Season Changes

[lefthorn]

Ok, been thinking about this for a while. I know it is gonna start a HUGE debate but as long as it is a good one, that is really what I am looking for. Ok, duck numbers are low(granted they have been picking up) and we want more ducks right. How about this. If there were no duck hunting for say 2 years(or even a year) this would allow the population to rebound giving us more breeding pairs for the next season. I know, I am opening a humongous can of worms but just entertaining a thought. The only problem with doing this would be say if you close the season and they have a poor breeding situaton(no water), then it would not have as good of an effect. So let's hear it. What do yall think.


PS It would kill me too to not have duck hunting!!!!!! Surely there is a better way to get the population back up!!

[quackwacker]

I don't think that the answer to the problem is to close the season. I think that the answer to the problem of no ducks is for everyone to become very wealthy real fast so that they can get in on some of these expensive leases or clubs over in the delta or in Arkansas because that is where all of the ducks are. At least thats the way it looks from the east side of MS.

[SweetWater Hunting]

I must agree the duck numbers are not declining its the Ducks Unlimted changing the flyway. These guys are buying up wetlands and putting heaters in ponds trying to keep the ducks up North.. Where heres my Question What have you guys done for us Please some one answer this question

[lefthorn]

I disagree and agree with you sweetwater. Yes alot of the work is done up north but where is the breeding done.....up north. They have done a great job with preserving and protecting breeding grounds. Yes, they have and are doing some things that are keeping ducks up north, but the major factor in keeping the ducks up north is weather. Without sustained freezing temps and snow cover, the ducks have no reason to leave. We needed weather like this(and even worse weather to follow) to be around earlier in the season.

[JimWalker]

This was fowarded to me by a biologist in La. He said it is being circulated widely in professional ranks and is considered to be a plausible explanation by many who have read it. If it is true, closing the season may be what could be done, but for a different reason than originally stated. Closing the season presents financial hurdles that will not be attempted for any reason other than to protect the populations, and with our present numbers, that is not a consideration. It doesn't look good for us if there is any truth to this paper.

Migration Treatsie

[ScottS]

I have an idea for DU and the breeding grounds.....let them install more pipes and wells up there to fill those potholes up every spring!!!

In all sincerity, I know that is virtually impossible but I do wonder why more can't be done to increase the water levels up north. I see "potholes" all over the Miss and Arkansas delta from people filling up portions of their fields of rice, soybean, corn, for the ducks. It's done one of two ways: natural rainfall or with a well/pump. All I see up north is the natural rainfall way of filling up the potholes. Surely these farmers have wells on their lands up north? Am I wrong about northern farming (I honestly don't know)?

Don't slam me. I'm just thinking out loud.

[chopper30]

closing the season could quite possible be one of the worst ideas i've ever heard!

[lefthorn]

I agree with you Scott. Never understood why they didn't do that.

[spoonie]

Heck,i have seen more ducks this year than the past two.why are you say the duck pop is down ?everything i read says that all breeds are up except pintails and blackjacks.if they closed the season it would be the end of duck hunting the season would never open again!you must not have hunted much in the 80s or 90s when we had a 3 duck limit.THE BOTTOM LINE FOR THE LAST TIME IS COLD AND SNOW UP NORTH = DUCKS IN THE SOUTH.I HAVE A FRIEND THAT LIVES ON LAKE ERIE AND THE LAKE IS STILL WIDE OPEN.just because you are not killing ducks dosn't mean the population is down hell we have had a great year.

[lefthorn]

Spoonie, I know that duck pops are up(compared to previous seasons), I am talking about back in the day when ducks flourished. And yes(as previously stated) I know that without weather the ducks won't move.

[SweetWater Hunting]

aNOTHER THING THAT SEEMS TO BE KILLING ME IS WHY DOES DUCK HUNTING OR HUNTING IN GENERAL FASTLY BECOMING A RICH MANS SPORT.. IF IT KEEPS UP THIS POOR TEACHER WILL BE PAWNING OFF EVERYTHING JUST FOR A 1 DAY DUCK HUNT IN A CUTOVER IN EAST MISS.

RICH PEOPLE STAY AWAY OR ASK ME TOO GO HUNTING WITH U ON THE HOUSE...

[lefthorn]

Sweetwater, duck hunting is far from a rich man's sport(at least for me it is). I can go hunt woodies anytime, or I can go hunt the marsh anytime. I may not kill the numbers that they do on leases but that is not what it is about. I have a small aluminum skiff(not a war eagle), that I spray painted to camo(not the best but it works), I have 1 dozen dekes(at 20 dollars), and a few calls. When the ducks are around, I have no problem with them. When they aren't around, I enjoy the morning and hunting discussions with my partners then ride around and try to find where the ducks are. Duck hunting is not a rich man's sport but it does take work. You can't just go out and expect to kill ducks, you gotta put some effort into finding where they are, where they are gonna go, what they want, etc.

[SweetWater Hunting]

LEFT HORN

I COULDNT AGREE WITH YOU MORE.. IM A WOODIE HUNTER ALSO... BUT JEALOUSEE DOES GET TOO US ALL.. IT HAPPENED TO ADAM AND EVE AND IT HAPPENS TO US WE LOVE OR I DO JUST GETTING OUT IN THE WATER FOR A FEW SHOTS AT SOME WOODIES. HECK I WADED A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF TIMES 2 MILES WITH DECOYS. SWEAT RUNNING DOWN MY WADERS AND A DOG BESIDE MEE. HECK I WILLING TO WORK MY TELL OFF FOR ANYTHING I LIKE. THE JEALOUSY COMES IN WHEN JOHN DOE AND HIS SON RALPH WENT OUT AND LIMITED OUT IN 1 HOUR....THAT WAS GOOD HOLE BUT HOW MUCH DID IT COST YOU DR. JOHN DOE.. MONEY....MAKING PEOPLE HAPPY SINCE 1799...

HEY I DONT WANT NOTHING THAT COMES EASY

EXCEPT MAYBE A DUCK HOLE OR 2

[mudsucker]

SweetWater,
You say you are a teacher? You get an F for spelling if the last post is any indication.

[smwrsth]

Lefthorn the problem is that you are hunting in Pascagoula, the land of NO ducks. Occassionaly there will be a few, but if the weather warms at all they are gone. Always will be this way. Too many days watching black birds over there. Trust me I know. NOw over this way there are thousands of birds right now.