HUNTERS ORGANIZE MEETINGS TO FIND DUCKS
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 2:57 pm
HUNTERS ORGANIZE MEETINGS TO FIND DUCKS
BISMARCK, N.D. - Duck hunters from Minnesota to Louisiana are organizing rallies and planning public hearings in an attempt to answer the most nagging question in the outdoors, "Where are the ducks?"
Delta Waterfowl President Rob Olson said one reason hunters across the country have been disappointed by recent duck seasons is that the Canadian portion of the prairie pothole region isn't attracting and producing as many ducks as it once did.
"Duck hunters believe well still have lots of ducks," Olson said. "They've been told the fall flights have been short-stopped by mild winters or by refuges or changing farm practices, or all of the above. But, the biggest culprit is that we don't have as many ducks as we used to, and the lack of production on the Canadian side of the breeding grounds is a big part of the problem."
Olson said duck populations always rise and fall in response to water conditions on the prairie breeding grounds, and the 1990s were no exception.
"Most hunters were satisfied with the number of ducks they say in the 90s, but prairie Canada didn't participate in the bounty " at least not at its former levels."
A look at the breeding population of the last three wet cycles paints of grim picture of Canada's waning productivity.
"Between 1955 and 1958, prairie Canada attracted an average of 6.9 million nesting mallards each spring," Olson said. ""During the wet cycle between 1970 and 1976, an average of 4.8 million mallards nested in prairie Canada."
But, during the wet cycle that lasted from 1994-99, only 3.5 million mallards settled there each spring, barely half the number from the 1950s.
"Not only are fewer mallards settling in prairie Canada, but nest success is half what is was in the 50s," Olson said. "With half the breeding mallards experiencing half the nest success " well, you do the math.
"Prairie Canada is no longer the pristine wilderness many duck hunters envision," Olson added. Canada doesn't have large-scale government backed conservation programs like the United States, and that means Canadian farmers are forced to put as much land as possible into production."
Olson said research indicates the United States portion of the prairie pothole region has become more productive, in large part due to the Conservation Reserve Program.
"More than 90 percent of the continent's ducks are produced on private land," Olson said. "That means conservationists must work toward farm-friendly programs that provide the habitat nesting ducks require to be successful."
Olson said Delta Waterfowl is close to announcing a program similar to CRP in Canada.
BISMARCK, N.D. - Duck hunters from Minnesota to Louisiana are organizing rallies and planning public hearings in an attempt to answer the most nagging question in the outdoors, "Where are the ducks?"
Delta Waterfowl President Rob Olson said one reason hunters across the country have been disappointed by recent duck seasons is that the Canadian portion of the prairie pothole region isn't attracting and producing as many ducks as it once did.
"Duck hunters believe well still have lots of ducks," Olson said. "They've been told the fall flights have been short-stopped by mild winters or by refuges or changing farm practices, or all of the above. But, the biggest culprit is that we don't have as many ducks as we used to, and the lack of production on the Canadian side of the breeding grounds is a big part of the problem."
Olson said duck populations always rise and fall in response to water conditions on the prairie breeding grounds, and the 1990s were no exception.
"Most hunters were satisfied with the number of ducks they say in the 90s, but prairie Canada didn't participate in the bounty " at least not at its former levels."
A look at the breeding population of the last three wet cycles paints of grim picture of Canada's waning productivity.
"Between 1955 and 1958, prairie Canada attracted an average of 6.9 million nesting mallards each spring," Olson said. ""During the wet cycle between 1970 and 1976, an average of 4.8 million mallards nested in prairie Canada."
But, during the wet cycle that lasted from 1994-99, only 3.5 million mallards settled there each spring, barely half the number from the 1950s.
"Not only are fewer mallards settling in prairie Canada, but nest success is half what is was in the 50s," Olson said. "With half the breeding mallards experiencing half the nest success " well, you do the math.
"Prairie Canada is no longer the pristine wilderness many duck hunters envision," Olson added. Canada doesn't have large-scale government backed conservation programs like the United States, and that means Canadian farmers are forced to put as much land as possible into production."
Olson said research indicates the United States portion of the prairie pothole region has become more productive, in large part due to the Conservation Reserve Program.
"More than 90 percent of the continent's ducks are produced on private land," Olson said. "That means conservationists must work toward farm-friendly programs that provide the habitat nesting ducks require to be successful."
Olson said Delta Waterfowl is close to announcing a program similar to CRP in Canada.
The attorney will probably be the first one to get locked up. Just ask me about my lovely visit to Tchula!