2018 Waterfowl Survey Results

Boy, Brad leaves and the numbers fall. Coincidence? I think not! C'mon Brad, where did you put those ducks? We'd like them back.
 
I?m in Canada Eric. I can assure you there are ducks here and they?ll fly your way soon. But I didn?t hide them.
 
Fed Report:
https://www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/reports-and-publications/population-status.php

Black Ducks:
A time series for assessing changes in American black duck (Anas rubripes) population status is provided by the breeding waterfowl surveys conducted by the USFWS and CWS in the eastern survey area. The 2018 estimate of American black ducks in the eastern survey area was
0.7 ? 0.07 million, which was similar to last year?s estimate of 0.8 ? 0.09 million but 20% below the 1998?2017 average.

Scaup numbers arent encouraging but still in the moderate season range:
The combined estimate of lesser and greater scaup (A. afnis and A. marila;
4.0?0.2 million) was similar to the 2017 estimate and 20% below the long-term average of 5.0?0.04 million.



View attachment Scaup2018.jpg
 
The lower gadwall numbers is pretty interesting. I've seen (and harvested) more of them every year the last five to six seasons.
 
Craig F said:
The lower gadwall numbers is pretty interesting. I've seen (and harvested) more of them every year the last five to six seasons.
Click to expand...

When I moved back home to Illinois in the late 90's Gadwall were the go to bird around here. The Mississippi flyway has changed a lot over of the years. From about 2003/2004 we have seen fewer and fewer Gadwall here. It is interesting to see the graphs through the years. I was talking to another hunter recently I grew up with and in 1970 when we had a point system the population survey showed just over 35 million total ducks and today it's just over 41 million. Another interesting read.

http://www.ducks.org/hunting/duck-hunting-stories/how-good-were-the-good-old-days
 
Same here:
From 1997 to 2003, limits of gadwalls was almost easy. The we started seeing fewer and fewer. I think migration patterns changed. They seem to be staying farther north and east.
 

Less habitat = different migration patterns. We know that.

The birds gotta eat, good water, grit, and places to roost.

The old flyway divisions (really not that old) are outdated. They served good purpose when birds and waterfowl hunters were aplenty.

With the new changes in regulations, it is foreseeable that flyway's will be blended, with new migration patterns, etc.

To the birds, flyways mean SQUAT.

Ya live long enough, and hunt long enough, you witness the changes.


Study the old decoys, and you will see how the hunters adjusted to these changes. It's as old as mankind.

Gray Ducks are damn fine waterfowl, and in my book WAY better than "Atlantic Flyway" mallets/farm ducks.

When habitat went to hell, the Atlantic flyway began to raise and release Mallards. Short term fix, that has now come home to roost.


The new season will be what is shall be, and God Willing we will be able to be there there, and witness it.
 
Vince,
I've hunted those raise and release places on the east coast...not the same as real hunting. its a method to get to shoot birds but I didn't feel like I had accomplished much. i'd rather adapt and hunt them where they want to be.
 
M. Schulz said:
Vince,
I've hunted those raise and release places on the east coast...not the same as real hunting. its a method to get to shoot birds but I didn't feel like I had accomplished much. i'd rather adapt and hunt them where they want to be.
Click to expand...


Some states raised Mallards, and then released them prior to the season. PA stopped the practice many years ago to help save the Black Duck. Not so funny was after PA stopped, other states in the Atlantic Flyway continued. There was a entire generation of waterfowlers that reaped the harvest of those birds. It did not take the birds long to wise up, and their offspring to prosper. Now the worm has turned, and a two Mallard limit is in the future.

Waterfowlers adapt to the changes in populations, and the birds that show up over their rigs. Decoys can always be repainted to become whats needed. It's all part of the deal.
 
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