Arkansas Duck Hunting Blog

North American duck populations are changing. Specifically, their sex ratios, measured as the number of drakes per hen, are increasing for many species. This discovery has sparked new research to understand the causes of changing sex ratios in ducks.

For waterfowl hunters, every fall migration starts with the scientific results gathered months earlier across breeding grounds and nesting areas. Those spring surveys offer the first indication of how ducks and geese responded to conditions they encountered.

Spring waterfowl surveys provide valuable data on duck and goose populations, but it’s important to recognize that each survey is one snapshot in time. Waterfowl migrate, often they’re here today, and gone tomorrow.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Breeding Duck Survey conducted across the state on May 11-13, estimated 2.4 million ducks — a decline of more than 250,000 ducks from the 2025 estimate.

Winter has been wetter and warmer than average, particularly in the south. Snowpack in this area is near average, and spring water levels are expected to be favorable for migrating and breeding waterfowl. Coastal regions have also experienced warm, wet weather, keeping wetlands ice-free for wintering waterfowl.

In the past, scientific studies examining the impact of hunting pressure on waterfowl distribution were limited to observations of bird densities in sanctuaries versus hunted areas. However, new technology is providing a wealth of information about how individual birds perceive the hunting landscape, how and why they use sanctuaries, and how they react to different types and levels of disturbance.

Population estimates for many goose groups are encouraging this year, particularly for light geese and the Atlantic Population of Canada geese. Coupled with average to above-average spring productivity reported by banding crews across much of the Arctic, the data points to good prospects for hunters this season

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) today released its 2025 Waterfowl Population Status Report. The estimate for total breeding ducks in the traditional survey area was 34 million, unchanged from the 2024 estimate, and 4% below the long-term average (since 1955). Mallards were estimated at 6.6 million, similar to 2024, and 17% below the long-term average.

Deep in the heart of Arkansas, Cupped Wings Guide Service has become more than a world-class destination for duck hunting—it's a community that's empowering women and children through the ancient tradition of waterfowl hunting with it's unique dedication to inclusivity and education, welcoming families and individuals, women and young hunters in particular, to take up the sport with confidence and reverence for nature.

For decades, those in and around the Arkansas duck hunting industry have heard or quipped that duck season has a $1 million-a-day impact on the state’s economy. The origin of that impact is beyond dated as it’s never been adjusted for inflation. On top of that, the growth of goose hunting hasn’t been included nor has the rising prices of land, leases, gear and the like.