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Waterfowl Report for November
28th
by Steve McCadams
www.stevemccadams.com
Waterfowl numbers continue to build in the Kentucky Lake area.
Both state and federal refuges, along with some TWRA wildlife management
areas, are conducting weekly waterfowl counts.
The lingering cold spell has delivered more ducks to
the region. All along the Mississippi flyway there's cold weather. Deep
down in Dixie the nights have been below freezing recently.
To our north were several states reporting single
digit temperatures early this week. Small ponds, lakes and bottoms were
beginning to ice over in many areas. That should keep sending ducks and
geese our way and it sets the stage for a good opening segment of the
statewide duck season.
The initial count taken at Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge
at Lake Barkley near Dover had just 989 geese and 639 ducks counted two
weeks ago. This week's count showed increases of both ducks and geese.
In one week Cross Creeks went from 989 geese to 1,816. Ducks
increased there from 634 to 3,890. That's a 83 percent increase from the
previous week on geese and 509 percent increase on ducks. The numbers
are 19 percent above the 10-year average there at this time of the year
for ducks but 27 percent below average on geese.
The most recent count taken at Cross Creeks showed further
increases as migrations were underway. Geese there had increased to
2,278 and ducks were up to 20, 571.
The count was taken on November 16 and both ducks and geese have
likely increased since then.
Here along Tennessee's Kentucky Lake the Tennessee National
Wildlife Refuge took its second count of the fall and reported increases
as well. From the previous count taken some two weeks ago, duck numbers
increased 497 percent while geese increased 65 percent.
The count taken on Wednesday, November 14, indicated 967 Canada
geese and 45,708 ducks. Geese are 14 percent below the same period last
year and 27 percent below the 5-year average.
Ducks on the TNWR were 15 percent ahead of last year at this time
and in line with the 5-year average count taken at this time of the
year.
Of the three units making up the refuge, the Duck River sector had
the lion's share with 35, 342 ducks and 745 geese out of the total
count. The Big Sandy unit had 10, 202 ducks and 222 geese out of
the total count. The Busseltown unit had no geese and very few ducks.
A breakdown of the species on the total TNWR count indicated 22,
682 mallards; 9,216 gadwalls; 4,950 green-winged teal; 2,018 widgeons;
1, 790 ringnecks; 1,459 black ducks; 1,389 pintails. A few scaup,
redheads, and various other divers were also reported.
The most recent count from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
throughout its wildlife management areas of west Tennessee river bottoms
and Mississippi drainage areas such as the Obion and Forked Deer,
indicated very few ducks or geese. However, the count was taken last
week before the recent rains and most units were void of water.
Water continues to be a factor for many public and private hunting
areas. TWRA has been pumping Gin Creek and Big Sandy WMA but persistent
problems with the pump have delayed progress.
West Sandy is filling slowly but like many other units, needs some
rainfall. Meanwhile, local duck hunters are really in the mood thanks to
this cold weather. Season opens for a four day segment on December 2nd.
Previous Waterfowl Reports
November 18th
November 11th
Steve
McCadams is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area and host of the The Outdoor Channel's television series
IN-PURSUIT.
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