Migratory Game Birds
Manitoba is blessed to have three of the four major flyways pass through our province. The Central Flyway, the Mississippi Flyway and Atlantic Flyway all pass through Manitoba. Only the Pacific Flyway misses Manitoba. These flyways are comprised of a wintering ground to the south and a breeding area to the north. In the middle is an intermediate resting and feeding ground.
From the far reaches of the northern tundra to the rolling prairies in the south, hunting opportunity abounds for ducks, Canada geese, Snow geese and Sandhill cranes. Hunting game birds in Manitoba is exciting, challenging and guaranteed to be bountiful. Let one of our expert outfitter guides you to one of the thousands of lakes where geese and ducks congregate.
Canada Goose
There are approximately 8 million Canada geese in North America. When migrating, they assemble in flocks that number in the hundreds or thousands. Preferring low-laying areas and wetlands, the Canada goose’s weight ranges between 1.1kg to 8kg with a wingspan that varies between 90cm to 200cm.
A familiar and widespread goose with a black head and neck, white chinstrap, light tan to cream breast and brown back, it has increased in urban and suburban areas in recent years. Just a decade or two after people intentionally introduced or reintroduced “giant” Canada Geese to various areas, they are often considered pests. They are extremely difficult to outwit and have very keen sight along with an acute ear. Canada geese mate for life and have a highly developed sense of fidelity. The best time to hunt Canada geese is in the early morning when they leave the water to go and feed. They always fly with the wind to feed and against the wind to return to the water. Canada geese will come to decoys set up in a “V” facing the wind. The sentry is usually at the back of the flock, posted there to warn the flock of danger.
Subspecies
There are two sub species of the common Canada goose. They are the lesser Canada goose and the Richardson’s goose. The Canada goose is large weighing from 8-14 pounds. Some “giant” Canada’s can weigh over 20 pounds. The lesser Canada’s weigh from 3-7 pounds and the Richardson’s weigh in at 3-6 pounds. They make a distinctive trill like sound and are sometimes called “peepers”.
“Wavys”
Smaller then the Canada goose there is a variety of snow geese from the lesser snow goose to the blue goose to the white fronted goose to the Ross’s goose. All are called snow geese and tend to flock together in very large numbers. They are called “wavys”. Snow geese are hunted with decoys and can be fooled with white plastic bags, newspaper and snow goose decoys. Snow geese tend to circle for a long time before committing to landing into a set of decoys.
Mallard
Mallards are better known as “green heads” for the distinct glossy green head of the male Mallard. They are a puddle duck and prefer “potholes” as opposed to lakes or large bodies of water. They decoy well on feeding fields or water. They love grain crops and feed in the early morning and late afternoons. Mallards will rest on the water during the mid day. When taking flight the mallard will almost rise vertically from the water.
The male Mallard is known for its bright green iridescent neck and head and white collar with a chestnut brown breast. Back and wings are brownish gray; the underparts a light grayish. Rump and under tail is black, with a white area just in front along flanks. The tail is white on the outside with black middle feathers. The bill is yellow to greenish, with a black nail at tip. They have dark eyes and red feet.
The female Mallard is much less colourful with its brown back and breast; paler face than the body and a dark streak on its crown. With an average weight of 1.24kg, mallards prefer nesting around lakes, ponds and rivers.
Black ducks
Similar in appearance to the mallard but very dark brown and almost black, gives these birds their name. They are found mostly in Eastern Manitoba and on the Hudson Bay coast. They are more difficult to decoy.
Swifty
Teal are the smallest of Canadian ducks. There are blue winged teal and green winged teal in Manitoba. They fly very fast, unpredictably – even swiftly which gives them this name. They prefer marshes and ponds and are early migrants in the spring and fall. They decoy well.
Redheads and Canvas-backs
Although different species, they tend to be found in the same areas and prefer open water as opposed to ponds. There is a special limit of two daily and six in possession for these two species. They decoy easily and for this reason they have suffered a decline. They are wonderful eating birds.
Bluebills
Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup are better known as Bluebills or Butterballs. They are a fast flying duck and prefer open water. Scaup are a restless and nervous bird, both in flight and on the water. They are a powerful swimmer and excellent diver. These birds decoy well or can be hunted by “pass shooting” as they follow water ways.
The hunting season for water fowl ranges from early September to late November.
For information on resident & non-resident license prices and limits visit the Manitoba Conservation website.
