Migration Alert: Good Local Production, Strong Habitat Has New York Hunters Optimistic

The general duck season kicked off throughout most of New York State on October 12, and hunting success appears to have been good overall. Hunters in the state’s Lake Champlain, Northeast, Western, and Southeastern Zones report good action for wood ducks, teal, mallards, and black ducks. 

“Nesting success and brood survival were pretty good this year—water generally wasn't an issue. Localized flash flooding certainly impacted some nesting birds, but overall, local wood duck, teal, and mallards appeared to have a successful hatch,” says Ducks Unlimited Regional Biologist Matthew Wagner.

Habitat conditions are also generally good for migrating waterfowl this fall. “Overall forage conditions seem to be favorable,” Wagner reports. “Vegetation did well, with early dry conditions followed by frequent rainfall throughout the growing season, which promoted production of desirable annual and perennial plants.”

Wagner adds that colleagues in western New York near Tonawanda, Oak Orchard, and Iroquois National Wildlife Refuges have reported good wetland conditions and early waterfowl numbers in the area. DU staff in central New York have also noted good habitat conditions and bird numbers in the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, with lots of teal present on managed wetlands. Wagner recently visited the St. Lawrence, Clayton, and Massena areas and found lots of water and geese staging with wigeon and teal. 

“There have been plenty of ducks in the area for the entire season,” reports Nick McNamara, owner of Basswood Lodge in the St. Lawrence River Valley. “We definitely have noticed new black ducks the last couple days. I also expect some new birds on the next cold front. We always get some kind of push around Halloween. My prediction is there will be plenty of ducks, and if the weather cooperates, it should be a great season.”

In southern New York, Field & Stream Senior Editor Ryan Chelius enjoyed a good opening day in the Hudson Valley. Aside from the usual woodies and teal, he was able to take a couple mallards too. 

“The creeks were all holding plenty of wood ducks,” Chelius says. “It was a classic wood duck flight—a 20-minute flurry, then it died down. Despite the warm temps, I was happy to see some big ducks, which is not something you expect when you’re hunting in short sleeves.” 

Dr. Michael Schummer, associate professor at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, says this is shaping up to be a good season so far for New York waterfowlers.

“The season started out with strong duck numbers across New York, mostly owing to good duck production this year, especially for mallards. May to July was record warm, and we had average rainfall which produced a lot of good conditions for local mallards and wood ducks,” Schummer says. “Nesting conditions were good to the north too, and we have strong numbers of ducks that moved in for opening day.”

Wagner notes that resident geese also seemed to have had favorable nesting conditions and good brood survival.

“Since opening day we haven't had much weather that would push new ducks into the state, and now birds that have been here are getting stale,” Schummer adds. “We need a cold front, but that is not in the forecast for the foreseeable future. The good news is that we still have a lot of wood ducks and early migrants, although some of the green-winged teal seem to have moved on.”

According to Schummer, the best is yet to come for New York waterfowlers. “Most mallards are still north of us, along with many black ducks and diving ducks too, so there's still lots of action to be had for the rest of season for sure,” he says.