Understanding North America’s Waterfowl Flyways

Modern waterfowl hunting with firearms dates back to the 17th century, but it wasn’t until the early 20th century that the concept of flyways was formally created and recognized in North America. A flyway is a defined route or corridor that birds use during seasonal migrations between breeding and wintering grounds. These pathways are influenced by geography, climate, and the availability of food and shelter.

Defined flyways provide predictable route patterns, which are essential for monitoring specific species. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 played a pivotal role in protecting migratory bird species; but has also significantly influenced the flyways and banding of birds for scientific research and monitoring. Bird banding, authorized under the MBTA, allows researchers to track migration patterns, survival rates, and populations–and tailor hunting regulations to specific flyways.

“That’s where the flyways really started, banding and mapping,” Delta Waterfowl Association scientist Dr. Chris Nicolai said. With the increased focus on bird conservation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other organizations, such the Bird Banding Laboratory, began banding birds in the 1930s, but it wasn’t until the 1940s that the system truly took shape. “Biologists initially banded birds in specific locations, and hunters would report where the birds were harvested. This data allowed biologists to map the migration routes of different species, along with other beneficial information to distinguish between the four flyways,” Dr. Nicolai told MeatEater.

Dr. Nicolai emphasized how this foundational work continues to be essential today, with banding not only aiding in conservation efforts but also playing a significant role in legal regulations. “Having established flyways provides states with the information to assign designated birds to each state through known migration patterns,” he said. “With this data, states can now regulate hunting, set bag limits, and claim stewardship over ‘their birds.’”

Having defined flyways and understanding them is important for facilitating coordinated conservation efforts. Implemented in 1995, the Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) practice provided wildlife management with a system to set and monitor hunting regulations. AHM uses data from annual surveys, habitat conditions, and harvest reports through banding and HIP, to adjust hunting regulations, ensuring the long-term health and survival of waterfowl species. These migration corridors provide a framework for managing habitats and ensuring sustainable populations, helping biologists and conservationists monitor waterfowl populations and track species’ health.

To effectively manage the flyways, each one has an established Flyway Council composed of state and federal representatives who collaborate to make recommendations tailored to the local conditions of their respective regions. These councils rely on the AHM data to propose sustainable hunting regulations. The recommendations are then submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which reviews and implements federal waterfowl hunting regulations based on the councils’ input. This unified approach and coordinated system ensure that waterfowl populations are managed effectively, balancing conservation goals with the needs of hunters.

The Atlantic Flyway stretches along the eastern shore, from Canada down to the Caribbean. Waterfowl travel through diverse landscapes, including northern boreal forests and tropical wetlands. The Atlantic Flyway’s major habitats consist of coastal marshes, bays, and wetlands, which provide crucial stopover points for migratory birds as they prepare for long journeys. Waterfowl hunters will encounter a mix of coastal and inland waterfowl hunting environments.

Tidal marsh hunting is an approach used along the coast, where hunters set up marsh blinds or use layout boats in tidal areas. As the tide changes, so do the water levels, requiring hunters to adjust their positioning and decoy spreads to attract birds flying through marsh channels. “On the East Coast, particularly in South Carolina, duck hunting is predominantly set in swamps, lakes, and marshes. Effective concealment means blending with trees and marsh vegetation. When targeting diver ducks on lakes, we typically use layout boats along with large decoy spreads to mimic natural behaviors,” Alex Morris, co-founder of NXT Hunt Outdoors, told MeatEater.

In the agricultural fields of the southeast, “Hunters target geese using large decoy spreads designed to mimic feeding flocks in a realistic pattern. We primarily use layout blinds or natural cover for concealment and minimize movement,” Hunting Heritage Director of the South Carolina Waterfowl Association, Draikel Tindal, said. Similarly, puddle duck hunting occurs in inland marshes and ponds, implementing smaller decoy spreads and blinds placed near shallow water sources, creating ideal setups for attracting ducks as they migrate along the flyway.

The Mississippi Flyway runs from the Arctic tundra through the heart of the United States and down to the Gulf of Mexico, making it one of the most heavily trafficked migratory corridors in North America. The Mississippi Flyway’s river valleys, wetlands, and agricultural fields provide essential habitats for these birds. The Mississippi Flyway is known for its varied terrain, including bottomland hardwood forests and flooded agricultural fields, which provide prime opportunities for waterfowl hunting.

One of the most iconic hunting methods in this flyway is timber hunting, where hunters pursue mallards and wood ducks in flooded timber. “One thing about timber hunting is if you find a honey hole, you don’t even need decoys. You will intercept ducks moving between feeding and roosting sites. There is nothing more satisfying than watching a group of mallards cup and fall into place,” stated gundog trainer and dog handler Destiny Thomasson, owner of Hund + Soul.

Hunters also manipulate feeding areas in this flyway by flooding agricultural fields, such as those found in Arkansas. Hunters will then use pit blinds or portable setups to target puddle ducks like mallards and teal. Another effective method is river hunting, where boat blinds are used along rivers and lakes to intercept ducks moving between feeding and roosting sites.

Another widely used method for hunting geese in the flyway is, dry field hunting. Alex Morris again emphasized understanding goose behavior and habitat is essential for effective concealment in field hunting. Using natural covers to your advantage, to blend into the environment. “Typically, I find myself in corn fields, utilizing layout blinds or kickbacks, which we then brush in or cover with concealment blankets that mimic the surrounding corn husks,” Morris said

The Central Flyway spans from the Canadian prairies through the Great Plains and into the Gulf Coast. This flyway includes some of North America’s most vital breeding and resting areas for waterfowl. Important habitats in this flyway include prairie potholes, grasslands, and reservoirs.

The Prairie Pothole Region is especially critical for breeding ducks, while managed wetlands and lakes offer essential resting and feeding grounds during migration. Here, hunting techniques are shaped by its expansive wetlands, prairie potholes, and agricultural fields.

I primarily “pothole hunt” here in Oklahoma. We position portable A-frame blinds or use natural cover near the edge of ponds. To attract ducks, we place small decoy spreads and use calls. This method is also used in other types of wetlands in this region, along with boat blinds on larger bodies of water. Similar to the techniques mentioned above, hunters in the Central Flyway often use field hunting to target geese, setting up large decoy spreads and lying in layout blinds for concealment.

The Pacific Flyway stretches along the western side of North America, from Alaska down through California and into Mexico. This flyway serves both coastal and inland migratory routes. Key habitats in the Pacific Flyway include coastal wetlands, inland lakes, and river valleys. The Pacific Flyway provides a wide range of waterfowl hunting opportunities across its coastal and inland habitats. Coastal areas are prime for targeting ducks flying low over open water, where hunters take advantage of similar hunting strategies as described in other flyways.

Despite the success of the flyway system, significant challenges remain. Habitat loss due to urban expansion, agriculture, and deforestation threatens key stopover points. Continued research and conservation efforts are critical to mitigating these threats. Hunters, conservationists, and policymakers play a pivotal role in preserving flyways, as their collaboration is essential for managing and protecting waterfowl species. By investing in habitat restoration and supporting conservation initiatives, these groups can ensure the survival of waterfowl and the flyways they depend on for generations to come.