DU is predicting duck production to be above average

[webfoot]

Spring rains that hurt farmers help ducks

AP-Thursday, June 17, 2004
BISMARCK, N.D.

Heavy spring rains that are hurting North Dakota farmers are also filling prairie potholes and helping ducks.

"What those rains do is create temporary and seasonal wetlands," said John Devney, a spokesman for Delta Waterfowl.
The new wetlands provide plenty of food for ducks during their egg-laying period, he said.

Ducks Unlimited is predicting duck production to be slightly above average this year , said Randy Renner, manager of conservation programs for the group. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to release the results of its spring breeding survey soon.

[Anatidae]

What........the long-term average?......or last year's average?.......average from last month?

[SoftCall]

so what!!!! I still want 2 and 20!

[eastwoods]

Here we go again!!!

Is this how it goes: "Fool me 10 years in row shame on DU, fool me one more year shame on me"?

[Chad Manlove]

I don't think DU has predicted anything....breeding conditions were highly variable this year....some areas were wet, many other areas were extremely dry....production will be isolated at best

Renner's quote was most likely taken out of context. He probably referenced his area of influence (portions of North Dakota and Montana)....not the entire Prairie Pothole Region.

Meanwhile, we CONTINUE to lose valuable grassland habitats at an alarming rate....Where is the concern for the loss of breeding habitat? Let's get fired about grassland loss!

[Blackduck]

Same line of bull that they tried tried to feed us last year. I agree w/ eastwoods.

[DuckyDan]

They've been predicting that we had "record years" ever since 1999. Either they're lying through their teeth, they don't know what they're doing, or the guys north of us are having some hellacious hunting. I think if that were the case, we would have known it by now though.

The ducks are down. It will be a slow season. Period.

[Anatidae]

I'm with you, Chad.

As far as bashing DU is concerned.....I don't think it's fair to blame anyone for our disappointments over the last few years. Waterfowlers of my generation have been in it long enough to KNOW that duck production runs in cycles. There are certain variables beyond anyone's control. However, if you must have a scapegoat, it's 1)folks that contribute to inaccurate reporting, 2)those that can't discern reliable information from hearsay, 3)and hunters that allow their expectations to exceed realistic levels.

I agree that waterfowlers' focus should be on protecting the resource. I don't think we need to be wasting any efforts on 'entitlement' issues.

Keep it coming, Chad......I feel like I can rely on your input. I am confident you can resolve issues resulting from mis-information.

[MemphisStockBroker]

Meanwhile, we CONTINUE to lose valuable grassland habitats at an alarming rate....Where is the concern for the loss of breeding habitat? Let's get fired about grassland loss!

Chad -- to what are we losing the habitat?

[RedEyed Duck]

Meanwhile, we CONTINUE to lose valuable grassland habitats at an alarming rate....Where is the concern for the loss of breeding habitat? Let's get fired about grassland loss!

Chad -- to what are we losing the habitat?

I know that at the Delta Waterfowl meeting in Memphis I attended they did not some much speak of loosing habitat that currently exists. They did talk about crappy %'s when it comes to breeding success. Hopefully, DU can continue to buy habitat, although it seems to becoming tougher and tougher in the US due to farmers not wanting to sell and Canada not having a CRP type program to date, and Delta can concentrate on trapping and hen house efforts. The two combined might acheive some results!

Chad, will DU ever work hand in hand with Delta and allow them to trap and use hen houses on large %'s of DU owned land? I hope to see it happen some day...

[SoftCall]

WEATHER

[big gumbo]

98. I will not bash DU.
99. I will not bash DU .
100. I will not bash DU.

Shew, Mr. DU biologist please tell the magazine to not hype it this year, loss of credibility could be at stake! Long term average my booty. If last year was any indication, the AHM is broken and its a Yugo and parts are not on the way. Next hing I'm going to hear is the harvest numbers from last year based on HIP surveys, now that will be a laugh. So far I think i've heard around 151 reasons for the South's poor duck seasons, when its simple, there ain't no ducks! ITs a Burmuda Duck Triangle between here and the PPR, every here they are many and they just vanish into thin air around St. Louis I guess.

[Dutch Dog]

They cry that crap every year about this time. To get the people pumped up on the prospect of having a great season. I'm here to tell you that for at least the past 5 to 7 years there have been $hitty duck seasons. Yeah, Yeah, everyong knows someone who has been killing ducks, there are exceptions to every rule, but the overall consensus was that duck hunting sucked for the past several years. I don't believe ANY hype of a bumper crop of ducks for the upcoming season. Come post season there is always some line of bull$hit being thrown around about WHY there were no ducks in the south. I have heard that DU dumped corn in Illinois to hold them up there (crock of crap) I have heard that we didn't have the weather (another crock of crap) I have seen more ducks here in NOVEMBER about 8 years ago when there actually WERE some ducks than I have seen ever since. I have heard that they were swimming aroung on unfrozen ponds and lakes in Minnesota in January (another......). When duck season gets here I will be out there regardless of what some idiot predicts. This same group of morons need to get their heads out of their arses and quit predicting stuff that apparently they have NO idea about. As far as us losing wetlands....this is my response. Why doesn't DU make the most of what they DO have by implementing some sort of predator control. F*CK PETA who gives a $hit about them anyway. Certainly not any of us! If you, this great entity that is DU, are going to be pushed around by a bunch of wimpy vegetarians, then I will send my donations to an organization that won't be pushed around by them...namely Delta waterfowl.
Good day!

[Anatidae]

I think it's safe to say that somebody pi$$ed in 'Dutch Dog's' Coco Puffs, this morning.

[Chad Manlove]

Meanwhile, we CONTINUE to lose valuable grassland habitats at an alarming rate....Where is the concern for the loss of breeding habitat? Let's get fired about grassland loss!

Chad -- to what are we losing the habitat?

MSB,

We are losing grasslands to soybean production. These areas in the Missouri Coteau Region of North and South Dakota have forever been grasslands. Ranchers have maintained these grassland complexes. It appears that Farm Bill payments for soybean production is more lucrative than the ranching industry in the Prairie Pothole Region.

Ranchers don't want to plow those grasslands, because its been in their family that way for many years. They would prefer to keep the grasslands and manage their cows, but the economics behind the situation is pushing many to plow those native grasslands and plant soybeans. Here's the big problem....once you plow a native grassland, you lose 75% of the native diversity of those grassland plants. The diversity is gone and will never return. Nesting ducks prefer native grasslands over anything else.

How do we help fix the problem? Grasslands for Tomorrow....an initiative to protect large grassland complexes forever....through conservation easements. The ranchers still own the land and manage those grasslands. Ducks benefit from nesting cover that has been protected from the plow.

We can't raise ducks in a plowed soybean field!