Duck population VS weather???

[dos gris]

I don't want to start a big MSDucks controversy here but was just interested in some thoughts from the more verteran duck hunters on this forum.

In looking back on my 25 years of duck hunting, mostly in southeast LA, and in talking with my Dad who has duck hunted since his youth and is now 67 years old.....some thoughts cross my mind.

According to the Fed's and based on season lenghts and bag limits this season and last, we are still experiencing relativaley high duck population levels. All I here now (aside from crap like DU is feeding the ducks up the line) is WEATHER....WEATHER...WEATHER! "Its not cold enough up north", "theres no snow up north".....etc.... Well, there is no doubt that weather play some sort of role in the duck migration. But how much? When I think back in the past and talk with old duck hunters they never used the weather as an exuse for a general lack of ducks. Sure at times we would say that we need a good arctic blast to send a good flight down south...thats reasonable right? But we never blamed whole seasons on the weather....they were just bad seasons or bad duck years. Remember the duck world is very cyclicle.

We always had birds down south in the marsh in November no matter if it was 70 or 30 degrees and we had birds this year. Now, the coastal marsh is a different ball game when compared to say...the Delta....the marsh is always goona have a fair share of ducks early, regardless of the population levels.

I guess what I'm trying to convey here is that I BELIEVE we have A LOT fewer ducks than we did 3 or 4 years ago and the estimations and regulations have failed to keep up with the numbers. We have had a long run in the excellent population/wet weather cycle. The last 2 breeding seasons were the preface of a downturn in the cycle and we are seeing the results of lower recruitment first hand thru a lower harvest (SOME OF US...NOT EVERYONE).

I just don't buy into the weather thing 100%

[damnyankee]

I agree and believe the duck numbers are down. I have no hard data to present other than as much as I hunt and as many other hunters I know everyone is seeing fewer ducks.

I think the weather is the main reason for the simple reason for the last three seasons we have enjoyed mild winters. I would argue the avg. age of a duck is three years, I could be way off w/that but I believe that is what I read in a DW mag. Believing that to be true I would suggest that the majority of ducks alive instinct is telling them to fly to Il, MO, Far N AR and stay there. I think we need several harsh winters to get the ducks back to making what we all consider a full migration.I may be way off but I look at Canadian geese whom in the past thrived in S. IL , this area was the best goose hunting on the flyway. They flew there due to the fact that S. IL had little if no snow cover. But as the snowfall NOT temp. changed in Central and Northern Il. the geese have really ignored S. IL for the past several years. Right now the goose hunting here is tremendous due to there being no snow cover and therefore providing an abundance of food.

Which leads me to the feeding conspiracy. I can assure you no farmer is intentially leaving grain in the fields. I know Dad didn't spend 200K for a combine that would leave grain in the field. The fact is no combine is going to get all the grain, the factors for this are limitless. However no till farming and lack of snow cover provides an abundance of food in the fields for ducks and geese to live on for an entire winter. If a farmer is leaving 8-10 kernels of corn every 2 square feet he is more than happy with that loss. Now if you spread that out over several hundred thousand acres there is a lot of food out there. Especially when the ground is left untilled over the winter.

At the end of the day were all looking for reasons why, maybe mine is just another stupid one but I need them to explain to my wife why I spend so much money on this passion.

[Wildfowler]

the last three seasons we have enjoyed mild winters.

Speak for yourself Yankee. I haven't been "enjoying" mild Winters.

[damnyankee]

Fair enough....

I'm torn we're building a new house and way ahead of schedule which is great....
But the duck hunting stinks.........

Feel like I made a deal w/the devil.

[Jordan River]

Don't mean to get philosophical(sic) but, ...... consider this:

I'm almost forty and just fell in love with the quackers. My son is seven, and is a moma's boy through and through. My nephew took us to his blind, and kept apologizing cause there weren't any ducks. Out of five times going, two shots, no ducks (I need practice).

My son got up every time at 3am, was dressed before me, had the truck warmed up, and was sitting on the four-wheeler ready to load it with a big smile on his face. He never complained about being cold, constantly looked up to the sky, and asked a million questions...most of which I had no answer for. He said, "That's ok, dad, we'll figure it out together."

I know the ducks will fly my way eventually, but if they never do, I wouldn't trade the times we are going to have together for all the money, leases, or ducks in the world.

My family's Nintendo has dust on it. The only time he plays with it is to put the hunting/fishing games in..and that's very seldom cause every chance we get, we are in God's country somewhere.

Keep your chin up guys, the duck's will return....your children grow up and fly away.

[nomsduckhunter]

Jordan River, You sir have figured out what is so great about duck hunting. It has nothing to do with the amount of ducks you kill but everything to do with what you have already learned in a few short months. You and your family are on the right track.....Keep up the good work and enjoy every minute.
TS

[SoftCall]

I think that damnyankee hit the nail on the head and I am of the same opinion.

Great post JordanR - you've got it figured out!

[mallardchaser]

I talked to a buddy that went to Canada in the early season. He said it was very dry and saw few ducks. They spanked the geese though. He's under the opinion that there are not that many ducks and even a good cold front will not help us too much; I hope he's wrong.

[mossyisland]

I have to get in on this topic because it is something that chaps my hide. I have been duck hunting a long time. I remember a time when the only thing we hunted was sloughs and brakes. Very few people flooded up fields etc. to bring in ducks. If you think back just five years ago compared to today to what people are flooding up for ducks it has to be a increase of over 10000 percent. So i go back to my point you can't compare duck hunting now to five or even ten years ago because everybody and their grandma floods every bottom and lowland that will flood and rents it out. Look at the water that is out there. Look how it has got the ducks spread out is what I'm trying to say. I know we haven't got a real big push of ducks, but i remember even in the mildest of winters five years ago when my favorite holes were full of ducks because that was the only water to go to.

[Stano]

I dunno.......I believe that alot of other birds begin their migrations as the days become shorter trigger their trips down south or where ever they migrate too. Deer begin to rut regardless of weather due to the same deal I saw a study somewhere they did on captive deer where they controled the light and had the deer rutting at an oddball time of year. I have just always believed they have a little timer in there heads thats tells them they need to go.. I also think global warming has a role in the whole duck trips now.... I saw a program on discovery where a lot of animals normally found in a specific region have migrated north over the years granted they where talking only 10 15 miles possibly more over the past 10 years or so birds and all sorts of critters mainly because of the warmer temps.. The massive amout of new duck places and new water and refuges has to spread them thinner as well. I dunno? of course when thier food gets covered up and the water froze thats a no brainer ya were gonna see ducks. I guess you can tell I haven't seen many mallards this year heh