Devils Lake area

Northeastern North Dakota hasn't seen much of an increase in waterfowl numbers this week. Cami Dixon of the Devils Lake Wetland Management District says there's quite a few diving ducks around Lake Alice, but the rest of the birds are spread out, and even the small wetlands are still open. • Valley City area Waterfowl numbers are holding steady. Kory Richardson of the Valley City (N.D.) Wetland Management District reports spotting more Canada geese, just a few more ducks and no snow geese. He says hunters are finding gadwalls, wigeon and even some late teal. • Tewaukon National

Wildlife Refuge near Cayuga, N.D. The southeastern corner of the state is still awaiting any big influx. Biologist Kristine Askerooth of Tewaukon NWR says waterfowl numbers are spotty, with some groups of a couple hundred ducks. She adds that quite a few Canada geese are in the area but have become wary. Askerooth notes that the corn harvest is progressing, and that could move the birds around and open up additional areas. • Arrowwood NWR

near Pingree, N.D. Numbers of Canada geese and diving ducks are down. Biologist Paulette Scherr says the refuge is holding about 2,500 Canada geese and 25,000 ducks, with mallards making up 85 percent of that number. Hunters willing to do some scouting could find good numbers of mallards on wetlands in Eddy and Foster counties. Scherr also reports fair numbers of gadwalls, shovelers, pintails and green-winged teal, but very few diving ducks. • Des Lacs NWR

near Kenmare, N.D. Refuge staffer Dan Severson estimates the refuge is holding about 20,000 snow geese, along with 4,000 Canada geese and 20,000 ducks. Although most of the ducks are mallards, Severson notes there are still gadwalls and shovelers on the refuge. He adds that mild temperatures have kept even the small wetlands open.

• Northwest Ducks have scattered into smaller groups on larger wetlands. Tim Kessler of the Crosby (N.D.) Wetland Management District reports a small influx of snow geese, with an estimated 10,000 birds, at times, in the Crosby and Noonan, N.D., areas. The same areas have been holding up to 2,000 Canada geese, while many small groups of white-fronted geese have been spotted in the three counties. • J. Clark Salyer NWR

near Upham, N.D. Waterfowl numbers haven't increased much. Assistant refuge manager Gary Erickson reported 40,000 snow geese in the Upham area last week, but he says there appears to be no big migration yet, with many of the birds remaining in Canada. Erickson notes the duck numbers haven't improved much either but adds the situation could change rapidly. • ReminderWaterfowl and sandhill crane hunters should avoid hunting in fields that have been manipulated before being harvested. Because of the late harvest, rain and early frosts, many farmers abandoned their corn and other crop fields. These fields are considered baited if they have been manipulated by rolling, discing, burning, flattening, mowing or other similar actions. These fields attract large numbers of birds, and have the potential to give hunters an unfair advantage.