are there any ducks??

[duckbrake]

I went goose hunting in Saskatchewan for the fourth time this year and normally kill about 100 ducks while goose hunting. We only killed two the entire time and saw less than 100. Every pot hole was dry. I have a friend that went to Manitoba and saw the same thing. Are we being lied to by the feds?

[sportsman450]

YES!

[Wildfowler]

I don't think we're being lied to by the Fed's, but I do feel like the methodology for calculating the waterfowl breeding population is flawed, and may overstate the actual number.

I think it is a harsh statement to say that we are being lied to. If we are indeed being lied to about these numbers, then there must be a reason that we are being lied to. And if so, I'd like to know what that reason is.

There is a large segment of this community who feels that the duck counts are not accurate. I for one would like to see DW come up with a better way of counting ducks. Surely all those scientists have a better way of doing this?

But I am not ready to throw in the towel and start claiming that the sky is falling. Some people may now be working on their 4th bad duck season in a row. 3 and 4 years ago, MS was extremely dry. In fact, we may have even been considered to be in a state of drought. If you couldn't pump water, you probably didn't have any ducks. Then last year, the delta looked like the Atlantic Ocean and we had all the mild weather. This year we are in an El Nino pattern with no real cold pushes to the deep South to move many birds our way.

The way I see it, we've been dealt several consecutive years of bad weather, which is the most crucial factor that determines how many ducks we should expect to see. I do think there may be a better way of counting and setting the duck season accordingly, but so far no one has been able to offer up a better suggestion that I know of. I welcome a more scientific approach. I support DW 100% in their approach.


This is all just my opinion, I have no facts. The only time that I ever hear these kinds of statements is here on the internet. I'm not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers. I wish that an organization would come forward and address these issues formally.

[dukdawgn]

buddy, we're lied to by the fed's day in and day out, but not necessarily about duck hunting....

There is literally 80 million gallons of water on private land along the rivers right now that are not being hunted, and that serves as a rafting place for the ducks. Today, I saw ducks walking around in pure mud all day long on a field that didn't have a solitary stitch of food left on it. They just were not pressured on this particular field.

There are ducks....lots of them, but they are concentrated to certain places.

[timberjack]

I agree 100% with dukdawgn. Wednesday I probably saw a couple thousand ducks, mostly mallards, and probably half of those were in plowed fields with just a sheet of rainwater on 'em. Clean, wide open fields that only have water right after a big rain, nothin' to eat, just water and no place for a duck hunter to hide. You could probably get a couple of shots off right at daylight, but I bet that would wrap it up. I agree there are ducks, they're just ganged up in certain areas.

[mallardchaser]

buddy, we're lied to by the fed's day in and day out, but not necessarily about duck hunting....

There is literally 80 million gallons of water on private land along the rivers right now that are not being hunted, and that serves as a rafting place for the ducks

What does the expanse of water caused by the heavy rains have to do with being lied to by the feds?
Why would they be lying to us about duck numbers? That's almost as dumb as someone saying DU is feeding the ducks to purposely short stop them.

[tunica]

dont think he meant or implied that the water thats standing in fields right now has anything to do with the FEDS....his statement was just that

plently of standing water in fields no pressure ect

[River Hunter]

Feds smeds there are no ducks now. First part of the year hunting the river there where alot of ducks, now none!! If there are any ducks in the area i'll bet you there will be some on the river, well there are very few. So the question to you all is not what or who is to blame it is what to do about it.

[Marty N.]

I have a network of clients up in Yankee land, by this i mean Wisc., Mich,Minn., and Ill. There season for the last 10 years have gotten progressivly worse and worse. I don't know if we are being lied to or not. I do know that there are fewer and fewer ducks to go around each year. Whether that is from more Hunters or less ducks I don't know. All the money being thrown at DU does not seem to be affecting the outcome. This may be a two edged sword. More Money means More Advertising for more Money means more Hunters. The outcome means Less Ducks to go around.

[gadwall2]

There ain't nothing wrong with having money in duck hunting, but too much many can and has hurt.

[MALLARDBUSTER]

YEP,PLENTY OF THEM ON THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF ACRES OF REFUGE LAND THAT DU HAS COAXED A LOT OF PEOPLE INTO SUPPORTING. THE HECK WITH DU,I WOULD JUST AS SOON THEM GIVE IT UP. SURE THEY'RE KEEPING THE DUCKS AROUND,BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY'RE HURTING DUCK HUNTING.DUCKS ARE SMART THEY'RE GONNA STICK TO THESE REFUGES LIKE GLUE,WOULDN'T YOU?IHAD MY BEST HUNTING SEASONS A FEW YEARS AGO UNDER MILD CONDITIONS AND ABOUT HALF THE AMOUNT OF DUCKS.IT USED TO BE THAT IF YOU GOT AN ALBERTA CLIPPER FRONT ,YOU HAD THE DUCKS,NOT SO NOW.THANKS DU. IT'S ONLY GONNA GET WORSE BOYS,WE MIGHT AS WELL FACE IT.



BOYCOTT DU!!!

[River Hunter]

Yep!! Ducks have a routine just like you and I, we get up in the morning shower and go to work. Once this routine has changed (and obviously has) what do you think they are going to do next year and the years to come. This seems like it could be a never ending problem. Now again what do you do to stop it Does DU and the feds have this much controll over the ducks and how they migrate. It seems hard to imagine, yet these last few years could make anyone think long and hard about it

[gadwall2]

Way to much time on our hands right now. If we get one strong flight of birds a lot of feelings will heal.

And then again, a lot of guys won't be satisfied until they limit by 7am every time they go hunting.

[SoftCall]

received reports this AM from Belzoni to Itta Beana of ducks being killed in the fields. Hopefully, late morning tomorrow will be good after the sheet ice thaws. We'll be in the mid 20's tonight. Good luck fellas.

As Goosebruce says - shoot them weejuns first!