Free: Contests & Raffles.
1.The nesting success rate necessary to maintain duck populations depends on other factors such as hen survival rates, brood survival rates, and nesting rates. For example, lower nesting success rates can sustain populations in an area if brood survival or female survival rates are higher. 2.Most research suggests that 15% nesting success is necessary to maintain mallard populations. Other species such as pintails and blue-winged teal require 20% to maintain populations because they don’t normally re-nest as readily if their first nest fails. 3.Although 15% nesting success might seem low, ducks have experienced high predation rates for thousands of generations, even when breeding areas were completely natural. Re-nesting is a critical adaptation to allow the birds to overcome the effects of normally low nest success rates.
Hen mortality - On average, 25 percent (within a range of 15 to 46 percent) of radio-marked hens, mostly birds with active nests, die during the breeding season.This grim statistic surprised us and spurred increased attention to actions that might reduce summer hen mortality. Unlike in the Dakota grasslands, where foxes are the main killers of nesting ducks, red-tailed hawks and great horned owls also are important predators in Canada's parklands.
I never worry about getting a limit of ducks. I'm not going to starve if I don't get a limit. Generally we try to shoot drakes, we end up with a few hens. This time of year when there are so many young drakes it's really tough to tell!
There have been many studies that show the optimum ratio of drakes to hens is slightly about 50% and there is no need to limit the number of hens in the daily bag.The hen will seek out extra pair copulation (that’s right, she’s a slut) when breeding conditions are best. This helps ensure a good mix of genetics in her broods. Too many hens leads to small broods and inferior genetics, too many drakes results in forced extra pair copulation (rape) which stresses the hens and can lead to small broods or abandoned broods.There used to be hen restrictions on most species, now it is primarily mallards and this is do more to tradition and hunter preference than it is to biology.I shoot hens without shame or remorse, they don’t look as cool as the drakes but they taste just as good, if not better.
i don't like shooting hens but i do, if i had better opportunities and more birds in my area i would only pick out drakes, (which i try to often) but it difficult to find good areas on the westside when you don't have access to as much area or a boat.
Quote from: Wtrfowlr62 on October 20, 2011, 07:51:57 AMi don't like shooting hens but i do, if i had better opportunities and more birds in my area i would only pick out drakes, (which i try to often) but it difficult to find good areas on the westside when you don't have access to as much area or a boat. I live in castle rock and hunt on the Columbia and every time I go out I see more and more no hunting signs! On the westside you take what is given or you take nothing.
If I have the choice I'd shoot drakes and nothing else, but they allow two brownies for a reason, so if its slow and its brown, knock it down.
sometimes it does pay off.. got my first band this mornin'! Hen Mallard!Band number: 1797-69327Species: MALLARDDate banded: 08/23/2011Banding Location: NEAR EDISON, SKAGIT COUNTY, WASHINGTON, USAAge: HATCHED IN 2011Sex: FEMALE
