Insights & Reports

Across the 2025–26 waterfowl season, BlindBook users in 10 states across the Mississippi and Central flyways logged 9,801 birds spanning 32 distinct species. All data is aggregated and anonymized — no individual hunter or club data is ever exposed. The patterns that emerge from this dataset mirror broader flyway population trends and offer a unique window into species composition across regions.

Mallards dominate the harvest. With 3,851 birds logged, Mallards accounted for 39.3% of the total harvest — consistent with their status as the most abundant and widely distributed dabbling duck in North America. The male-to-female ratio for Mallards came in at 2.38:1, skewing heavily toward drakes, which aligns with typical late-season bag composition when hens become more wary and drakes remain more visible during courtship displays.

Gadwall and Green-winged Teal round out the top three. Gadwall came in second at 1,369 birds (14.0%) with a 1.34:1 M:F ratio, while Green-winged Teal accounted for 1,201 birds (12.3%) at a near-even 1.16:1 ratio. Northern Pintail (869 birds) and Northern Shoveler (863 birds) followed closely, with Shovelers showing a notably lower drake ratio of 1.45:1 — a potential signal worth monitoring as pintail and shoveler populations continue to face pressure in the Central and Mississippi flyways.

Sex ratio anomalies flag population signals. Some of the most interesting findings sit in the less-harvested species. Hooded Merganser showed a 0.3:1 M:F ratio, meaning hens outnumbered drakes more than 3:1 in the harvest — unusual and potentially indicative of nesting behavior overlap with hunting seasons. Canvasback, a species carefully managed under restrictive bag limits, came in at 1.78:1 M:F, one of the highest drake-skewed ratios in the dataset. Canada Goose showed an extreme 12.17:1 ratio, though small sample sizes (73 total) likely drove that outlier.

Wood Duck and diver species add diversity. Wood Duck harvest totaled 536 birds, mostly early-season, while diving ducks like Ring-necked Duck (183), Lesser Scaup (106), and Bufflehead (80) contributed meaningful numbers in areas with deeper water and open-water habitat. The breadth of species logged — from Blue-winged Teal to Redhead to Mottled Duck — demonstrates how the BlindBook platform captures a full cross-section of North American waterfowl diversity.

These aggregate species patterns, drawn from routine hunt logging, complement traditional banding and survey methods. As more hunters and regions contribute to the dataset, these broad trends become increasingly useful for understanding flyway-level population dynamics — without ever exposing individual hunt or club-level details.

Every experienced waterfowl hunter has a theory about perfect conditions — the right wind, the right temperature, the right time of day. With 1,742 hunts logged across 10 states and both the Mississippi and Central flyways during the 2025–26 season, BlindBook has enough aggregate data to test those theories at scale. All analysis is based on anonymized, platform-wide patterns — no individual or club-level data is identified. The results confirm some long-held beliefs and challenge others.

Light wind wins. Hunts logged in 5–10 mph winds accounted for the highest volume of activity in the dataset, and hunters in that range averaged more birds per outing than those in calm or heavy-wind conditions. Wind speeds above 15 mph saw a notable drop in both hunt frequency and per-hunt averages — likely because extreme wind makes decoy spreads less effective and waterfowl tend to hunker down in sheltered areas rather than fly open routes.

Wind direction is more scattered than you'd think. Conventional wisdom favors north winds for pushing birds south during migration. The data shows a more nuanced picture: NW, WNW, and ESE were the most frequently logged wind directions during successful hunts. The takeaway isn't that a specific direction guarantees success — it's that changing wind patterns may matter more than any single compass heading, because shifting winds disrupt established flight paths and force birds into new areas.

The 40–50°F sweet spot. Temperature data confirms that hunts in the 40–50°F range had the highest volume and some of the strongest per-hunt averages. Interestingly, temperatures above 50°F also showed strong activity — challenging the assumption that cold fronts are the only productive window. What the data suggests is that moderate, stable conditions keep birds active and flying, while extreme cold can ground them just as much as extreme warmth.

Clear skies dominated the season. Nearly half of all logged hunts occurred under clear or mostly clear conditions, with partially cloudy coming in second. Overcast and foggy conditions, while traditionally considered ideal by many hunters, actually made up a smaller portion of the total. This may partly reflect regional climate patterns, but it also suggests that waterfowl activity remains strong even under bluebird skies — especially in areas with good habitat and food sources.

Afternoon hunts dramatically outperform mornings. This may be the most surprising finding. PM hunts produced significantly higher bird counts than AM or midday hunts. While morning shoots are the cultural default in waterfowl hunting, the data suggests that birds become more active in afternoon feeding flights — particularly in mid-to-late season when shorter daylight hours compress feeding windows. For clubs and outfitters, this is actionable: consider scheduling afternoon hunts, especially in December and January when morning activity tapers.

Day of the week barely matters. The average birds-per-hunt ranged from about 5.0 to 6.5 across all seven days of the week — a remarkably flat distribution. Weekends did not outperform weekdays in per-hunt averages, though total hunt volume was predictably higher on Saturdays. The takeaway: the birds don't know what day it is. Hunt when conditions are right, not just when it's convenient.

The 2025–26 season was BlindBook's first full waterfowl season as a platform — and the results exceeded expectations. With 682 registered users, 58 active clubs, and 462 unique hunters logging hunts across 10 states in the Mississippi and Central flyways, BlindBook quickly established itself as a meaningful source of aggregated field data. All insights below are drawn from anonymized, platform-wide patterns — no individual hunter or club data is ever identified or exposed.

November was the undisputed peak. Both hunt volume and total harvest peaked sharply in November, with the month accounting for the largest share of the season's 9,801 total birds. October and December followed, with a steady decline through January as seasons closed across many states. Notably, a handful of clubs continued logging hunts well into February, capturing valuable late-season data from states with extended seasons.

Historical context adds depth. Several clubs uploaded historical hunt records dating back to 2020 when they joined the platform, providing valuable year-over-year context. That backfilled data — combined with real-time logging during the 2025–26 season — gives the aggregate dataset a multi-year dimension that enriches seasonal pattern analysis. As more clubs and regions join, the platform's ability to identify long-term trends across flyways will continue to strengthen.

Aggregate patterns reveal regional variety. Across the platform, per-hunt averages ranged widely depending on geography, habitat type, and group size — from smaller outings averaging 3–4 birds to larger managed hunts averaging well over 20. The data shows that hunt frequency, group composition, and regional flyway positioning all play a role in overall harvest patterns. These aggregate trends help paint a picture of how waterfowl hunting activity varies across the Mississippi and Central flyways without identifying any specific club or property.

The user base spans the full spectrum of waterfowl hunting. The platform serves club managers, members, and guests alike — reflecting the diversity of how waterfowl hunting is organized across the country. From private lease groups to large managed clubs to individual hunters logging public-land outings, the breadth of participation ensures the aggregate data captures a representative cross-section of hunting activity rather than a narrow slice of any one type.

Late-season data is especially valuable. While most platforms and surveys focus heavily on peak season (October–December), BlindBook's continuous logging captured meaningful data well into February 2026. Late-season harvest data is chronically underrepresented in traditional wildlife surveys, and it can provide critical insights into wintering populations, habitat usage, and species that extend their range later into the year. As more southern and coastal clubs join the network, this late-season dataset will become one of BlindBook's most differentiated assets.

The 2025–26 season proved that hunter-sourced data at scale isn't just possible — it's already happening. With 58 clubs and nearly 1,800 hunts logged, WaterfowlAI's BlindBook platform is building the most granular, real-time picture of waterfowl hunting activity in North America. And it's just getting started.