Wisconsin 2024

[hdshot]

Wisconsin survey talking about mallards.

“The decline in mallards has concerned many wildlife biologists and hunters, though.”

“To further highlight the mallard decline, in 2023 the California and Oregon mallard estimates were 39% and 23%, respectively, below their long-term averages and Michigan was down 41% year-over-year and 75% below the long-term average (1991–2022), according to the USFWS.”

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/columnists/paul-smith/2024/07/03/2024-wisconsin-breeding-waterfowl-survey-showed-an-8-drop-in-mallards/74289728007/

[metlhead]

Sure glad I don't hunt in those states.

[hdshot]

Sure glad I don't hunt in those states.

Ahhh, mallards are migratory so you don’t have to hunt other states. Just hoping the current trends reported will reverse very soon because it is a must other states and countries have them.

[metlhead]

In a breeding survey, CA and OR have no bearing on overall poulation trends for migratory birds. If it is a migratory study, then those states show low numbers because winter here is mostly favorable and birds stay up north. Kinda why we kill a lot of them all season. We look forward to BC storms. Folks to the south need much more.

[hdshot]

In a breeding survey, CA and OR have no bearing on overall poulation trends for migratory birds. If it is a migratory study, then those states show low numbers because winter here is mostly favorable and birds stay up north. Kinda why we kill a lot of them all season. We look forward to BC storms. Folks to the south need much more.

Oh really, so must of been a miss print when I got a band from a mallard drake that was too young to fly when banded down there in Northern California.  The trends being reported are not good, but you have to care to understand. That is why they are called surveys to study trends.  Your saying ducks on average is no different that zero in these states?  Lmao, go tell local waterfowl hunters in these other states their ducks don’t matter.

[metlhead]

Positive I don't understand your zero comment. One band means one duck migrated and is now dead. I've not read amything that shows waterfowl far to the south significantly adds to the migratoey flock that passes through WA. If so I'd love to see it and base opinion on added facts.

[hdshot]

Positive I don't understand your zero comment. One band means one duck migrated and is now dead. I've not read amything that shows waterfowl far to the south significantly adds to the migratoey flock that passes through WA. If so I'd love to see it and base opinion on added facts.

You said no bearing and that means zero. Again you are too focused on numbers not trends that surveys show.  Yes late season and spring time can produce great migrations from the south so they better keep the habit down there.  I just can’t figure out why it is so hard to understand the term migratory.  Just because a duck is hatched in California doesn’t mean it will stay in California.  It could breed someday in Canada or even in your honey hole. Why you ask? Because they are migratory.

[metlhead]

I ask for actual statistics so that I can develop a more informed opinion about the effect on WA mallards due to downward trends in OR/breeding  pairs. You have created a Debbie Downer reputation for yourself on this site leading most folks to not engage in conversation. I however in the field see the opposite of the info you publish. The Feds that set seasons and limits use nationwide trends and have yet to reflect any mallard reduction into WA limits. The news from our southern neighbors is not great but neither is it dire. For now I'm gonna hammer the mallards and let the chicken little pass.

[hdshot]

I ask for actual statistics so that I can develop a more informed opinion about the effect on WA mallards due to downward trends in OR/breeding  pairs. You have created a Debbie Downer reputation for yourself on this site leading most folks to not engage in conversation. I however in the field see the opposite of the info you publish. The Feds that set seasons and limits use nationwide trends and have yet to reflect any mallard reduction into WA limits. The news from our southern neighbors is not great but neither is it dire. For now I'm gonna hammer the mallards and let the chicken little pass.

Why do you want facts when you produced no facts other states have no bearing? Just sharing what the experts are reporting, not creating debate or conversation with others, just simple information out there to read that reflects our sport from the boots on the ground. 

[hdshot]

Guess we heard it here first,  some believe breeding waterfowl in other areas have no bearing.  Never heard that one before especially for the factor of being migratory.

[hdshot]

A song bird nest I left alone and a tamarack that didn’t have a chance I relocated last fall.  Oh sorry I guess that has no bearing whatsoever what hunters do.

[hdshot]

Forgot before the hatch if it matters?

[hdshot]

I ask for actual statistics so that I can develop a more informed opinion about the effect on WA mallards due to downward trends in OR/breeding  pairs. You have created a Debbie Downer reputation for yourself on this site leading most folks to not engage in conversation. I however in the field see the opposite of the info you publish. The Feds that set seasons and limits use nationwide trends and have yet to reflect any mallard reduction into WA limits. The news from our southern neighbors is not great but neither is it dire. For now I'm gonna hammer the mallards and let the chicken little pass.

Never even mentioned anything about limits and copy paste links is sharing not publishing.  Seem sad you might be trying to sell hype because can’t sell after the facts in this sport.

I understand, my former hunting partner was a loser at his own game probably scared might having to pay more for licensing fees to hunt with his free guides if the hype dies.  I’m not scared because the better education we are on the basics will only do good, not punishing.

[hdshot]

Also if you use experience, hunters showed frustration of man made corn ponds frequently on here because claimed they were struggling even with good breeding surveys at the time. Now we don’t hear much about corn ponds, might be a strong indicator they moved on from waterfowl hunting all together.