An influx of migrant ducks in parts of Minnesota has boosted duck hunter success, and forecasted cooler weather could bring more waterfowl.

"Quite a few divers have started showing up," said Curt Vacek, Department of Natural Resources area wildlife manager in the Appleton area. "We've had pretty good duck hunting in Big Stone County. The opener was good, and we've had a pulse of new birds — green-winged teal and some divers and mallards."

Hunters had to break ice on some small ponds as temperatures dipped below freezing at night.

Meanwhile, Canada goose numbers on the Lac qui Parle refuge remain low, probably less than 1,000 birds, but more are expected to arrive soon.

Ruffed grouse woes

Forests in northern Minnesota have lost many of their leaves, helping ruffed grouse hunter success.

But results remain mixed, based on conservation officer reports. Hunters are having success in the International Falls and Hibbing areas.

But in the Arrowhead Region, hunters are wondering what happened to the ruffie population.

"Now that the leaves are gone, it is safe to say this grouse season will not be near as good as last year," reported conservation officer Darin Fagerman of Grand Marais.

The woods were filled with grouse hunters, but Fagerman said he has rarely seen a young bird in the bag, which might indicate poor reproduction.

State officials had figured bird populations were on the rise this year.

Less ringnecks' cover

Dry weather has been hampering Minnesota pheasant hunters, but more corn is being harvested daily, which should help hunters and their dogs to find birds. As of Monday, 58 percent of the corn crop had been harvested, a few days ahead of average. And 97 percent of soybeans had been harvested.

Bucks untangled

Conservation officer Mike Gruhlke of Jackson received a call of an eight-point buck and a 10-point buck tangled by their antlers. He used a two-piece ice chisel and a canoe paddle to separate the whitetails, which both ran off when freed.