Ohio Department of Natural Resources state waterfowl biologist. “There are a couple of exceptions. Mallard Club Wildlife Area east of Toledo is undergoing construction, and Dillon Wildlife Area wetland units in the east-central region are also undergoing construction, so they’re still going to be dry. Overall, I’d say the wetlands are in good shape.”
Gray says he has been seeing a lot more wood ducks than last year in the northwest region, including on Muddy Creek Bay Waterfowl Refuge and Magee Marsh Wildlife Area.
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