October 22, 2025 • 20 mins
As duck season kicks off across the Central Flyway, cohosts Matt Harrison and Dr. Jerad Henson dive into the latest report from DU Migration Editor John Pollmann. They discuss local duck production, shifting weather patterns (specifically in the Central Flyway / North Dakota), and how scouting can make or break your next hunt. Get expert insight on what’s happening up north and what it means for hunters further south.
READ HERE: Migration Alert: North Dakota Hunters Wait on Weather and Migration
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
VO (01:45):
Please stand by. A migration alert has been issued. Repeat. A
migration alert has been issued.Please visit ducks.org/alerts
for more info.
Can we do a mic check, please? Everybody, welcome back
to the Ducks Unlimited podcast.I'm your host, doctor Mike
Brazier. I'm your host, KatieBurke. I'm your host, doctor
(02:05):
Jared Henson.
And I'm your host, Matt Harrison.
Welcome to the Ducks Unlimited podcast, the only
podcast about all thingswaterfowl. From hunting insights
to science based discussionsabout ducks, geese, and issues
(02:26):
affecting waterfowl and wetlandsconservation in North America.
The DU podcast, sponsored byPurina Pro Plan, the official
performance dog food of DucksUnlimited. Purina Pro Plan,
always advancing. Also proudlysponsored by Bird Dog Whiskey
and Cocktails.
Whether you're winding down withyour best friend or celebrating
with your favorite crew, BirdDog brings award winning flavor
(02:48):
to every moment. Enjoyresponsibly.
Matt Harrison (03:05):
Hey, everyone, and welcome back to the Ducks
Unlimited podcast. I'm yourcohost, Matt Harrison. Also
joining me today, doctor JaredHenson, also cohost of Ducks
Unlimited podcast. And we'regonna be talking a little bit
about some migration updates.Before we hop into that, doctor
Jared, how are doing thismorning?
Jerad Henson (03:23):
I'm doing great, Matt. Always happy to talk talk
about this stuff, and it's, it'sthat time of year. Things are
starting to happen. Everybody'sgetting exciting.
Matt Harrison (03:30):
It is.
Jerad Henson (03:31):
Duck season's kicked off officially.
Matt Harrison (03:33):
It officially has. It's here. Where I'm at, we
finally had some really, reallycool mornings. I know they're in
Memphis. I was talking tosomebody.
They said the other morning, Ithink, was in the forties, mid
forties. So that is reallygetting me fired up for what's
to come.
Jerad Henson (03:50):
Oh, yeah. Yesterday was amazing. Got up.
It was it was crisp. It waslike, oh, I need to be outside
in the in the woods or out inthe field.
It's it it gets you kinda goingfor sure.
Matt Harrison (04:01):
No doubt. Where are you gonna start out this
year at, doctor Jared, as far asyour first stop to hunt?
Jerad Henson (04:07):
Well, I'll probably I've had a I've got a
really busy October, so I'llprobably be waiting for our
Arkansas season to open. Butjumping into for me, I'll I'll
be jumping up in a tree to to doa little deer hunting first. So
Matt Harrison (04:23):
Okay. There you go.
Jerad Henson (04:24):
Got a little Taste
Matt Harrison (04:25):
the deer before the ducks.
Jerad Henson (04:27):
I try and fill a freezer before the ducks get
here.
Matt Harrison (04:30):
Hey. That's a good point. That's a great
point. It is here. Like we said,we are super excited.
It has officially kicked off.There's been a good bit of
people chasing them up north. Wehaven't opened up our season
down here down south yet, but itwill not be long at all now. But
we're gonna update you on amigration update from the
(04:51):
Central Flyway that was writtenby John Pullman, our migration
editor. And you can find all ofthese migration updates on our
website.
You can also sign up formigration alerts. It is a great,
great tool to have if you liketo be informed about what people
are seeing in different flyways.It is a great great asset as a
(05:12):
duck hunter to have. So you canfind that on our website, the
migration map. You can sign upthere.
And it's like I said, it's agreat great tool to to find out
what's going on. So we're gonnadive into it. This one's gonna
be focused on North Dakota. Andif you read it, this one has
already been published. Youknow, they've gotten off to a
pretty good start there in NorthDakota, but things have kinda
(05:35):
tapered off a little bit thereas far as John Pullman has said
and kind of the kinda some ofthe word on the street up there.
So doctor Jared, what are someof those causes that have kind
of caused it to where it's beena a good start to them, but now
we're seeing it kinda taper off?
Jerad Henson (05:55):
Yeah. Yeah. And and John does a good job kinda
going into this, but it reallycomes down to there's some some
localized pretty good productionof ducks Mhmm. In the Dakotas.
It wasn't great, but it wasdecent.
And so and there was water onthe landscape for this fall.
Right? So it spread the ducksout, offered a lot of
opportunities for duck hunters.You give those ducks about a
(06:17):
week of getting shot at withoutany new ducks coming in because
they haven't had any goodweather for us
Matt Harrison (06:21):
somewhere coming in. To go.
Jerad Henson (06:23):
And that's right. That's that's you know, ducks
are good at not getting shotafter a little bit. They learn.
So so that's been the big bigthing right there is I had some
decent local production. Thoselocal ducks are starting to get
smart.
They're getting weary, andthey're they're harder to find.
And then just waiting on thatthat weather front to push some
(06:43):
new ducks down from Canada, andthey just haven't quite got it
yet. So they said they did get apush from what I was reading,
got a push of of some geese andcranes, but the ducks really
didn't follow with that. So
Matt Harrison (06:54):
Yep. Talking about, like you said, once you
you, you know, don't get a goodmigration, you don't get a good
push of birds, don't have thatgreat cold front that you need
to push new birds in, you know,it can get difficult as a
waterfowl hunter. All facedthose challenges of of hunting
those birds that people eithercall them stale or, you know,
just skittish birds, the onesthat don't want nothing to do
(07:18):
with where you're at. You know,it can it can become very
difficult. But, you know, one ofthe things that they talked
about on this certain article isscouting.
You've got to put in the timebecause John was saying that you
can ride for miles and miles andmile I believe it was John. It's
in the article for sure. Butthey were saying that you could
ride for miles and miles andmiles and see amazing habitat
(07:41):
for waterfowl and there not be asingle duck on it. And then they
said around one corner, andboom, there can be a pile of
ducks. And, you know, I thinkit's one of those deals, one of
things that I've kinda found outwith chasing ducks a lot of
times, you know, is where yousee some, especially when you
don't get a great good push ofnew birds, you find a lot of
them because it's like it's asafe haven.
(08:03):
They see, you know, live realducks. They get in there. They
start to pile up.
Jerad Henson (08:06):
Yeah. They
Matt Harrison (08:07):
start to scouting is essential. Yeah. Yeah.
Scouting is essential wheneverit becomes, you know, a little
bit tough to find them. So onceyou get out there and you can
find some, you know, I've found,like I said in in years past,
that if you can find them, evenwhen it's tough, a lot of times
you'll find a a decent raft anda decent, you know, pile of
(08:29):
ducks.
So they did mention that, andthat's one of the things that,
you know, like I said, scoutingbecomes your friend. And it is
tough, but you gotta put in themiles to find them.
Jerad Henson (08:38):
That's that's a big thing. And I did I had a
friend of mine, a coworker herethat that just spent last week
up in South Dakota, and he saidit was a pretty similar story
there for them. Opening days,you know, were were great, But
then after a a day or two ofshooting, you really had to work
a little more to go find somebirds.
Matt Harrison (08:57):
And really and truly, that's when it becomes a
challenge. Right? That'swhenever it becomes where the
time that you put in is is isvaluable. You know? Because it's
it's always don't get me wrong.
It's always fun just to eitherput in a boat or ride a mile
down the road and find them. Butonce you have to travel and
scout and scout when you do findthem, it's it's a whole lot more
(09:20):
special. It's rewarding becauseIt is. A 100%. A 100%.
And that's when, you know,there's a lot of people that
maybe you keep up with or youfollow that, you know, they're
just always successful. Theyseem to always, you know,
harvest some ducks, and they'rethose types of guys, they put in
the time. If you talk to them,if you're friends with them, I
(09:41):
guarantee you can ask them, andthey tell you they put in a
hours upon hours a week tryingto find those ducks. So it's a
challenge. It is, but that'swhat makes it fun in my opinion.
Jerad Henson (09:51):
That's it. It is. And I think that's something
else that that they mentioned inthe article too is kinda waiting
on those weather fronts. Right?Yep.
Waiting on new ducks. And one ofthe things they worry about as
you get further into Octoberthat far north Yep. Is the
inevitable freeze up factor.Right? So hoping they get a
little bit more of a push withsome weather events the next
(10:13):
week or two before, obviously, abig weather event moves into
North Dakota and just So turnsit into an ice skating
Matt Harrison (10:19):
Yeah. That's what that was interesting to me. You
know, we don't really face thosetypes of challenges where we're
at here in the South inMississippi, Tennessee,
Arkansas. Yeah. Don't get mewrong.
You for sure will get locked upsometimes and, you know, birds
pass you up on a Right. On apush, but we don't face those
challenges near as much as thoseones, you know, further north of
(10:42):
us. And it was interesting toread in that and exactly what
you just said is the furtherthey get into October and and
even even into November, if thatcold front push that doesn't
lock everything up, if itdoesn't come, they said it's
almost like a curtain to justdrop, and then that's when that
big freeze will hit, everythinglocks up, and he said those
(11:04):
birds just pass them right up.You know? So, hopefully, they
they get a they get a a coldsnap that pushes some of those
birds because they did mentiontoo that they've had a couple
cold mornings and just haven'tquite seen a push that they were
hoping for.
Jerad Henson (11:20):
That's it. Yeah. And that's something that's
interesting. And and fromfriends of mine that hunt up
there a lot, one of the thingsthey've they've always told me
is, you know, they like that midOctober to late October time to
hunt because
Matt Harrison (11:31):
Mhmm.
Jerad Henson (11:31):
You get more birds generally. Right? They're
stacking up. You get moremigrators in there, but you
always that's what they say. Youalways flirt with that freeze
line, and they've had severaltrips.
They get up there and get one ortwo great days of hunting, and
then it's solid ice. And it'swild. He said it can happen
overnight.
Matt Harrison (11:47):
So Ain't that nuts? I mean, we've seen it, you
know, we like I said, we'llwe'll see it every so often here
where we hunt, where it'llfreeze up, and, you know, it it
can be tough. Some sometimesthat's your best hunting,
though, but, you know, wheneveryou're talking about as cold as
it gets up north, we're nottalking about just some sheet
ice that you can go out thereand break up.
Jerad Henson (12:07):
No. No. You're talking about going to play
hockey?
Matt Harrison (12:13):
No. It's a
Jerad Henson (12:14):
different kind of cold.
Matt Harrison (12:15):
It is. It is. And, you know, also in the
article there, it mentioned thatthere was the first snowfall up
into Canada, Saskatchewan, andthey were hoping that it would
push, you know, some birds downwith that cold being that cold
up north, but they still saidthat they just didn't quite see
the migration and the push thatthey were hoping for with it
(12:35):
snowing up above them. Sohopefully here, though, soon,
they'll get that push.
Jerad Henson (12:40):
Hopefully so. I've been looking I kinda looked out
the, you know, two week forecastkinda looking at it, and it gets
cooler. There's some weatherchances, and that will help a
lot. We're not getting itdoesn't look like they're gonna
get that real, real cold snap atleast in the next ten days up
there, but but there are somesome weather fronts that should
bring some birds down. So that'syou know, I'm optimistic about
(13:01):
that.
I hope that brings opportunityto to those guys up there that
are that are still hangingaround waiting on some birds.
Matt Harrison (13:06):
And, you know, I think we talked about this in
one of the previous podcast. Ican't remember exactly which one
it was. But, you know, thoseducks, if they're up in to
farther north in, you know,North Dakota into Canada and
such, if if they don't have areason to come down, they're not
coming. You know? It's untilthey have to come, I'm you know,
(13:29):
they're they're gonna hold out.
So like you said, with checkingthe weather, hopefully, with
some of these cold weather, youknow, it'll start to freeze up
some up north, and some of thosethose ducks will make their way
down further south. But, youknow, until that happens, those
ducks are are comfortable. Andand as long as they have food
and water, I don't think they'regonna be moving until they have
(13:50):
to.
Jerad Henson (13:51):
That's right. I mean, we're already seeing you
know, our Blue Wings are throughhere. We've got Yep. Pintails
that are have have made thatmove. White fronts, you know,
specs.
Spent the past weekend in theArkansas Delta, and, you know,
man, they were that's there wasa big front came through
Saturday night. Behind thatfront, there was a lot of lot of
(14:12):
yodeling geese, hollering allnight long and then all morning
Matt Harrison (14:17):
the next
Jerad Henson (14:17):
day. So so that was kinda cool. Like, you're
you're hearing that first wave.But those those birds, the the
white fronts, the pintails, bluewings, they're they're moving
more, you know, on photo periodand that type stuff. So Yeah.
Those birds are coming through,but, like, green winged teal
mallards and things like that,they're they're waiting on
weather to to push them
Matt Harrison (14:39):
Until they have to come.
Jerad Henson (14:40):
Into a new environment. So that's right.
Yeah. So so those you'll startseeing a few trickle, but until
we get that weather, it's gonnabe a slow game.
Matt Harrison (14:49):
Well, hopefully soon, they'll get some of that
weather that pushes some birds,you know, into their area a
little bit more. But as Johnmentioned, you know, don't let
this if you if you're in theDakotas, if you love chasing
ducks, don't let the this reportor or hearing me and doctor
Jared talk. Don't let thathinder you from saying, oh, we
(15:09):
know, we we don't have the birdsto hunt. Don't hear that. As
mentioned in the update on thewebsite and the migration alert,
you you can still find them.
So get out there.
Jerad Henson (15:22):
Yeah. There's birds
Matt Harrison (15:22):
boots on the ground, put some miles in, find
them. There's birds there, asthey mentioned, just a little
bit more concentrated due to thepressure, due to, you know,
season being open a little bitnow. You know, those local birds
have been hunting pretty hard,so you can still find them. You
can still find them. Don't letthat be a a hindrance of you
(15:44):
going out and trying to findthem.
It's like I tell my brother allthe time, you don't know unless
you go.
Jerad Henson (15:49):
That's it. That's it. And a morning, you know,
from a marsh or the the wetlandor whatever, it's always a lot
prettier than a morning sittingat your desk. So
Matt Harrison (15:57):
No doubt about it. I would trade I would trade
that right now for anything,being able to just get out and
try to find some ducks. Buthopefully here soon, you know,
the the Dakotas will get a newpush. I know our season, it
won't be long at all now untilwe're we're able to chase them
too. So I'm super excited.
I know you are too, doctorJared. Hopefully, be a great
(16:19):
season for us down here.
Jerad Henson (16:20):
That's it. I'm hoping down here and and
everywhere. And so
Matt Harrison (16:23):
Everywhere.
Jerad Henson (16:23):
Yep. I hope y'all y'all get out there, and I hope
you you find some birds. Give ussome feedback on if you're
finding birds, you know, throw acomment in. Obviously, you're
not gonna tell us where you'reat. That's fine.
But but if you find somesuccess, just say, we appreciate
hearing stories and feedback.Yeah.
Matt Harrison (16:41):
So. Absolutely. But as I mentioned, you can go
up to our or onto our website atducks.org and go to sign up for
migration alerts, and you cansubscribe there by email or
phone, and it will give youthese updates through your email
or through your phone number.It's a great, great way to be
(17:04):
informed, to know what's goingon around The US, and just to
kinda keep, keep your yourknowledge up about all the
different flyaways and allwhat's going on there. So be
sure to go and sign up there forthe migration alerts.
Thank you all so so much fortaking time out to listen to the
Ducks Unlimited podcast. Also,you so much to doctor to Jared
(17:24):
Henson for taking some time outof his very busy schedule. And
also, we wanna thank misterChris Isaac, our podcast
producer for making all thishappen on the DU podcast. So
thank you all so much. Y'all goout, have a wonderful waterfall
season, stay safe, and Godbless.
VO (17:41):
Thank you for listening to the DU podcast, sponsored by
Purina Pro Plan, the officialperformance dog food of Ducks
Unlimited. Purina Pro Plan,always advancing. Also proudly
sponsored by Bird Dog Whiskeyand Cocktails. Whether you're
winding down with your bestfriend or celebrating with your
favorite crew, Bird Dog bringsaward winning flavor to every
moment. Enjoy responsibly.
(18:03):
Be sure to rate, review, andsubscribe to the show and visit
ducks.org/dupodcast. Opinionsexpressed by guests do not
necessarily reflect those ofDucks Unlimited. Until next
time, stay tuned to the Ducks.
Please stand by. A migration alert has been issued. Repeat. A
migration alert has been issued.Please visit ducks.org/alerts
for more info.
Can we do a mic check, please? Everybody, welcome back
to the Ducks Unlimited podcast.I'm your host, doctor Mike
Brazier. I'm your host, KatieBurke. I'm your host, doctor
(02:05):
Jared Henson.
And I'm your host, Matt Harrison.
Welcome to the Ducks Unlimited podcast, the only
podcast about all thingswaterfowl. From hunting insights
to science based discussionsabout ducks, geese, and issues
(02:26):
affecting waterfowl and wetlandsconservation in North America.
The DU podcast, sponsored byPurina Pro Plan, the official
performance dog food of DucksUnlimited. Purina Pro Plan,
always advancing. Also proudlysponsored by Bird Dog Whiskey
and Cocktails.
Whether you're winding down withyour best friend or celebrating
with your favorite crew, BirdDog brings award winning flavor
(02:48):
to every moment. Enjoyresponsibly.
Matt Harrison (03:05):
Hey, everyone, and welcome back to the Ducks
Unlimited podcast. I'm yourcohost, Matt Harrison. Also
joining me today, doctor JaredHenson, also cohost of Ducks
Unlimited podcast. And we'regonna be talking a little bit
about some migration updates.Before we hop into that, doctor
Jared, how are doing thismorning?
Jerad Henson (03:23):
I'm doing great, Matt. Always happy to talk talk
about this stuff, and it's, it'sthat time of year. Things are
starting to happen. Everybody'sgetting exciting.
Matt Harrison (03:30):
It is.
Jerad Henson (03:31):
Duck season's kicked off officially.
Matt Harrison (03:33):
It officially has. It's here. Where I'm at, we
finally had some really, reallycool mornings. I know they're in
Memphis. I was talking tosomebody.
They said the other morning, Ithink, was in the forties, mid
forties. So that is reallygetting me fired up for what's
to come.
Jerad Henson (03:50):
Oh, yeah. Yesterday was amazing. Got up.
It was it was crisp. It waslike, oh, I need to be outside
in the in the woods or out inthe field.
It's it it gets you kinda goingfor sure.
Matt Harrison (04:01):
No doubt. Where are you gonna start out this
year at, doctor Jared, as far asyour first stop to hunt?
Jerad Henson (04:07):
Well, I'll probably I've had a I've got a
really busy October, so I'llprobably be waiting for our
Arkansas season to open. Butjumping into for me, I'll I'll
be jumping up in a tree to to doa little deer hunting first. So
Matt Harrison (04:23):
Okay. There you go.
Jerad Henson (04:24):
Got a little Taste
Matt Harrison (04:25):
the deer before the ducks.
Jerad Henson (04:27):
I try and fill a freezer before the ducks get
here.
Matt Harrison (04:30):
Hey. That's a good point. That's a great
point. It is here. Like we said,we are super excited.
It has officially kicked off.There's been a good bit of
people chasing them up north. Wehaven't opened up our season
down here down south yet, but itwill not be long at all now. But
we're gonna update you on amigration update from the
(04:51):
Central Flyway that was writtenby John Pullman, our migration
editor. And you can find all ofthese migration updates on our
website.
You can also sign up formigration alerts. It is a great,
great tool to have if you liketo be informed about what people
are seeing in different flyways.It is a great great asset as a
(05:12):
duck hunter to have. So you canfind that on our website, the
migration map. You can sign upthere.
And it's like I said, it's agreat great tool to to find out
what's going on. So we're gonnadive into it. This one's gonna
be focused on North Dakota. Andif you read it, this one has
already been published. Youknow, they've gotten off to a
pretty good start there in NorthDakota, but things have kinda
(05:35):
tapered off a little bit thereas far as John Pullman has said
and kind of the kinda some ofthe word on the street up there.
So doctor Jared, what are someof those causes that have kind
of caused it to where it's beena a good start to them, but now
we're seeing it kinda taper off?
Jerad Henson (05:55):
Yeah. Yeah. And and John does a good job kinda
going into this, but it reallycomes down to there's some some
localized pretty good productionof ducks Mhmm. In the Dakotas.
It wasn't great, but it wasdecent.
And so and there was water onthe landscape for this fall.
Right? So it spread the ducksout, offered a lot of
opportunities for duck hunters.You give those ducks about a
(06:17):
week of getting shot at withoutany new ducks coming in because
they haven't had any goodweather for us
Matt Harrison (06:21):
somewhere coming in. To go.
Jerad Henson (06:23):
And that's right. That's that's you know, ducks
are good at not getting shotafter a little bit. They learn.
So so that's been the big bigthing right there is I had some
decent local production. Thoselocal ducks are starting to get
smart.
They're getting weary, andthey're they're harder to find.
And then just waiting on thatthat weather front to push some
(06:43):
new ducks down from Canada, andthey just haven't quite got it
yet. So they said they did get apush from what I was reading,
got a push of of some geese andcranes, but the ducks really
didn't follow with that. So
Matt Harrison (06:54):
Yep. Talking about, like you said, once you
you, you know, don't get a goodmigration, you don't get a good
push of birds, don't have thatgreat cold front that you need
to push new birds in, you know,it can get difficult as a
waterfowl hunter. All facedthose challenges of of hunting
those birds that people eithercall them stale or, you know,
just skittish birds, the onesthat don't want nothing to do
(07:18):
with where you're at. You know,it can it can become very
difficult. But, you know, one ofthe things that they talked
about on this certain article isscouting.
You've got to put in the timebecause John was saying that you
can ride for miles and miles andmile I believe it was John. It's
in the article for sure. Butthey were saying that you could
ride for miles and miles andmiles and see amazing habitat
(07:41):
for waterfowl and there not be asingle duck on it. And then they
said around one corner, andboom, there can be a pile of
ducks. And, you know, I thinkit's one of those deals, one of
things that I've kinda found outwith chasing ducks a lot of
times, you know, is where yousee some, especially when you
don't get a great good push ofnew birds, you find a lot of
them because it's like it's asafe haven.
(08:03):
They see, you know, live realducks. They get in there. They
start to pile up.
Jerad Henson (08:06):
Yeah. They
Matt Harrison (08:07):
start to scouting is essential. Yeah. Yeah.
Scouting is essential wheneverit becomes, you know, a little
bit tough to find them. So onceyou get out there and you can
find some, you know, I've found,like I said in in years past,
that if you can find them, evenwhen it's tough, a lot of times
you'll find a a decent raft anda decent, you know, pile of
(08:29):
ducks.
So they did mention that, andthat's one of the things that,
you know, like I said, scoutingbecomes your friend. And it is
tough, but you gotta put in themiles to find them.
Jerad Henson (08:38):
That's that's a big thing. And I did I had a
friend of mine, a coworker herethat that just spent last week
up in South Dakota, and he saidit was a pretty similar story
there for them. Opening days,you know, were were great, But
then after a a day or two ofshooting, you really had to work
a little more to go find somebirds.
Matt Harrison (08:57):
And really and truly, that's when it becomes a
challenge. Right? That'swhenever it becomes where the
time that you put in is is isvaluable. You know? Because it's
it's always don't get me wrong.
It's always fun just to eitherput in a boat or ride a mile
down the road and find them. Butonce you have to travel and
scout and scout when you do findthem, it's it's a whole lot more
(09:20):
special. It's rewarding becauseIt is. A 100%. A 100%.
And that's when, you know,there's a lot of people that
maybe you keep up with or youfollow that, you know, they're
just always successful. Theyseem to always, you know,
harvest some ducks, and they'rethose types of guys, they put in
the time. If you talk to them,if you're friends with them, I
(09:41):
guarantee you can ask them, andthey tell you they put in a
hours upon hours a week tryingto find those ducks. So it's a
challenge. It is, but that'swhat makes it fun in my opinion.
Jerad Henson (09:51):
That's it. It is. And I think that's something
else that that they mentioned inthe article too is kinda waiting
on those weather fronts. Right?Yep.
Waiting on new ducks. And one ofthe things they worry about as
you get further into Octoberthat far north Yep. Is the
inevitable freeze up factor.Right? So hoping they get a
little bit more of a push withsome weather events the next
(10:13):
week or two before, obviously, abig weather event moves into
North Dakota and just So turnsit into an ice skating
Matt Harrison (10:19):
Yeah. That's what that was interesting to me. You
know, we don't really face thosetypes of challenges where we're
at here in the South inMississippi, Tennessee,
Arkansas. Yeah. Don't get mewrong.
You for sure will get locked upsometimes and, you know, birds
pass you up on a Right. On apush, but we don't face those
challenges near as much as thoseones, you know, further north of
(10:42):
us. And it was interesting toread in that and exactly what
you just said is the furtherthey get into October and and
even even into November, if thatcold front push that doesn't
lock everything up, if itdoesn't come, they said it's
almost like a curtain to justdrop, and then that's when that
big freeze will hit, everythinglocks up, and he said those
(11:04):
birds just pass them right up.You know? So, hopefully, they
they get a they get a a coldsnap that pushes some of those
birds because they did mentiontoo that they've had a couple
cold mornings and just haven'tquite seen a push that they were
hoping for.
Jerad Henson (11:20):
That's it. Yeah. And that's something that's
interesting. And and fromfriends of mine that hunt up
there a lot, one of the thingsthey've they've always told me
is, you know, they like that midOctober to late October time to
hunt because
Matt Harrison (11:31):
Mhmm.
Jerad Henson (11:31):
You get more birds generally. Right? They're
stacking up. You get moremigrators in there, but you
always that's what they say. Youalways flirt with that freeze
line, and they've had severaltrips.
They get up there and get one ortwo great days of hunting, and
then it's solid ice. And it'swild. He said it can happen
overnight.
Matt Harrison (11:47):
So Ain't that nuts? I mean, we've seen it, you
know, we like I said, we'llwe'll see it every so often here
where we hunt, where it'llfreeze up, and, you know, it it
can be tough. Some sometimesthat's your best hunting,
though, but, you know, wheneveryou're talking about as cold as
it gets up north, we're nottalking about just some sheet
ice that you can go out thereand break up.
Jerad Henson (12:07):
No. No. You're talking about going to play
hockey?
Matt Harrison (12:13):
No. It's a
Jerad Henson (12:14):
different kind of cold.
Matt Harrison (12:15):
It is. It is. And, you know, also in the
article there, it mentioned thatthere was the first snowfall up
into Canada, Saskatchewan, andthey were hoping that it would
push, you know, some birds downwith that cold being that cold
up north, but they still saidthat they just didn't quite see
the migration and the push thatthey were hoping for with it
(12:35):
snowing up above them. Sohopefully here, though, soon,
they'll get that push.
Jerad Henson (12:40):
Hopefully so. I've been looking I kinda looked out
the, you know, two week forecastkinda looking at it, and it gets
cooler. There's some weatherchances, and that will help a
lot. We're not getting itdoesn't look like they're gonna
get that real, real cold snap atleast in the next ten days up
there, but but there are somesome weather fronts that should
bring some birds down. So that'syou know, I'm optimistic about
(13:01):
that.
I hope that brings opportunityto to those guys up there that
are that are still hangingaround waiting on some birds.
Matt Harrison (13:06):
And, you know, I think we talked about this in
one of the previous podcast. Ican't remember exactly which one
it was. But, you know, thoseducks, if they're up in to
farther north in, you know,North Dakota into Canada and
such, if if they don't have areason to come down, they're not
coming. You know? It's untilthey have to come, I'm you know,
(13:29):
they're they're gonna hold out.
So like you said, with checkingthe weather, hopefully, with
some of these cold weather, youknow, it'll start to freeze up
some up north, and some of thosethose ducks will make their way
down further south. But, youknow, until that happens, those
ducks are are comfortable. Andand as long as they have food
and water, I don't think they'regonna be moving until they have
(13:50):
to.
Jerad Henson (13:51):
That's right. I mean, we're already seeing you
know, our Blue Wings are throughhere. We've got Yep. Pintails
that are have have made thatmove. White fronts, you know,
specs.
Spent the past weekend in theArkansas Delta, and, you know,
man, they were that's there wasa big front came through
Saturday night. Behind thatfront, there was a lot of lot of
(14:12):
yodeling geese, hollering allnight long and then all morning
Matt Harrison (14:17):
the next
Jerad Henson (14:17):
day. So so that was kinda cool. Like, you're
you're hearing that first wave.But those those birds, the the
white fronts, the pintails, bluewings, they're they're moving
more, you know, on photo periodand that type stuff. So Yeah.
Those birds are coming through,but, like, green winged teal
mallards and things like that,they're they're waiting on
weather to to push them
Matt Harrison (14:39):
Until they have to come.
Jerad Henson (14:40):
Into a new environment. So that's right.
Yeah. So so those you'll startseeing a few trickle, but until
we get that weather, it's gonnabe a slow game.
Matt Harrison (14:49):
Well, hopefully soon, they'll get some of that
weather that pushes some birds,you know, into their area a
little bit more. But as Johnmentioned, you know, don't let
this if you if you're in theDakotas, if you love chasing
ducks, don't let the this reportor or hearing me and doctor
Jared talk. Don't let thathinder you from saying, oh, we
(15:09):
know, we we don't have the birdsto hunt. Don't hear that. As
mentioned in the update on thewebsite and the migration alert,
you you can still find them.
So get out there.
Jerad Henson (15:22):
Yeah. There's birds
Matt Harrison (15:22):
boots on the ground, put some miles in, find
them. There's birds there, asthey mentioned, just a little
bit more concentrated due to thepressure, due to, you know,
season being open a little bitnow. You know, those local birds
have been hunting pretty hard,so you can still find them. You
can still find them. Don't letthat be a a hindrance of you
(15:44):
going out and trying to findthem.
It's like I tell my brother allthe time, you don't know unless
you go.
Jerad Henson (15:49):
That's it. That's it. And a morning, you know,
from a marsh or the the wetlandor whatever, it's always a lot
prettier than a morning sittingat your desk. So
Matt Harrison (15:57):
No doubt about it. I would trade I would trade
that right now for anything,being able to just get out and
try to find some ducks. Buthopefully here soon, you know,
the the Dakotas will get a newpush. I know our season, it
won't be long at all now untilwe're we're able to chase them
too. So I'm super excited.
I know you are too, doctorJared. Hopefully, be a great
(16:19):
season for us down here.
Jerad Henson (16:20):
That's it. I'm hoping down here and and
everywhere. And so
Matt Harrison (16:23):
Everywhere.
Jerad Henson (16:23):
Yep. I hope y'all y'all get out there, and I hope
you you find some birds. Give ussome feedback on if you're
finding birds, you know, throw acomment in. Obviously, you're
not gonna tell us where you'reat. That's fine.
But but if you find somesuccess, just say, we appreciate
hearing stories and feedback.Yeah.
Matt Harrison (16:41):
So. Absolutely. But as I mentioned, you can go
up to our or onto our website atducks.org and go to sign up for
migration alerts, and you cansubscribe there by email or
phone, and it will give youthese updates through your email
or through your phone number.It's a great, great way to be
(17:04):
informed, to know what's goingon around The US, and just to
kinda keep, keep your yourknowledge up about all the
different flyaways and allwhat's going on there. So be
sure to go and sign up there forthe migration alerts.
Thank you all so so much fortaking time out to listen to the
Ducks Unlimited podcast. Also,you so much to doctor to Jared
(17:24):
Henson for taking some time outof his very busy schedule. And
also, we wanna thank misterChris Isaac, our podcast
producer for making all thishappen on the DU podcast. So
thank you all so much. Y'all goout, have a wonderful waterfall
season, stay safe, and Godbless.
VO (17:41):
Thank you for listening to the DU podcast, sponsored by
Purina Pro Plan, the officialperformance dog food of Ducks
Unlimited. Purina Pro Plan,always advancing. Also proudly
sponsored by Bird Dog Whiskeyand Cocktails. Whether you're
winding down with your bestfriend or celebrating with your
favorite crew, Bird Dog bringsaward winning flavor to every
moment. Enjoy responsibly.
(18:03):
Be sure to rate, review, andsubscribe to the show and visit
ducks.org/dupodcast. Opinionsexpressed by guests do not
necessarily reflect those ofDucks Unlimited. Until next
time, stay tuned to the Ducks.
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