Will someone admitt????

[jkm1272]

My friend that told me about how the counts are done is a biologist. He said they look at water acres.

Sportsman450 I agree with you. It is always easier to blame someone else or something else (weather). I know duck counting cannot be exact, but maybe it is time for these biologist to look for a new more accurate way.

Something has to be done, I am being driven to deer hunting!

[the doctor]

I believe MS and the MS Delta in particular is experiencing the result of diminished natural habitat

land has been cleared to make fields, fields have been formed and leveled to promote agricultural practices, ditches are turned into canals, small rivers are dredged to drain low lying areas more quickly

we have been spoiled by our natural resources and expect bumper years of waterfowling all the while destroying what made this a great place to hunt

the areas that do exist naturally and continue to hold birds are leased or held sacred by landowners that hunt...this is my problem with DU and DW

along with the good they do they create hunters, a negative effect in my opinion, of creating a supply of conservation dollars...before anyone chimes in I am fully aware this coin has two sides

I do not have a problem with land being leased or rented for such purposes, but consider the fields in the area that do not receive hunting pressure and the birds they continue to hold year in and year out...my argument is that it is not natural

birds are too safe they are protected from predation, not only from humans but natural predators as well...why on earth would a duck (whose sole existance is too survive and procreate) land in a willow break or slough or backwater when he could sit pretty as you please in the middle of a zero grade rice field with the sun at his back illuminating any sign of danger...we are only fortunate that ducks do still routinely use these areas

take all the birds you see using this scenario not being hunted and put them in your sloughs breaks, etc.

ask yourself why in the hell a duck would come to MS, you might be suprised to find the answer is not so obvious

the doc

[webbmaster]

OK, I must admit.

The word "admitt" in the title is driving me crazy.

Please edit one of the "t's"




Whew! I feel much better.

[jkm1272]

Okay I admit I am not one of the best spellers, but I still think that the numbers are down.

[webbmaster]

[chopper30]

Sportsman450, are you saying you think the weather doesn't have anything to do with us not having ducks down here, yet but that it is our fault? Or did I simply misunderstand your post?
Just confused
CHOPPER

[sportsman450]

Sportsman450, are you saying you think the weather doesn't have anything to do with us not having ducks down here, yet but that it is our fault?

No,and I should have been more clear about my opinion.

In the 60s and 70s the number of ducks we had was absolutely affected by the weather.That being said,things were never as bad back then as they are now,and have been for several years.I believe this is caused by several things:
1)artificial feeding north of us-years ago the food ran out sooner and some ducks came south reguardless of the weather
2)lack of large food sources in the south central delta-when the Lake George WMA was private land,and planted in rice and beans it held a very large number of ducks all season.Now that it's in weed production it holds virtually nothing.This base provided the entire area with ducks.
3)safe zones north of us that don't freeze nearly as soon because the shear number of ducks keep them open

My point is this.As long as people continue to blame this disaster on the weather alone,it will not get much better.Stop the feeding,take away some of the refuges,and PUT THE OLD DELHI BASIN BACK IN AGRICULTURE,and things will improve immediately no matter what the weather is!!!

To do this would require a close look at DU,USF&W,and MDWF&P.Whoever is responsible for these things,particularly the artificial feeding,need to be stopped!!!

[chopper30]

thank you sportsman

[redneck22ms]

ok if yall want the hard truth if you really want the delta to be the great palce it once was all you have to do is move everybody away and blow the levee and leave it alone for 10 years and it will then be the best area in the country but we all know that aint gonna happen