Weekly waterfowl migration report

That time of the year that many of us look forward to all year has arrived. Opening day will be here on September 26th. Generally the weather looks OK, with some rain in the forecast and some potential thunderstorms in the afternoon. Folks should watch the weather and get out of the field if lightning is headed your way. Despite the rain, many locations are reporting difficult access and its suggested you check the landings of where you intend to hunt in the daylight prior to opening day. Generally waterfowl numbers are spotty statewide and as always those who scout for the opener will generally be the most successful. Check your gear and make sure you have all the necessary safety equipment for the weekend. As always, good luck and be safe!

Cambridge

Habitat: Wetlands and shallow lakes are below average levels going into the regular waterfowl opene. Recent rains have helped some, but there will be mud flats and diifficult areas to hunt in. Wild Rice conditions is above average to outstanding.

Migration: We have been seeing decent numbers of woodducks, teal and mallards. Most small grain fields have been harvested and seeing decent numbers of geese feeding in them.

Weather: Recent rains have helped some, but we are still in a drought. Cooler weather and light rain in the forecast.

Activity: Very little activity during the early teal season and youth season, with poor success.

Little Falls

Habitat: Low water levels still persist after recent rains making access difficult. If you can access areas with enough water and wild rice, you will have a good chance at success. Wild Rice crop was very good this year. Mud flats may be common in some areas

Migration: Seen an uptick in wood duck, teal and mallard numbers. Larger groups of geese still in the area. Seen a few flocks of Pintails moving down as well.

Weather: Recent rains have helped with water levels, but we are still in a drought. Water levels are below average. Some areas only accessable via pintail/kayak boats or will too dry.

Activity: Should be a good opening weekend if you are able to get to those hard to reach areas where the birds will be congregated around. Plenty of ducks seen driving around.

North Metro/Carlos Avery WMA

Habitat: Water levels are low across the area. Many small basins are almost completely dry or far below normal water level. Larger basins and rivers are low, but still have untable areas. Water access will be very difficult - scouting recommend. Wild rice production was excellent this year. Rice is being found in many basins that historically have not produced rice. Dense stands may be difficult to navigate and limit open water.Cattails have begun to senesce across the area..

Migration: Waterfowl in the area are local birds. Primarily wood ducks, mallards, and teal with a decent number of geese. Birds are distributed across the area capitalizing on the wide availability of rice. There has been no sign of migration movement.

Weather: Some small showers recently have helped maintain water levels and slow the drought. Days have been warm and nights are starting to cool off a bit. The potential for a bit of rain this weekend could be promising.

Activity: Not much activity through early teal season. Plenty of people out scouting for waterfowl as well as archery deer hunters and small game hunters using the WMAs.

Sauk Rapids

Habitat: Despite recent rains and green on the landscape, many of the smaller ponds and shallow wetlands have dried up to mud flats, and those that have water in them may be difficult to access. Most of our WMA access points will require a longer drag of the duck boat than in recent years. The major rivers (Sauk, North Fork Crow, Mississippi, and Elk Rivers) are all historically low, and while that has made for good roosting sites for ducks and geese it will make access for hunters difficult. Wild rice crops, where present, are excellent this year and will provide a good food source. Crop harvest is farther along than normal, with nearly all corn silage already chopped any many farmers already starting on high moisture corn combining. Soybean harvest will likely start soon, and some fields without irrigation may not get harvested due to low yield. There is some sweet corn harvest still underway in the area.

Migration: Canada goose numbers have increased, especially along the Mississippi River corridor. No real duck migration has begun, but local numbers of wood duck and mallards are high this year.

Weather: Cloudy conditions with showers and SE winds are expected throughout the opener, so no migrant flights are expected.

Activity: Early teal season reports were much more positive this year than last, with each group having a few birds in the boat. Good flights of other waterfowl were reported during the early teal season as well.

Aitkin

Habitat: Hunters will find fair to excellent stands of wildrice across much of the area. Recent rains should help with hunter access, but overall lake levels remain low due to dry summer conditions.

Migration: Local ducks consisting of teal, wood ducks, mallards, and ringnecks will make up the bags. More geese have been observed in the past few days.

Weather: Rain in the forecast for opener should keep temperatures cool and provide more ducky weather that the past several seasons.

Activity: Very little activity during the early teal season.

Brainerd

Habitat: Recent rains have helped some basins, but water remains low on many. Many shallow wetlands still have little to no open water. Hunters should be prepared for difficult access and should plan to check accesses prior to opening morning. This area had a decent wild rice crop. Corn sillage has been cut and combined corn harvest has started to begin.

Migration: There are spottty numbers of ducks. However, spotty numbers of molt migrant geese have returned to the area and hunters should expect decent numbers for opening day.

Weather: Temperatures have been about average the last week or so. Rains have helped some of the basins. The forecast calls for light rain in the area Saturday morning which should help success.

Activity: Hunters can expect decent success if they do their homework to find birds.

Grand Rapids

Habitat: Below average water levels are widespread across the area. Wild rice production was good again this year, and some basins may have very thick rice to traverse with some stalks laying flat due to recent storms. Look for open patches of water among thick rice beds to hunt. Be prepared for difficult access in shallow and seasonal wetlands especially with larger watercraft.

Migration: Local birds are present, primarily wood ducks, Canada geese, blue-winged teal, and some mallards and ring-necked ducks. Few signs of migration with the exception of limited numbers of molt-migrant geese and one report of pintails.

Weather: Drought persists in the area, though more recent rains have improved water levels slightly. The majority of basins are experiencing below average water levels, and may be difficult to access. Rain and higher winds are forecast for the area over the next several days into opening weekend.

Activity: Limited success during early teal season, some blue-winged teal harvested with few green-winged teal, also a lot of wood ducks present. Scouting is recommended prior to opening weekend to find where ducks are concentrated due to low water levels across the area.

Tower

Habitat: We have remained in drought conditions throughout most of the summer into fall seasons. We have a had some rain events in August and September but hunters can antipicate access and lake levels to be lower than average. It has been a good year for wild rice coverage throughout the Tower work area. We have had our first frost already so that resulted in some stalks losing their seed head already. Scouting prior to opening morning is always recommended.

Migration: Local observations include a slight uptick in geese, ring-necked ducks, mallard, blue-winged teal, and wood ducks. No big migrational pushes yet.

Weather: Drought persists in the area, though more recent rains have improved water levels slightly. The majority of basins are experiencing below average water levels, and may be difficult to access. Rain and higher winds are forecast for the area over the next several days into opening weekend.

Activity: Limited activity during early teal and goose seasons. Scouting is always recommended for access and waterfowl concentrations.

Park Rapids

Habitat: Water access will be difficult in many areas because a number of wetlands are dry and lakes are at historic lows even with recent rains due to the multi-year drought. Wild rice stands were highly variable again this year with fair to excellent stands. The rice stands are are in decent shape and still providing good food and cover. Crop harvest is on schedule with small grain harvest complete, corn silage harvest nearly complete, while edible bean is well underway.

Migration: We have had cool temperatures in mid September but it seems our early migrants are still in the area, however teal numbers are only slightly improved compared to last year. Opening weekend hunters will likely be focused on local birds, since no major cold fronts have moved significant numbers of birds into or out of the area. Canada goose numbers have improved with the addition of molt migrants lately. Duck brood numbers were probably above average this year but goose production was likely below average in most areas.

Weather: Seasonal temperatures with some rain and wind will continue through the weekend. Our area is still experiencing moderate to severe drought with little change in water levels even with the wetter pattern so far this fall. No frost has been noted yet.

Activity: "A few hunters were out during the teal season and reported pretty limited success. Some participated in the youth waterfowl hunt and had a little better success. The birds have been concentrated on basins with water remaining and wild rice.Reports from early goose hunters indicate decent success on local birds. Field hunting options are better this year with more diverse crops planted including small grains."

Roseau River WMA

Habitat: No report.

Migration: No report.

Weather: No report.

Activity: No report.

Thief Lake WMA

Habitat: We had our wettest June through July in 50 years. Thief Lake is about 6" above normal fall target level, which is 6" higher than last fall. The bullrush cover on the lake looks good, but is a bit thin on the south side of the lake. The invasive hybrid cattail we had sprayed last year from the Moose River mouth and south has died back. That area has floating mud bog that is being utilized for loafing, but cover is sparse. The submerged weeds on the east end of the lake are thick and difficult to get through with an outboard.

Migration: We got our first push of Canada geese on September 11. Mallards have been seen field feeding in groups of a few thousand birds. Some early season migrants have pushed in. Teal numbers have been low.

Weather: We had our wettest June through July in 50 years. That said, we were surrounded by drought this summer. The lake is still 6" above fall target level, which is 6" higher than last year. Southerly winds are expected through Monday night, so a push of fresh birds between now and opener is unlikely. Rain is in the forecast on several days. Highs in the 60s and lows in the 50s are expected through Monday. Cloudy on Friday, showers on Saturday, and partly cloudy on Sunday.

Activity: We checked 51 teal hunters between Saturday and Sunday. They averaged 2.03 teal each on Saturday and 1.21 on Sunday. Only 3 of the teal were greenwings, which is less than normal. Only 1 Canada goose was checked. 26 youth hunters were checked over Youth Weekend. They averaged 2.5 ducks each on Saturday and 1.8 on Sunday. Ringnecks, blue-winged teal, mallards, pintails, and reheads were the top birds in the bag.

Owatonna

Habitat: The Owatonna area has not been as affected by dry summer conditions as most of the state. Flooding from heavy rains on September 18 and 19 affected a corridor along Highways 30 and 16. The upper reaches of the Upper Iowa, Le Sueur, Cedar and Straight Rivers were very high. As water levels recede, oxbow wetlands should have good water conditions. In the areas affected by heavy rains numerous fields, wetlands and marshes have abundant water. Rainfall totals were much less north and south of this corridor so shallow wetlands and marshes are seasonal to drier than normal. Northern portions of the area are most affected by summer drought. Habitat conditions in shallow lakes are variable. Boat access is challenging at Rice Lake (Steele County) and Buffalo Lake (Waseca County) due to managed drawdowns. The main impoundent on Moonan Marsh (Waseca) is low due to a damage water control structure. Teal Marsh Wildlife Management Area was completely overwhelmed by floods and water levels are very high. Scouting is recommended. Sweet corn, other canning crops, hay and some silage corn are being harvested, but most row crop harvest has yet to begin.

Migration: Most blue-winged teal that had been staging on local marshes in August had dispersed from the area prior to the early teal season. Molt migrant Canada geese began moving in during the middle of the month and we continue to see numbers trickle in with cool fronts. Local production of Canada geese, wood ducks and mallards was good. Good numbers of wood ducks ducks have been noted around the area. Ducks have dispersed with the changes in water conditions associated with the flood.

Weather: Early September was warm and humid, with temperatures becoming more seasonal after opening weekend of the early teal and goose seasons. September has had regular precipitation. Heavy rain fell over most of the area Sept. 18 - 19th with extensive flooding along the Highway 30 and Highway 16 corridors. The forecast for the remainder of the week and opening weekend is cool with showers for the opening day of the regular waterfowl season.

Activity: Teal Season: Overall hunter activity was light. We have few bag reports. Indications were hunter success was variable. There were a few reports of opening day limits. Goose: Goose hunting activity has been similar to recent years and has been light. Field hunting opportunity has been limited. Goose were not moving much with warm conditions around opener. Activity picked up with cooler weather and additional crop harvest. Migrant geese moved in with cool fronts providing for some success through the season. Youth Waterfowl: Hunter activity was light, but limited bag reports received suggested good success.

Marshall

Habitat: Low water levels in the area with some small wetlands completely dry. Access may be challenging. Crop harvest is underway with more cut silage fields available this year and already a few combined corn fields that could provide hunting opportunity.

Migration: Good numbers of geese in the area along with pockets of mallards, teal and woodducks.

Weather: Marshall has received 2.4" of rain in September thus far, but need much more to start filling wetland basins. Forecast calls for a chance of showers on the opener and a high of 69 with light SE wind picking up and gusting over 20 mph in the afternoon

Activity: Early teal season and youth waterfowl reports were mixed. Hunters will likely be more crowded this year on basins holding enough water to float a boat.

New Ulm/Redwood Falls

Habitat: Small wetland basins are either extremely low or completely dry. Area rivers are also very low, making boat access difficult. Large wetland basins are also low, and standard boat motors will be difficult if not impossible to use on some. Crop harvest has begun, but less than 5% of both corn and soybeans are currently harvested and no tillage has been done. This could change rapidly over the next week depending on rainfall.

Migration: Waterfowl numbers are very low at present. Small flocks of Canada geese are scattered throughout the area, but ducks are very sparse. Some teal, wood ducks and mallards are present. No signs of migration yet.

Weather: Recent rains have not been sufficient to refill wetland basins, and the seasonal temperatures in the early part of the week will give way to warm condition into opening weekend.

Activity: Very little activity during the early teal season and youth season, with poor success.

Slayton

Habitat: Low water levels area wide. Boat access may be difficult

Migration: Local ducks, prediminently Blue-wing Teal and Wood Ducks in the area. Scouting is key.

Weather: Recent rains have been a positive, but much of the water has soaked in.

Activity: No report.

Nicollet

Habitat: While we have been dry most of the year, we have had decent bands of rain within the work area and that is keeping some basins easily accessible. Most of our smaller basins and wetlands are low to dry and have not recovered with recent rains. Lakes that were in drawdown this spring are holding some water but still very low and access will be tough.

Migration: Over the weekend we saw a push of molt migrating geese move into the area and we are still seeing teal even with the cooler weather. Most birds are taking advantage of some of the lower lakes and wetlands throughout the work area.

Weather: Over the weekend we have gotten some fall temps and overnight lows have dropped significantly compared to last week. Rains from the last week have brought more water to the area but very little change to overall pool depth on most lakes and wetlands. Some lakes in the southern area saw minor flooding over the weekend so there is some potential for better access, but scouting is always encouraged.

Activity: Teal reports within the area were 50/50, some people saw great sucess and others only saw few birds with no shots taken. Youth season seemed sucessful with the reports given. Biggest takeaway is that acess is tough this year with the dry summer conditions and scouting will be key and to expect lakes that have good access to be busy.

Windom

Habitat: Despite the current drought, water levels is most shallow lakes are normal for this time of year. Basins that were in drawdown are still below full pool. We have not had enough preciptation througout the summer to bring them back to full pool. Seasonal wetlands and recently resstored basins are low or dry.

Migration: Good numbers of Blue Wing Teal in the work area. Local duck and goose recuritment was decent. Goose numbers are good and are field feeding in small grain and sileage fields.

Weather: Most of the work area recieved at least three inches of much needed rain this past week. We are forecasted to be wet later this week as well.

Activity: Participation in the Teal Season was down, but those that were out had good luck.

Appleton

Habitat: Conditions are good. We've been relatively dry throughout most of the area this summer with lots of annual plant growth where mud was exposed. Many of those plants are now ripe with seeds. Recent rains should improve duck access those foods if basins fill up a bit. Soybean and corn harvest just about ready to start.

Migration: Within the last week we've seen an increase in Canada geese, coots, gadwall, wigeon, and green-winged teal. Still holding good numbers of blue-winged teal, wood ducks, and mallards as well.

Weather: It's been fall-like the last few days. Looks like it's going to be windy and rainy now through opening day. Winds will be southerly for the most part.

Activity: Teal season reports were predominately positive. Youth season was very light for participation, but it sounded like the kids that went enjoyed some great shooting. I expect most hunters will have a decent opener - if the rain and potential storms don't interfere too much..

Detroit Lakes

Habitat: Habitat conditions are dry across the work area. Western Clay and Norman Counties are in the extreme drought category which lessens to severe/moderate drought as you move east. Wetland basins and lakes are much lower than normal and access may be difficult in places. All seasonal wetlands are dry and there is no sheet water anywhere. The wild rice crop is excellent throughout the work area, and stands are holding up okay with the warm weather so far. With the drought conditions crop harvest is ahead of schedule. Small grain harvest/tillage is complete, while edible beans/soybean harvest is starting in earnest. Corn silage is done and some combine harvest is even beginning. Noticeably more edible beans, small grains, and sunflowers were planted throughout the area this year.

Migration: Drought conditions have birds concentrated more on available water. We had good goose production this summer, and duck production was fair. We raised some birds, but local production was below average due to season long drought. Local mallards, wood ducks, blue-winged teal, ringnecks, redheads, and other species are present in low numbers, but overall duck numbers are fair, but better than last year. Teal are still around with the lack of any cold weather. Goose numbers are better than they have been in the last few years, and many molt migrators have been moving in the last week.

Weather: Forecast for the General Waterfowl Opener is for temps in the mid-60s to 70. Rain is predicted for Saturday with breezy, 20mph southeast winds shifting to the north on Sunday. We have yet to have our first frost of the fall and there are no signs of one in the forecast.

Activity: Teal season saw boom or bust success across the work area; hunter numbers were down but some found good hunting. Youth season saw few kids out according to local COs. Wood ducks, mallards, and teal were the most common species found in bag checks. Early goose hunting has been a bright spot again, with hunters having good success opening weekend and last weekend as molt migrators moved into the area. Outlook for the 2026 MN Waterfowl Opener in the Detroit Lakes area is Fair. Scouting will be key and competition for the best spots where waterfowl are concentrated will be high.

Fergus Falls/Lake Christina

Habitat: It's dry. Many small basins are now completely dry, those that remain with water are definitely low, and it seems dryer more north of Fergus Falls. Many wetlands that do have water have large mudflats associated with them, which will make hunting tough, but emergents like smartweed will provide good seed sources for migrating ducks. Wild rice had a good year in the area, which could provide good hunting. Lake Christina is now in drawdown to combat poor water quality. Submerged plants were ok this summer, with some areas better than others. Access is still ok, and will remain so for another couple weeks before the drawdown ramps up and more water is sent downstream prior to winter. Fall harvest seems ahead of schedule, with beans and corn being combined right now, though birds have not yet been observed using fields. Yet another year where scouting prior to opener is going to be key.

Migration: Ducks seem to be scattered around the work area, concentrated in some areas, absent from others. Still good numbers of blue-winged teal, but also mallards, wood ducks, and ringnecks are present. Lots of coots have showed up over the past week or so, especially at Lake Christina. Molt migrant geese have been filtering into the area, too.

Weather: While some areas have gotten good rains over the past month, others have missed it almost entirely. It's been cool for the past week. It looks like we'll alternate rain and sun the next few days, with rain forecast for much of opening day.

Activity: Not much to report. Hunters got out for the early teal and youth season, but not much for goose hunting.

Glenwood

Habitat: Habitat conditions are simmilar to what is being reported for most of the state.

Migration: I had been seeing a good number of Blue wing teal, Wood duck and Mallard flocks around, along with what appears to be a good reproduction year based on the number of broods observed over the course of the summer, the numbers do seemed to have declined some over the last week, but still seeing some ducks around. Geese had a decent reproduction year so have been for the most part good across the work area for the September goose hunt and along with a few migrants that are just showing up this should add some opportunities for opener. As pointed out weather conditions have been dry but the extended forecast is calling for a pretty good chance of rain for several days out of the next week. I don’t think this will change much for conditions but might add a little water across the landscape spreading out the duck some.

Weather: We had more fall like tempters the last few days with several rain events this last week along with chance of rain over the next week. For the work area this didn’t change conditions, but it might make for a wet opener.

Activity: Teal season was spotty at best but participation was very high, a lot of reports of good numbers of “big ducks” were being seen. Goose hunters had success but participation was limited to opening weekend. As elsewhere in the state water levels are low limiting access on wetlands in a lot of the areas, this might cause some increased competition from hunters due to limited spots to access and providing a safe zone to areas for the ducks that hunters cant get to.

Lac qui Parle WMA

Habitat: Marsh Lake was in drawdown this summer and the lake responded very well. We returned water in August and currently water levels and access are good through out the lake. The drawdown promoted a great response in annual seed producing plants like smartweed. Decent amout of sago pondweed and duck weed present as well. Water levels are low on other area impoundments and wetlands. Even with the recent rains it might not be enough to bring them back up. Wetlands and impoundent with lower water look really "ducky". Scouting is key. Marsh and Lac qui Parle lakes will look and be very different than in past years. Find food and you will find ducks.

Migration: Decent numbers of local and early season ducks on the unit. Mostly teal, wood ducks, and mallards. Some shovelers, pintails, gadwall, and wigeon also observed recenlty. Slight uptick in molt migrant Canada geese as well.

Weather: Saturday-Showers likely mainly before 1pm. High near 66. Southeast wind 10-15 gusts up to 25mph. Sunday-Mostly cloudy with a high near 71 south southeast wind around 5.

Activity: Hunters had decent success during the early teal season. Not much to report from youth season as participation has been light.