we have been lied to

[Po Monkey Lounger]

"I think they need to drop the limts back to 2 mallards no hens and to off ducks of what ever. I am no expert just a disgruntled DUCK HUNTER"

I have no idea what this means. In English, please.

[duramax]

Okay. This is one of those "knee-jerk" reactions to a bad season. There must be someone to blame. Let's see. Why has duck hunting been hit and miss these passed years? We will start with this year and the short term trends. Lakes weren't even frozen solid in Minnisota this season. Cold weather ducks like mallards will stay as far north as they have access to FOOD, not just WATER. Even if there is cold and the water bodies are frozen, if there isn't enough snow to cover the food, they WILL STAY.
The list of why ducks don't come down like they used to is long. Farming practices have changed dramatically in the corn belt. Farmers have discovered the benefit of 'no till' farming. 20 years ago farmers would till under their crops at the end of the season. What they discovered was that when spring rolled around, they were losing valuable top soil that would not run off if they left their crops standing, therefore, leaving more food for wildlife also. Corn provide tons more energy for ducks per pound than what is farmed in the south, namely rice and beans. Farming practices have also changed in the south. Collecting crops is so efficient now, there is almost no waste grain remaining for ducks to feed on. The only places that still have rice or beans standing are...you guessed it, hunting properties. So ducks now have to decide b/w staying up north and deal with being a little colder, but have more food AND less hunting pressure. Everybody and their dog has a hunting lease in Arkansas now. No wonder they aren't coming down like they used to. The only places they can get food is where they get shot!
Missouri also has a amazing system for wildlife habitat. There is either .5% or 1% sales tax there that is dedicate solely for the purpose of wildlife habitat. They have put down thousands of acres of prime wildlife habitat all over the state and it is publically accessable to hunt on. But the amount of duck hunters there doesn't even come close to how many hunt in either Arkansas, Mississippi, or Louisianna.
It sucks, but this is the reality we are facing. Southern Missouri is going to be the new Stutgart. Especially if these warm winters continue. I am killing ducks that still have pin feathers on them. At the end of JANUARY!

[mudsucker]

"I think they need to drop the limts back to 2 mallards no hens and to off ducks of what ever. I am no expert just a disgruntled DUCK HUNTER"

I have no idea what this means. In English, please.

I think he meant "TWO off ducks"(non mallards )

[BBB]

STAY HOME!!!!!!

[Po Monkey Lounger]

[SWomack]

Look at the area around Valley Park, Ms where we hunt north of Mahanna's NW area. In the 39 years I have been around, the area went from soybeans to CRP. US Government decided it was easier to pay people to plant trees that flood with little effect, than reimburse farmers for crop damage, that flooded so often as is currently happening with Steel Bayou landside at nearly 85 feet.
Until you hunt Illinois, (Pike County & Cass County over the past 6 years) it is hard to understand how many MILLIONS of acres are planted in corn and there is so much corn left the deer, ducks, geese, and turkeys have plenty of food. That's why I went back to deer hunting, and duck hunt when the conditions are good and ducks are available.
Hunt smart and enjoy the great outdoors.............

[high flyer]

I'll tell you its all about the memories, fun and ribbing you take from your buddies that make hunting what it is, but yes ducks would help to make you go and have the fun and make the memories

[Wildfowler]

you mean to tell me that the same weather trend has been going on since 1999

Actually it's been going on longer than that.

I am fixing to research the weather that we had in the 80's and 90's i'll bet you its not much of a change from the weather today.

Please let us know of your findings. Pay careful attention to the typical jet stream patterns of the 80's versus the last 15 years.

[GulfCoast]

you mean to tell me that the same weather trend has been going on since 1999

Actually it's been going on longer than that.

I am fixing to research the weather that we had in the 80's and 90's i'll bet you its not much of a change from the weather today.

Please let us know of your findings. Pay careful attention to the typical jet stream patterns of the 80's versus the last 15 years.

Don't forget to take a peak at the mean/median winter tempratures and the location of the freeze line for any given day......

[70 sprig]

Couple of things here , first j.r. , yep we've had the same weather pattern since '99 and oddly enough the best I remember '99 was the last season that duck season resembled the seasons of old .

Then ( and this is gonna hurt some feelings , sorry ) STICKERS ....... yes stickers . Take a ride around the delta and look at the sticker crowd , anyone that can afford a robo and a few stickers for his rig think they can hunt ducks . Commercialization of duck hunting has put sooooo much pressure on the ducks that do come down til they are scared to death to work a spread . I don't blame'em a bit , there's a sumbich shootin at'em from every tree .

Lousianna hunters are givin good reports year after year , I THINK that there's a ton of unmolested water down there for birds to rest on , don't know , just a thought . A lot of ducks never check up when they come thru here .

Judging from the thousands of ducks that flew over my head while hunting in the north delta yesterday a.m. I'd hafta say that the population is healthy . Anyway , just a few random thoughts from one of the " un sticker " crowd .