Bobby Cleveland article from CL

[crow]

As well as the dates of migration and available water, I'm concerned about another issue. A huge percentage of farmland that used to go under water every year, along with the beans that was planted on it, has gone into federal programs (wrp and crp). Yes, that land, if left undisturbed will generate some food for the ducks, and some of the land is planted with some food. But it is nowhere near the benefit and volume of duck food of those flooded crop fields. I am worried, and I have heard similar worries from wildlife officials, that the land is not holding the ducks the way it used to...especially the South Delta. I am afraid that the ducks, due to a lack of quality food sources, are shifting to a more westerly migration pattern and carrying the ducks more quickly into LA. Any thoughts on that topic?

And I do think you guy are getting the benefit of some retribution from those who are still mad about the end run closing date caper mentioned earlier.

[Model12]

Several of you guys have made very good points. But I do think that even though we really haven't seen the benefit of the late season hunts yet, I do believe it will come in time. For several years now, El-Screwed-up-weather-o, has made it difficult to really see a "normal" year. Maybe this year will be more back to "normal" and we can better determine what works best for the hunter, and the hunted....

[Anatidae]

Well, I'm no expert on the matter, but let's look at the other side of the coin. If we took the 60-day framework and quit hunting Jan 20th, you're likely to be faced with the same thing....'season ending on a Sunday. You also have the benefit of looking at a blank sky because most of the ducks are still in the Dakotas in November. All you typically get in the months of Nov and Dec are spoonies, wigeon, and grey ducks. The majority of the mallards are still along the 'freeze' line, 4 states North of us. So what do you gain from that? More days that you can sit and wish we'd kept our mouths shut about gettin' it returned to the 60-day framework.

I can't answer why it ends on a Sunday....'didn't say it was goin' to, either. I remember years when it ended during the week (on the 31st or the 20th, depending on which framework was in-force). They might elect to have it end on the 31st, this year....who knows?

Let's just say we were in the 60-day scenario. Would you then, gripe about the fact that we couldn't have hunted 'til the 27th, had we chosen the 51-day format that ends on the last Sunday in January? Probably. Therefore, I think it'd be better to count how many days past Jan 20th you get to hunt, instead of whining about loosing 5 or 6 days by not gettin' to hunt thru the 31st. The glass is either half-empty or half-full, depending on your perspective.

At least we have the opportunity to hunt the latter part of January (which, one would reason, is the most conducive weather for duck hunting). It just hasn't helped us much in the past 4 years. Maybe this year is the year. [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[ August 08, 2001: Message edited by: Anatidae ]

[cmducks]

One point that has been brought up in the past but seems to be missing from this discussion is what affect the extended season may have on the birds themselves (forgetting for just a moment how it affects the hunter). There is some evidence that suggests that a later season (i.e. to the end of January)may negatively affect pair bonding between drakes and hens, and may affect reproductive success in the spring. This scenario may not affect mallards very much, because drakes many times will try to mate with anything that moves (watch your children!). However, mallards are certainly not the only ducks taken during the end of January, and the effects on other species may vary, some impacted more than others.

Just my two cents, but it might help to put things in perspective to look at the bigger picture and not simply how the flyway council and the state are "screwing" us. If hunting later in January negatively affects reproductive success in subseqent years, it will most likely lead to shorter and shorter seasons, especially if a series of dry springs occur.

Again, just my opinions.

[Anatidae]

Duckaholic, I've edited my previous posts and offer you an apology. It was not my intent to discredit you, or anyone else. It was obviously a poor choice of words, on my part. [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

I'll stick to my guns on the gloating comment, though. We're extremely LUCKY to have gotten it changed to a 51-day framework, and hope folks will be patient enough to give the proposals set forth, a chance to work.....or fail. It's a scientific experiment, at best.

Again, Goosebruce is right-on.

I think the important thing to note here, is that Bobby Cleveland has no better idea what the season is going to be than any of the rest of us. Thus, we're all getting a little anxious and speculating , which, invariably prompts us to focus on the 'worst-case scenario'. One thing my former classmate from H.S.Blair High (Hattiesburg) is correct about, is there are going to be some unhappy duck hunters in Mississippi....'think Duckaholic is definately one of'em, wouldn't ya'll say?

Now, I went thru some old records and will offer this information to you, merely as a reference......'because until they announce the season dates, many will occupy their time with speculation. I find myself in that group too, unfortunately....for all the good it's gonna do.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>94-95 ended on a Friday, Jan 20th<LI>96-97 Nov 30-Dec23 Dec26-Jan 19 Sunday 60-day <LI>97-98 Nov15-16 Nov22-Jan 18 Sunday 60-day <LI>98-99 (1st 51-day season) Dec12-Jan31 Sunday (Won't happen again 'til 2010) <LI>99-00 Nov 26-28 Dec 11-22 Dec 26-Jan 30 Sunday (the one Travis liked...me too!) <LI>00-01 Dec 9 -Jan 28 Sunday (3 days lost) </UL>

O.K., 'don't know what all this means, but there it is, folks. I've looked at the calender and can't venture a guess as to what the dates will be, other than Dec 8 -Jan 27 with 4 days lost from the 31st. I can live with those four as opposed to the 7 you would loose if a 60-day season were to close
on Jan 20th.

We'll see, soon. It'll be interesting! [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[ August 08, 2001: Message edited by: Anatidae ]

[DUCKAHOLIC]

No apology need Anatidae, but I thank you just the same.

[Swamp Rat]

My friends and I like the late dates. To many days and to many seasons we have sat in the blinds in short sleeves looking at empty skies. Also for us the river level can play an important part and the rainfall which also normally occurs in the later time.
A word on the efforts of Trent Lott and others. He was instrumental in stalling for our benefit the sale of the final piece of property that the USWS badly wanted to complete the St. Catherine WilLife Refuge in Natchez until they began to withdraw their vigorous disent of the late closing. In the end, we got the late dates and they gotthe property. He also bartered in some limited hunting on the refuge. No waterfoil but some bow hunting for deer and hogs and some youth opportunities. They say he stuck the late dates on the end of the land deal bill and when the land deal was voted in ditto for the date. I dont say this as fact but it is my understanding.

[Greenhead22]

I really liked the 99-00 season myself, because of the 3 day opportunity for early ducks in November.

[Anatidae]

Well, I came-up with one scenario that might satisfy some folks, here...including myself.

Given a 51-day season...open the day after Thanksgiving and hunt that weekend Nov 26-28th (or whatever the actual dates are for that Fri/Sat/Sun. Re-open on Dec 15th and run straight thru to Jan 31st (a Wednesday).

Nov 26-28 Dec 15-Jan 31 If I figured that correctly, that's 51 days.

LA's season opens one week prior to both of the above opening dates. As ducks are pressured there, they'll have a week to find Mississippi, before they get hammered in the MS Delta.

'Haven't counted how many weekends that gives us, but there's not much chance of getting more than 8, with a 5-day season, any way you look at it.

'Just more speculation, guys...'not a recommendation.....that's a big gap between Nov 28th and Dec 15th, but at least you could hunt thru Jan 31st, this way. What kinda cake do you like?

[Anatidae]

'Duckslayer'....read my apology to 'Duckaholic', above.....it was meant for you , instead....'got ya'll mixed-up.

[img]images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

Now, I REALLY owe the 'Duckaholic' an apology. [img]images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

Can we move-on, now? [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[THE DUCKSLAYER]

thanks,i just hate to see the state mess this extention up!i don't believe we've given it enough time. [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[ August 10, 2001: Message edited by: THE DUCKSLAYER ]