I contend that hunting pressure keeps them north. In WI the season ends first full week of November. If there is food and open water why go south? Go south and get a shot up. Fly back north your ok. Head south again and get shot up

Doesn’t take long to condition the birds into staying put.

Look at the beat down they take in Arkansas. Some head further south others head West.
Oklahoma and Kansas is a NEW hot spot for ducks. Imagine that. Banding recoveries have proved this to be the latest trends.

Weather is colder the further west you go. I see more snow and ice in Oklahoma and Kansas than I see in Arkansas.

Another trend I looked at last night was Wheelers Refuge numbers. The trend is very similar over the last 25 years. There is 66000 ducks counted on wheeler’s last count.

Guys at Swan say when the boats head in the ducks go sit at Wheeler. Pressure put them there.
Guys chase ducks all over pickwick. They used to rest in the middle. No more as run and gun duck shooting seems to be gaining in popularity. Layout boats are positioned then the tender boat runs ducks up.

They get zero rest.

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