Potential new rule for limits in MN

Mark W said:
Jusr curious on everyones thoughts on a new proposal being tossed around in MN. They are going to give hunters two options when purchasing a license. Option 1 - Limit of 3 ducks/day or any type and any sex. Option 2 - 6 duck/day limit but keep old limitations on 2 hen mallards/day, 4 mallards total/day, 3 wood duck and so on.

With the exception of opening weekend, it is rare for me to ever shoot a full limit anymore. I think I will stick to the option 2.

Is this new proposal good, or bad, for ducks do you think?

Mark
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All~

No great insights here, but... I first heard this idea back in the early '80s? As this old brain dimly recalls, I think the "No ID Required" bag was 2 per day. "Traditional" bag was around 4 back then - at least in the Atlantic Flyway.

All the best,

SJS
 
Vince Pagliaroli said:
Where? At all the places that are no longer there or open to hunting. If I began a list it would be a long one. Development, McMansions and leased areas to hunt Big Antlers are just a few reasons. There is a huge Outlet Mall where we used to hunt waterfowl, upland birds, small game, and doves. Do not get me started about the reclaimed strip mines that held divers, puddle ducks and geese. All ya had to do was Ask and mabbee do some work to get permission to hunt.

We did not have to drive hours to hunt what was in season, it was all close by. Nor did it cost a small fortune to do it. Gas, Ammo, Coffee and some Grub and we were in business. Seasons were long and bags not large yet we missed very few days. It was a grand time to be a young hunter. We kept our guns and gear in our vehicles to go before and after school. College, ya took classes that did not infringe upon hunting time. We had our priorities straight.
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Yeah, I forget how lucky I am with Maine's expansive public access and still mostly rural character. I have lost a favorite spot of mine to a new development on a steep eroding slope that required a massive rip rap retaining wall to (temporarily) protect the new houses from ongoing erosion that will get worse with sea-level rise, but only one. But I'd say that if the problem with hunter recruitment is opportunity--and damned cell phone in their hands, and the much more scheduled nature of their lives than I had at their age--then changing bag limit and duck ID rules won't do anything to address it.
 
benp said:
Along with what others have said where while the participant numbers have declined, the share of the pie has declined more rapidly. Between land being posted, leased by outfitters, developed, or just maintained poorly as in places Eric talks about there is a squeeze on huntable areas.

Another thing to consider is the type of hunters there are. For the most part I don't know of many casual hunters anymore. There would always be the crowd, typically older, that would go only a few times a year or would just go to hang out with friends and tell stories or help the younger generation. The new thing with hunting, especially with western big game, is you have to keep hammering, whack em and stack em, got to get out for the gram followers, and try to beat everyone else instead of being happy for others when they succeed in a hunt.
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Yes, the big groups are a definite thing. I have another spot that's not lost, but that used to be a great place to sneak in early for a quick hunt when the tide was right. Solo or with no more than three hunters, there was a perfect natural blind in trees at the downstream end of an island, and a handful of teal and black duck decoys on one side and maybe a few geese on the other were pretty likely to draw some attention on an incoming tide. I have not hunted in two years, because there is a large group that usually includes at least 2 boats and 5 people, and they arrive 2 hours before sunrise, light up the entire marsh with halogen lights on both boats, and set up a spread that usually seems to include several dozen decoys and multiple spinners/butt squirters/other motorized attractors. And then they spread the gunners out in three different pop up blinds--one over each motion decoy. They were there so many times when I tried to hunt it that I have just given it up. It's mostly young guys in their 20's and good on them for getting into it hard, but I just can't imagine wanting that kind of a big crowd on a hunt, much less wanting to do it in the same spot over and over during the season. It's enough to make a guy take up deer hunting!
 
I guess it wasn’t that long ago I was getting into hunting in my late teens/early twenties. No mentor, my dad had gone a small handful of times when he was younger, those spots are entirely developed now.
Not to detract from the original thread with my central MD problems, but I seriously doubt I would have got into waterfowl if I didn’t already have a boat from fishing.
I think I’ve watched a lot of people my age loose interest because there’s almost no access around here. Archery-deer only, daily reservation required is pretty common.
Used to have a few neighbors with goose pits in easy walking distance, but those are all apartments now.
In short, I think the 3 bird opinion may have put my mind at ease in my first season or two, but absolutely no way it would have affected my participation🤣 The hunters safety course alone might be a bigger barrier to entry.
 
benp said:
that's funny, it's actually one of the reasons I have taken more to deer hunting the last few years.
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Ben,

I learned long ago ya hunt what there IS not what there Isn't. For most of my many years waterfowling deer hunting was taking a few days off from waterfowling to fill the freezer with venison. Things have somewhat reversed after staring at empty skies most times in the East. Deer seasons here in NY are long and many types of seasons with plenty of tags. It gets me Out There from Oct. 1st to Jan. 1st, and seldom do I not see deer. IF I touch the trigger is up to me. Plus you would be amazed at the waterfowl one see's and discovers during hunting deer on the ground. We are always on the Look Out, that does not change no matter how old we get.

Best regards
Vince
 
Chris Hughes said:
I know that our state of Connecticut is looking at the two tier season....
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Guess I should have anticipated it. I have very little confidence in those currently making decisions on waterfowl regs in CT. Just a gimmick to make a mess of things.

I agree in general with what nick said. While hunter safety courses are a good thing, in the northeastern states I hunt its typically a problem for a new hunter to find one. There aren't enough, and they fill fast. I can't but think its part of a plan to discourage as many newbies as possible.
 
SJ Fairbank said:
Guess I should have anticipated it. I have very little confidence in those currently making decisions on waterfowl regs in CT. Just a gimmick to make a mess of things.

I agree in general with what nick said. While hunter safety courses are a good thing, in the northeastern states I hunt its typically a problem for a new hunter to find one. There aren't enough, and they fill fast. I can't but think its part of a plan to discourage as many newbies as possible.
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You can do hunter safety for firearms online in Maine. I think bow and trapping require an in-person course. Several coming up in my area.
 
I do want to add, Im not against the hunter safety requirement at all, just that I don’t see anyone going through it, and then being dissuaded by having to identify the ducks (heck, they almost don’t have to if they stop before the limit).
Not sure if every state has an apprentice license? I did bring along maybe two guys who got those.
 
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