Duck Numbers are Up - But Next Year?

Duck numbers look up this fall in the Dakotas and in the prairie provinces of Canada.  An increase in the spring rains seems to be the reason the duck numbers are looking good.  More water in the ponds and water holes resulted in an increase in duck production.

According to the Star Tribune, "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that both brood numbers and brood sizes seem to be greater than in 2004 in North Dakota. Additionally, successful rearing of young ducks was confirmed in northern North Dakota by banding teams that reported capturing good numbers of juvenile birds."

As the duck season opens in Minnesota, duck numbers are looking fair, with a possible increase to be expected later in the season as migration begins.  About 70 percent of ducks shot in the state by hunters originate from outside Minnesota.

Duck numbers for next year are any one's guess.  The Louisiana coastal wetlands have been devastated from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Marshlands are destroyed, and lakes have been polluted. One fourth of North American ducks overwinter in these areas.  The impact of this devastation on our duck populations has not yet been estimated.

Resources:
For duck hunters there are options: traveling, waiting http://www.startribune.com/stories/531/5632265.html
Carlson column: Duck hunters should be optimistic http://miva.sctimes.com/miva/cgi-bin/miva?Web/page.mv+1+sports+244792

Submitted by Lisa - Wednesday, September 28, 2005 22:49:01

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