Arkansas duck populations steady, hunters can expect similar conditions to last year

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released its 2025 Waterfowl Population Status report Tuesday, indicating that duck populations remain largely unchanged from last year, a sign that Arkansas hunters may see conditions similar to the 2024-25 season.
According to the report, an estimated 34 million ducks were present across Canada and the northern U.S. breeding grounds this summer, nearly identical to 2024’s estimate and about 4 percent below the long-term average. Mallards, a primary species of interest for Arkansas hunters, remained steady at 6.6 million, while northern pintails increased 13 percent to 2.2 million. Blue-winged teal populations stayed below the threshold needed for a 16-day teal season, meaning hunters can expect another nine-day teal season for 2025-26.

The report confirmed concerns about dry conditions on the breeding grounds, with pond numbers down 19 percent overall. North-central U.S. breeding areas were hardest hit, seeing as much as a 34 percent drop in pond counts, while prairie Canada remained roughly 27 percent below its long-term average.

Luke Naylor, AGFC Chief of Wildlife Management, emphasized that hunters should keep perspective as the season begins. Mallard populations remain 17 percent below long-term averages and nearly half of the 2015 record of 11.6 million birds. Weather conditions and flooded habitats along the Mississippi Flyway will heavily influence hunting success in Arkansas.

“Duck populations are sufficient to support liberal seasons, but hunters should understand that numbers are down from previous decades,” Naylor said. “We’ve seen highs and lows before, and populations can rebound with favorable conditions.”

AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock highlighted the ongoing importance of habitat conservation. “We can’t control the weather, but we can ensure the right habitat is in place to support waterfowl and maintain Arkansas’s rich duck hunting tradition,” he said.

Hunters and wildlife enthusiasts can view the full USFWS 2025 report and previous population status reports at www.fws.gov/library/collections/waterfowl-population-status-reports.

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