02 SEASON WORST CASE 30 DAYS & 3 DUCKS

[GulfCoast]

The UC Davis study is due to wrap up this year. There is another one being done by U of Tex, but I have seen no data. I can e-mail the preliminary data from the UC Davis study if anyone wants it, but it has been posted here before. I agree, BAN THE DARN THINGS.

[Ringbill]

True, the Alberta prairies are dependent on snowfall, but it's also important to remember that area is essentially a desert. When it's wet, we reap the rewards, when it's not it makes a difference. I will be very interested to see how it pans out. From a personal standpoint, I am with Duckmen.

Ringbill

[featherduster]

30 days would be the wise choice to limit people in the field killing ducks. Even if you had the longer season with lower bag limits, you still have outlaws killing morning and evening limits or more maybe. Cut it down to 30 or 40 for 3 years and see what happens.

[BrianB]

Last year, we would have been in the moderate season if it had not been for the extremely high may pond counts. The mallard count was sufficiently low enough last year that most of the possible frameworks were moderate, but since the pond counts were 9.5 million, which is either the highest or next to highest on the chart, we were in the liberal framework. Of note, the mallard count has declined by about 18% the past 2 years. If that trend continues, there is no way to have a 60 day season, even with the highest pond counts. Here's the biggest factor. They are changing the formula which is used to calculate the mallard count. It is a more conservative formula, meaning that the the estimated mallard count will be lower in general. In fact, if they had used this new formula last year, we would have had a moderate, i.e. 45 day season. So, no, we won't know for sure until they conduct the may pond counts, but the 2 scenarios of a 30 or 45 day season are the most likely, and probably 50/50 between those 2. And I did not see it in this new AHM plan, but in the past ones, the states did have an option to close on the 31 of January, but in the 45 day season, that would cost 6 total days, moving the length to 39 days. I can't remember if the 30 day season had that option, but if it did, it would result in decreased total days. And just wait and see, the blame game will pit the southern states getting to shoot extended days vs mojo as the reason for the decreases in duck numbers, even though it is probably cyclical.

[SoftCall]

I hope that I don't offend anyone out there but why are we giving this so much publicity at this point? I honestly believe that the USFWS monitors these sites for many reasons....one of them being public opinion. In other words, I am not throwing in the cards yet. I personally don't want a 30 day season and 3 ducks and I am NOT a game hog. I want a 60 day season and 6 ducks. Truth be known - even at a 6 duck limit, I seldom come out of the blind with more than 4 greenheads. You don't always pick up the odd ducks. If the statistical analysis says that the population is down due to unfavorable nesting conditions, then we should adjust the season. I'll base my opinion on the studies that are to take place in the upcoming months; not on speculation.

I also want to point out that even DU primarily blames the poor season last year on weather conditions that were not favorable to a fall migration - not nesting conditions or habitat loss. See your latest issue of DU Mag.

I would also like to see some hard numbers on the impact that harvest through hunting has on duck populations. Not trying to be closed minded, but you can set the limit to ten ducks a day for 75 days. If they don't come, they will not get harvested. I sure as heck didn't put a dent in the population last year and 90% of the folks on this site didn't either. Weather drives the success/failure rate of the season unless you have several years of drought conditions that cause habitat loss (in my opinion). I don't think that this is the case as of today. My gut tells me that these birds are moving out of the MS Flyway and into the Central flyway. States like OK & TX (Panhandle) have totally changed over the past 6 years with large upswings in the number of birds seen and harvested. I have the footage to prove it - literal tornados of ducks last December and January while we watched vacant skies.

Another thought, why change the framework of the season based on a change in the formula for deriving mallard populations? That's like saying that I am now 4 feet tall because we feel that three feet is too long for the yard stick and now I am not tall enough to ride the roller coaster. The mallard population is not at risk based on faulty calculations from previous years because those numbers have been up historically - even if the formula was "off". The end result was that the numbers were up and I have to assume that all of the same variables still have an impact even if they are weighted differently.

As far as for the "yahoos" and "weekend warriors" quiting the sport because of reduced days and bag limits...want to watch the funds allocated to this sport decrease?? Let people lose interest in it and see what happens. I am sure that every guide, store owner, motel owner and restaurant owner who feeds their family on income from hunting and related activities supports that - no way. Also, what happens when a state agency has to make budgeting decisions based on sportsman's interests. Would you rather have deer food plots on state lands or duck holes? Do you want funding to extension services cut? Let me remind everyone that the sport has to be publicly funded to a certain extent and that means that people have to be interested in it.

I am not against decreasing limits and days afield if the legwork is done to quantify the conditions driving the decision BUT only if the Feds and other agencies do their job to make a justified and quantified recommendation. I will not support a rumor.

My .02...but I guess that I am a hard sell.

[BrianB]

I'm not advocating the new calculation, jus trelating what I have read. I posted a big piece a coupleof months back from a flyway council meeting. Its long, but it may be interesting to you.

[SoftCall]

Brian B - I hear you. I am not knocking you - don't get me wrong. I'll see if I can find the old post. Thanks for the info.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Another one from the archives for Meeka's reading pleasure.

[cajun squealer]

Dang, Po Monk! You diggin up some bones!

[BLUE ROOM BOY]

STAY HOME!!!!

[cajun squealer]

BRB, you're killin' me!

[Josey Wales]

30 and 3 is ok with me as long as they give us the entire month of January.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Cajun Squealer, don't encourage ol BRB. That is his new mantra for everything now ----especially perceived whining by hunters.

[Spoonallard]

30 and 3 gets my vote as long as it startes around the first to mid January. It would not hurt my feelings one bit.

I agree!

[Broke Ducker]

im all for 30/3 if that what it takes to get rid of some of these YAHOOS that want to call themselves duck hunters.
It couldnt hurt anything to go 30/3 all it could do is help.