When is peak duck migration in your opinion?

[CForar]

Curious to see what you believe is the peak migration in your area after all the local birds have been pushed out?

I usually hunt out towards Montevideo on opener and never seem to go back later in the season. Was considering it this year, just not quite sure when.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Depends on the weather. I've seen it early and I've seen it late. Kinda just gotta wait and see.

[dan z]

My thoughts on peak is when I start seeing blaze orange in the woods. Some years its earlier but most its after trick or treat day.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

calendar birds probably peak in mid october if not sooner.

[leechlake]

it does depend on the year but for our So Dak hunt we annually guess for around Halloween and that works pretty well many years. Since my kids don't go trick or treating anymore it works for family purposes too.

[BrdHunter01]

Depends on the type of bird.

Teal: September - Early Oct.

Ringers, Cans, Wigeon, ect: Mid Oct.

Mallards: November into December.

All depends on weather patterns.

[Slab_Supper]

Peak migration or the big push is a myth, just like Santa Claus.

[Scott M]

Depends on the type of bird.

Teal: September - Early Oct.

Ringers, Cans, Wigeon, ect: Mid Oct.

Mallards: November into December.

All depends on weather patterns.

I agree. Some calendar birds, some weather birds.

[bemidjibasser]

Deer season...

[fishuhalik]

My favorite time to be on the water/field is the last days available before big water freezes up. Usually around Nov 7-10. The big push really is a myth though. There's no magic day where all the birds move down. The only way to figure out when that will be is to spend A LOT of time scouting & in the blind. Lake X might see a big push on Oct 15, & Lake Y might get a bunch of birds Nov 5th. Trust me when I say, starting around mid Oct, fresh birds are moving down every day. Besides, what is classically referred to as "The Big Push" is when all the water in Canada freezes. For us, this far north, our lakes often freeze on the same day. So while you're waiting on that magical day/week, we'll all be sitting in our blinds blasting away almost all season.