Survey in ?

[hdshot]

Glancing at the article they need a breeding survey to determine if the season will even open.  Sounds like the annual waterfowl survey could be in serious jeopardy and yes about covid causing a two year pause which had nothing to do with current slashing of budgets. High possibility someone will write off to keep season with little to no survey results. 

https://www.fieldandstream.com/hunting/doge-cuts-impact-waterfowl-survey

[Mikey The Cat]

DOGE firings at NOAA could affect steelhead and salmon hatcheries and fisheries. DOGE firings at DOI and USFWS could affect the migratory bird season setting process. No one knows. Not NOAA. Not DOI or USFWS. Least of all the White House. It's going to be an "interesting" 44 months...

[hdshot]

DOGE firings at NOAA could affect steelhead and salmon hatcheries and fisheries. DOGE firings at DOI and USFWS could affect the migratory bird season setting process. No one knows. Not NOAA. Not DOI or USFWS. Least of all the White House. It's going to be an "interesting" 44 months...

Feels like they know we just don’t have the cards anymore.  Earned my hunters ed card back in 86 and seen a lot of losses with never getting any of it back in the waterfowl world. 

[Mikey The Cat]

I can't say that, sir. I got my Hunter Ed card from the late Bruce Knodel (Ohio) in 1972. Took it with my father. Killed my first fox squirrel that year...and have spent the past 53 years enjoying the Outdoors. Had incredible duck seasons. Had slow duck seasons. Have had the opportunity to see and do things and go places I never would have had it not been for migratory fowl. Best of all has been meeting the people.

I, too, have seen a lot of changes. The swamp where I killed my first duck in '74 is gone. The farm where I killed my first rooster pheasant is a Walmart. The ground where I killed my first WA Merriams is homes. Same story with the timber where I killed my first whitetail. The Ohio DFW, Washington DFW, Missouri, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, Illinois...owe me nothing. They've provided the opportunity -

I'm 60. Ain't done yet, but it's been a hell of a ride thus far. I can't honestly complain -

[BD1]

  a Hell Yes and an AMEN to that 

[tracksoup]

I can't say that, sir. I got my Hunter Ed card from the late Bruce Knodel (Ohio) in 1972. Took it with my father. Killed my first fox squirrel that year...and have spent the past 53 years enjoying the Outdoors. Had incredible duck seasons. Had slow duck seasons. Have had the opportunity to see and do things and go places I never would have had it not been for migratory fowl. Best of all has been meeting the people.

I, too, have seen a lot of changes. The swamp where I killed my first duck in '74 is gone. The farm where I killed my first rooster pheasant is a Walmart. The ground where I killed my first WA Merriams is homes. Same story with the timber where I killed my first whitetail. The Ohio DFW, Washington DFW, Missouri, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, Illinois...owe me nothing. They've provided the opportunity -

I'm 60. Ain't done yet, but it's been a hell of a ride thus far. I can't honestly complain -

I Love this!!! The glasses half fulll.

[hdshot]

I can't say that, sir. I got my Hunter Ed card from the late Bruce Knodel (Ohio) in 1972. Took it with my father. Killed my first fox squirrel that year...and have spent the past 53 years enjoying the Outdoors. Had incredible duck seasons. Had slow duck seasons. Have had the opportunity to see and do things and go places I never would have had it not been for migratory fowl. Best of all has been meeting the people.

I, too, have seen a lot of changes. The swamp where I killed my first duck in '74 is gone. The farm where I killed my first rooster pheasant is a Walmart. The ground where I killed my first WA Merriams is homes. Same story with the timber where I killed my first whitetail. The Ohio DFW, Washington DFW, Missouri, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, Illinois...owe me nothing. They've provided the opportunity -

I'm 60. Ain't done yet, but it's been a hell of a ride thus far. I can't honestly complain -

One hell of a ride for sure! Unfortunately a lot less the of future won’t have nearly the memories we currently have especially from the general public areas. 

[Stein]

Unfortunately the anti-crowd may be able to simply sue to keep fishing and hunting seasons closed if there are any deficiencies real or perceived they can find.

[hdshot]

I can't say that, sir. I got my Hunter Ed card from the late Bruce Knodel (Ohio) in 1972. Took it with my father. Killed my first fox squirrel that year...and have spent the past 53 years enjoying the Outdoors. Had incredible duck seasons. Had slow duck seasons. Have had the opportunity to see and do things and go places I never would have had it not been for migratory fowl. Best of all has been meeting the people.

I, too, have seen a lot of changes. The swamp where I killed my first duck in '74 is gone. The farm where I killed my first rooster pheasant is a Walmart. The ground where I killed my first WA Merriams is homes. Same story with the timber where I killed my first whitetail. The Ohio DFW, Washington DFW, Missouri, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, Illinois...owe me nothing. They've provided the opportunity -

I'm 60. Ain't done yet, but it's been a hell of a ride thus far. I can't honestly complain -

Now we are going to have to be finger printed like a criminal to just buy a shotgun for waterfowl hunting soon.  Unfortunately one main cause other sportsmen like my former hunting partner telling fellow sportsmen to go kick rocks.  Now his poor attitude towards our sport like many others have put themselves into political crossfire even deeper. Proven many times here staying informed acting as messenger only but treated as being a negative. 

[metlhead]

Ducks ain't got fingerprints!

[BD1]

 

[hdshot]

Ducks ain't got fingerprints!

You do and that’s the problem.

“The application must include a complete set of fingerprints taken by the local law enforcement”.

https://www.king5.com/article/news/politics/state-politics/permit-to-purchase-firearm-gun-washington-state-law-bob-gerguson/281-cf7eff84-24ed-4858-a1b0-25196a3ea0fa

[hdshot]

This guy is not laughing.

[metlhead]

Watched it. Still didn't see anything about ducks getting fingerprinted.

[hdshot]

Watched it. Still didn't see anything about ducks getting fingerprinted.

You didn’t read it and that’s another problem.

[metlhead]

Cripes! My bad. I misunderstood the topic and wandered down the bunny hole. Since the sky in my world is aloft I'll mind today's biz and get back to stockpiling low price waterfowl ammo and paintin dekes. Gonna knock the piss outa them this season

[hdshot]

Cripes! My bad. I misunderstood the topic and wandered down the bunny hole. Since the sky in my world is aloft I'll mind today's biz and get back to stockpiling low price waterfowl ammo and paintin dekes. Gonna knock the piss outa them this season

That’s another problem, too many people like my former hunting friend went down that bunny hole believing and not thinking. 

Visited with people who live out of state over the weekend about our new gun laws.  Of course they ended with a joke saying, look at the bright side, if you know someone turning 18 you can take them in for fingerprinting on their birthday and pay the fee as their birthday gift.  Was an eye opener.

[metlhead]

You visited folks and spent time
 talking about our gun laws? Easy to see why you happen to have such a negative outlook on outdoor life. Next time meet at the river for all day fishing and just enjoy. Don't talk. Full weekend ahead for us. Gonna blaze away some dat evil ammo too

[hdshot]

You visited folks and spent time
 talking about our gun laws? Easy to see why you happen to have such a negative outlook on outdoor life. Next time meet at the river for all day fishing and just enjoy. Don't talk. Full weekend ahead for us. Gonna blaze away some dat evil ammo too

Gun laws will have a very negative impact on the shooting sports for the future. Idk how fishing has anything to do with this subject unless you’re thinking fishing poles will someday be the only thing we can take to the river? 

[metlhead]

I choose to enjoy my time and converse with friends about great things. Fishing is a great setting for that. When time comes that our outdoor sports are no more, I will have tales to tell that challenge the imagination and burst bellies with laughter. Thousands of photos for spice. Amid the decline I went out and did it. Will your stories just be of complaint? Can't imagine what a photo of that looks like. Yes, waterfowl  numbers falling sucks. So does nuclear war but we managed to get by for decades with that looming. As an anti-hunter, you've trolled enough that most folks just ignore the posts. Just fuels my desire to get more folks out and make more memories.

[hdshot]

I choose to enjoy my time and converse with friends about great things. Fishing is a great setting for that. When time comes that our outdoor sports are no more, I will have tales to tell that challenge the imagination and burst bellies with laughter. Thousands of photos for spice. Amid the decline I went out and did it. Will your stories just be of complaint? Can't imagine what a photo of that looks like. Yes, waterfowl  numbers falling sucks. So does nuclear war but we managed to get by for decades with that looming. As an anti-hunter, you've trolled enough that most folks just ignore the posts. Just fuels my desire to get more folks out and make more memories.

Over 100k views shows nothing ignored.  What makes your definition of an anti? 

[metlhead]

My bad. Shoulda said non-hunter. Views are cute. Comments are crickets

[hdshot]

My bad. Shoulda said non-hunter. Views are cute. Comments are crickets

Here is what delta is saying. 

“Unfortunately, the direction we're going right now is smaller and smaller fall flights.”

https://deltawaterfowl.org/whats-new/news/north-dakota-breeding-waterfowl-survey-shows-drier-wetland-conditions-fewer-ducks/

[hdshot]

Looks like the main survey was conducted this year. Only field reports available and sounded discouraging.  Prolonged drought still causing issues and lots of seasonal wetlands remained dry.  Even lack of groundwater was mentioned with many breeding areas described as poor.  Good pockets of fowl were found and got the feeling flocked up like we see in fall and winter.  Hopefully the main results will be a lot better and might after most of the winter was mild.

https://www.fws.gov/story/2025-07/2025-waterfowl-breeding-population-and-habitat-survey-field-reports