Dodging reductions?

[laduck]

Recently completed surveys on waterfowl breeding grounds show much of the habitat in severe drought and most duck numbers down. But waterfowl managers are hinting the news may not be bad enough to drop regulations from the liberal package that has been in effect for five years. "The two key figures used to set the regulations are the May counts of ponds and mallards," said Chris Tollefson, who is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman. "The pond count is way down, but mallards are higher than they were expected to be. So it's too early to say there's definitely going to be a reduction." The survey of 10 key duck species on the prairie pothole breeding grounds showed all have fallen from last year. However, mallards are down only 5 percent and remain at their long-term average. That could be enough to keep the Mississippi Flyway in a 60-day, six-ducks-per-day season, some observers said. However, there are other considerations that could knock regulations into the moderate scheme, which would lead to a 45-day season at six-ducks per day. If the USFWS grants the request by several flyways to open the season earlier and close it later, the agency said it would add a penalty for potential increased harvest into the formula. That decision is expected to be announced Monday.


Shoot them sprigs on their first pass! (If there are any)