Getting ready for opening day on the 25th here in Minnesota. Not too many ducks around here. Just a few Woodys and a Teal or two. My uncle was wondering if they were affected by the West Nile Virus. Anyone have any news??

SPAD

I can't help with your Mississippi Flyway, but the Central Flyway in your neighboring state of ND has lots of local ducks in the north central/north east part of the state.
The late rains have held up the small grain harvest, so there's a lot of food both here and in the Prairie Provences of Canada.
If the big flocks hang up in Canada, as they did about 5 years or so ago, we may have a poor duck/goose season. That year, they stayed north because of abundant food, and rode the first strong, cold north wind all the way to Nebraska.

we got lots of ducks and geese here. on friday i saw a slough that had so many ducks on you could walk across it. the geeses are just starting to come down.

We had opening day yesterday, had to work for it but the two of us got our limit, a nice mixed bag. They weren't decoying worth a hoot. We got most of ours passing by at mach 2 to give us a look only about 4 of the 12 came in. We have gone to this hidey hole for about 5 years and this was the hardest we had to get the birds, lots of them but hard to work. Last year was the best, 6 ducks, 7 minutes and 38 seconds, 7 shots. I only had the time because it was that fast after shooting hours. It might be an interesting season if they are that hard to decoy on opening day. Good luck fella's, Ryan