Recent content by Eric Patterson

You don't paint me a rosy picture. My attitude towards duck hunting is largely tied to freedoms for choosing when and where to hunt. Scouting and finding birds on my own figured quite large over my career. The urge to explore and find adventure in pursuit of game is of paramount importance...

Tod So that everyone knows, R3 is recruit, retain, and reactivate. I think differently on this matter, perhaps. Government policies and programs are huge drivers in funding for wildlife conservation including research, management, land preservation, etc.. The only way this happens is if...

RM I'll have to ask my son about that. I know he is a member of Delta and DU, but I've never really thought about his peer's tendencies along these lines. Interesting.

Rick I'm going to remember that quote because it is both ironic and true. I feel for the folks that have hunted Ark WMAs for many years. The changes are stark. Thomas commented to me just last night that his memories from going there as a kid are quite different than today's experience...

Scott That is the best AA Broadbill refurb I can remember. I look forward to a sea trial report. Thank you very much for sharing this project with us. For certain it will be referred to many times in the coming years by other Broadbill owners whose boats need repair work. You have set a...

Jeff In a perfect duck hunting world everybody would have a Devlin Broadbill. I have said it many times to my hunting partners and here, if everyone showed up at the ramp with their own sneak boat instead of multiple guys in jon boats you'd have more fun and be more successful.

Rick I really appreciate your words on this matter. You have given this plenty of thought. Like you and Tod I have also seen significant hunter utilization increase on public hunting grounds. Unlike the nationwide trend of fewer duck hunters our state stamp sales have kept up with the...

Rick You'd be the talk of the town for sailing a Barnegat around Bayou Meto during duck season.

Carl I was in Mobile in February and drove over the Mobile Bay causeway. I did not see one duck. I only saw a couple blind remnants. It looks like the ducks are gone along with the hunters. Back in the 80s there were signs of duck hunting everywhere. They are no more. I wonder if the...

An oven in the basement? I've seen kilns in basements but not too many ovens. What were they cooking down there?

RM I haven't heard of any studies that add credence to flyway shift theories. I think we are dealing with dry prairies, poor habitat, low breeding populations, small fall flights, changed agriculture practices, and an old bird population that knows how to utilize the refuge system and move at...

Tod Looking back the golden age in my lifetime was the mid 90s. The factors were (1) Water returned to the prairies and duck numbers exploded. (2) Hunter numbers nationwide were still low from the late 80s losses (small bag short season). (3) North Alabama hunter numbers were a fraction of...

Dave I think you just enjoy a little space to yourself without lottery winners crowding you. That's how I am.

Tod Have you considered lighting the floor instead?