2022-2023 Waterfowl Reports

[Huskermut]

The Federal Duck Stamp goes on sale tomorrow so it's time to start the new season thread. Eastern Nebraska has gotten some decent rain but also bad storms. Hard to say how much will still be around come teal season. Western Nebraska is very dry in a lot of areas. Mainly just some local mallards, Canada geese, and wood ducks in my area currently. Hoping for some good rain soon to get the wetlands filled up and the smartweed growing.

 

[jcneng]

The days are getting shorter but it is still pretty early!

 

[nebgoosehunter]

Incredibly dry out west. I've never seen pastures this dry this time of year. It looks about like September right now in areas.

 

[DGL]

Things are looking decent in my neck of the woods. There are still a few places I hunt that need some rain pretty bad, however. I've been fishing in SD a couple times this summer and stayed with our in-laws on both trips. Seems to be quite a few more ducks around there than a year ago and certainly a larger variety in species composition. Unfortunately, they say they just have not seen the numbers of breeding honkers in their area like they did just a few years ago. Hope to make it up there for a waterfowl hunt this fall.

 

[egadwall]

Local Canadas, mallards and a few blue-wing teal in the Lincoln area.

 

[Keith S.]

Saw quite a few geese and more ducks than I've ever seen at our dog training grounds. Water looked decent, but its gonna drop quick when the pivots start.

 

[egadwall]

Unfortunately, near York and Henderson, quite a few of those pivots won't be pumping anything.

 

[Keith S.]

Drove through that area a couple weeks ago, couldn't believe the amount of pivots on their sides and flattened fields. Incredible amount of destruction the weather caused in that area!

 

[Keith S.]

Was up at our dog training grounds yesterday in northeast NE, the water is quickly getting sucked up. I know we haven't had much for rain, but will still a bit shocked to see how far our ponds dropped in a couple weeks. I did see a hen with some little ones sitting in the shade of some cattails, I stopped to back up and get some pictures, but they took off for cover right away.

 

[egadwall]

Drove through that area a couple weeks ago, couldn't believe the amount of pivots on their sides and flattened fields. Incredible amount of destruction the weather caused in that area!

From what I've heard, the pivot companies are building now for the need for 2023, and don't have systems in inventory, so couldn't deliver new systems until November or December.