Lou Tisch
Well-known member
Waterfowl population estimates up for all species
Saturday, August 04, 2007
By Bob Gwizdz
The forecast for waterfowl hunters this year is just ducky.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife's annual survey estimated a total of 41.2 million ducks, a 14 percent increase from last year and 24 percent above the long-term (1955 to present) average.
Population estimates are up for all species.
"If you look at specific areas, you'll find some areas where things were down, but on a continental scale, everything looks pretty good," said David Luukkonen, the Department of Natural Resources' representative on the Mississippi Flyway Council.
Both the number of mallards and the number of ponds on the prairies, the determining factors for setting hunting regulations under the service's Adaptive Harvest Strategy, have increased.
"I would be very surprised if it isn't a liberal season," Luukkonen said.
That means duck hunters should get 60 days with a six-bird bag limit.
The feds estimate the mallard population at 8 million, 10 percent above last year and 7 percent above the long-term average. Meanwhile, prairie pond numbers are up 15 percent from last year and 44 over the long-term.
In addition, the survey estimated a record number of canvasbacks -- nearly 900,000 -- and Luukkonen said he expects proposals to double the daily bag from one to two birds.
The survey estimated a record number of redheads (around a million) and a near-record number of green-winged teal (2.9 million).
Luukkonen is also heartened that populations of both bluebill and black ducks -- two species of concern -- were estimated higher as well.
"We always worry a little bit in Michigan about hunter expectations based on these surveys because we don't get that many birds from the prairies. But this year, things look real good even in the eastern area," he said. "This is the second year of good conditions in the Hudson Bay lowlands. We probably get more ducks from there than we do from the prairies. Most of our pintails come from there. That looks real good for Michigan hunters.
"That's pretty exciting, as far as I'm concerned."
To make matters better, local mallard numbers were up 41 percent from last year, though the population remains below the long-term (1992-2006, in the Michigan survey) average. Roughly half the mallards bagged in Michigan are produced in the Great Lakes Basin.
Goose populations are on the rise as well. The feds estimate a 5 percent increase in Mississippi Valley Population Canadas, a stable South James Bay Population flock, and a 17 percent increase in local Giant Canadas, putting their numbers near the upper limit of DNR population goals.
"Everything looks pretty nice," Luukkonen said.
The Natural Resources Commission will soon set preliminary seasons, expected to be similar to last year. But the seasons won't be finalized until September, after federal officials sign off on Michigan's regulations.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
By Bob Gwizdz
The forecast for waterfowl hunters this year is just ducky.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife's annual survey estimated a total of 41.2 million ducks, a 14 percent increase from last year and 24 percent above the long-term (1955 to present) average.
Population estimates are up for all species.
"If you look at specific areas, you'll find some areas where things were down, but on a continental scale, everything looks pretty good," said David Luukkonen, the Department of Natural Resources' representative on the Mississippi Flyway Council.
Both the number of mallards and the number of ponds on the prairies, the determining factors for setting hunting regulations under the service's Adaptive Harvest Strategy, have increased.
"I would be very surprised if it isn't a liberal season," Luukkonen said.
That means duck hunters should get 60 days with a six-bird bag limit.
The feds estimate the mallard population at 8 million, 10 percent above last year and 7 percent above the long-term average. Meanwhile, prairie pond numbers are up 15 percent from last year and 44 over the long-term.
In addition, the survey estimated a record number of canvasbacks -- nearly 900,000 -- and Luukkonen said he expects proposals to double the daily bag from one to two birds.
The survey estimated a record number of redheads (around a million) and a near-record number of green-winged teal (2.9 million).
Luukkonen is also heartened that populations of both bluebill and black ducks -- two species of concern -- were estimated higher as well.
"We always worry a little bit in Michigan about hunter expectations based on these surveys because we don't get that many birds from the prairies. But this year, things look real good even in the eastern area," he said. "This is the second year of good conditions in the Hudson Bay lowlands. We probably get more ducks from there than we do from the prairies. Most of our pintails come from there. That looks real good for Michigan hunters.
"That's pretty exciting, as far as I'm concerned."
To make matters better, local mallard numbers were up 41 percent from last year, though the population remains below the long-term (1992-2006, in the Michigan survey) average. Roughly half the mallards bagged in Michigan are produced in the Great Lakes Basin.
Goose populations are on the rise as well. The feds estimate a 5 percent increase in Mississippi Valley Population Canadas, a stable South James Bay Population flock, and a 17 percent increase in local Giant Canadas, putting their numbers near the upper limit of DNR population goals.
"Everything looks pretty nice," Luukkonen said.
The Natural Resources Commission will soon set preliminary seasons, expected to be similar to last year. But the seasons won't be finalized until September, after federal officials sign off on Michigan's regulations.