When/If they go back to 30 and 3?

[kris Schaumburg]

If they go back to a 30 day season, how would you like to see it broken up and scheduled? for us down in LA, we actually do well with the early openers, so i'd like to see the first opener stay in early novemeber, and then have a couple additional split closures (assuming that fits under the season framework). Hell if they go back to 3 a day, gator could shoot at least 1/3 limits most days.

[Blake Williamson]

Why would they go back to a 30 day season?

[kris Schaumburg]

federal season frameworks are dictated by the spring survey counts. If the count is between ___ and ____ they do 3/30, if it is ____ and ___ they do a 45 day season, and if falls in the liberal end they do 6/60. They would be forced to go back to a less liberal season if the counts fell (possibly do to lack of ponds if we don't get snow across the prairies soon). Some people beleive that the counts have been fudged toward the liberal end in recent years either to make it appear that certain population management goals are working or because of the $$$ that duck hunting brings in when a liberal framework is utilized. I personally don't beleive the counts are fudged, but i do think that population will continue to rise and fall in the future, and as such we will at some point return to the more strict seasons.

[Blake Williamson]

Gotcha......

[greenheadgrimreaper]

federal season frameworks are dictated by the spring survey counts. If the count is between ___ and ____ they do 3/30, if it is ____ and ___ they do a 45 day season, and if falls in the liberal end they do 6/60. They would be forced to go back to a less liberal season if the counts fell (possibly do to lack of ponds if we don't get snow across the prairies soon). Some people beleive that the counts have been fudged toward the liberal end in recent years either to make it appear that certain population management goals are working or because of the $$$ that duck hunting brings in when a liberal framework is utilized. I personally don't beleive the counts are fudged, but i do think that population will continue to rise and fall in the future, and as such we will at some point return to the more strict seasons.

No doubt we will return to 30/3 one day- it will happen. I do not think the numbers are fudged either, simply because the federal government does not give a damn about the industry. Or any industry for that matter. Just look at the spotted owl and the effect it had on the timber industry in the Pac Northwest. Some 60,000 jobs lost? There are a lot of folks who have no idea duck season can, does and will fluctuate.

I would like to see the Thanksgiving opener stay like it is. We almost always have good shoots. After that, open it up the first weekend of January and run it through. Hell that's basically what duck season has become anyway- opening weekend smack down and the last few weeks of January.

I'm sure some MDWFP employees will throw up after reading this, but I think a few short seasons would help with this overcrowding problem we have. Luckily , the whoring out of waterfowling by the hunting product industry is subject to the big pecker Uncle Sam is swinging.

[lipsplitter39654]

Ill gladly take 30 ..... Sat and sun after thanksgiving



And

Feb 1 thru 28

[SWAG]

I have often said I would like a 45 day season and 7 duck limit to be the liberial scenario, but most disagreed saying they wanted the 60 days and liked the splits with weekends being the priority. If the season started Dec 15, that would be fine by me, just throw in the extra duck.

[arduckslayer]

Feb 1 thru 28

Too bad that won't ever happen.

[rawalley]

thanksgivin
christmas
jan 6-30

[kris Schaumburg]

I would gladly take a 100 day season and 2 duck limit, so I guess you can see the dissperities in preference

[gator]

I would gladly take a 100 day season and 2 duck limit, so I guess you can see the dissperities in preference

YES, but then again, you are a homo

[farmerc83]

Talked about this general idea in the blind just earlier this season. Wouldn't mind a shorter season every year or even a very short season every few years. If it allows the population to grow and cuts some of the commercialization out it could be best in the long run.

Hypothetically, by what % would the population increase if the entire nation just didn't have a season one year? Would any of you sign on to no season every 5th year or so if it drastically increased numbers?

[BR549]

Talked about this general idea in the blind just earlier this season. Wouldn't mind a shorter season every year or even a very short season every few years. If it allows the population to grow and cuts some of the commercialization out it could be best in the long run.

Hypothetically, by what % would the population increase if the entire nation just didn't have a season one year? Would any of you sign on to no season every 5th year or so if it drastically increased numbers?

HELL NO!!!!!!!

I don't believe duck numbers are forged at all. We just flat haven't had the weather the last few years to bring ducks down here. Sure you've been getting some fronts and even some cold weather, but where has it all been coming from??? The northwest! We need artic blast that come strait down pipe to put ducks here. No matter how harsh the winter gets you won't hardly push ducks across a flyway. That's what's happening! Everyone keeps complaining about the flyway shifting. No the flyway hasn't shifted they've just been getting some weather conducive enough to push some ducks down their flyway. You let us get 3 artic blast come strait down the MS river and you'll see more ducks in this country than you seen in several years. It just hasn't happened in the last 5 or 6 years. We prolly haven't had much more than one , maybe 2 a season in the last 5 or 6 years. Couple that with a lot more holes going in and lot's more places for them to rest along the way, thats where your duck numbers are going. You can't fix mother nature!

[Doc & Nash]

30/3 would be fine with me. Start a split at Christmas and then pick back up in Jan

As far as not having a season at all, sure but leave the goose season open that yr and help the over crowding problem...

[dandy_don]

They would be forced to go back to a less liberal season if the counts fell (possibly do to lack of ponds if we don't get snow across the prairies soon).

I have heard this mentioned more than once in recent days here. Just because the precipitation is not falling in the form of snow does not mean the potholes in the prairie states and mid-west are dry or will be dry. Trust me, I'm trying to build three jails in Oklahoma right now and they have had plenty of rain. I travel all over east Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and some into Kansas. Texas has not caught up to the others yet, but everywhere else I travel all the potholes, lakes, rivers and streams are flowing over the banks right now.

Drought map from NOAA: