duck hole photo project

[JDgator]

Beginning in September, I took pictures of my different duck holes. I did the same thing in January. Over the weekend, I went back and took pictures again standing from the same spots.

It is amazing to see how different the places look in early summer compared to fall and late winter!

I hunt public land, so I'am not any posting pictures (sorry, cyber-scouters). But the differences are surprising.

Now, I also compared duck harvest numbers for each spot, and time of year. Some holes got worse, some got better as the season went on. Looking at the photos has helped resolve some of the mystery.

It seems like the places that did worse were highly dependent of thick natural vegetation for cover or as a foodsource. I think that later in the year, the ducks were able to see me better, and flared off. Plus the food must be gone.

My spots that did good in later January were all timber holes, or were freshly flooded by rain.

Have any of y'all done something like this to better understand your duck holes?

Thoughts?

[deltadukman]

I might have to check that out too. I'm sure the vegatation changes at Crossgates Lake WMA. I'll post up my findings.

[eastwoods]

[JDgator]

[greenheadgrimreaper]

In the days of old acorns were the primary food source. Naturally flooded timber from winter flooding in the miss. alluvial valley was the primary habitat for mallards. They have switched over to grain fields because obviously there are a few of em in the delta regions.

[JDgator]

[eastwoods]

[Tedl10]

[Anatidae]

[JaMak84]