Other Hunting > Waterfowl

Mallard numbers?

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hdshot:
Any predictions on mallard numbers this fall or breeding mallards going into 2024 breeding season?  As a waterfowl enthusiast and hunter, hoping for at least 2016 numbers of almost 12 million mallards instead of the disappointing number of just over 7 million reported by DU last year.

metlhead:
No idea about overall numbers, But I have heard it to be lower this season. Plenty came home with us this year that won't be making a return trip and I expect it'll be the same '23-'24.

C-Money:
Mallards were hit or miss for us. We noticed where we usually see good numbers of them, their weren't any. We had a few locations we hunt that consistently had mallards. Other places was a mixed bag of gadwall & teal. We had a great season, but mallards were sketchy for us. Would love to see the numbers of the old days!!

hdshot:

--- Quote from: C-Money on March 02, 2023, 07:54:36 AM ---Mallards were hit or miss for us. We noticed where we usually see good numbers of them, their weren't any. We had a few locations we hunt that consistently had mallards. Other places was a mixed bag of gadwall & teal. We had a great season, but mallards were sketchy for us. Would love to see the numbers of the old days!!

--- End quote ---

The good days of mallards on public land was so good I got tired of filling the freezer and got into goose.  Almost 5 million less mallards in just 6 years makes it very difficult for the 9 to fiver family public hunter to find them.  Maybe another boom is coming since California is saved with all that water and snow now they claimed have missed. Hope drakes don't like those California hens!

hdshot:
Did some in state traveling the past two weekends and seen a lot of sheet water and maybe only 5 mallards. Just remember as a kid easily seeing hundreds per sheet and on the wing.  The way they landed and skied across the shallows gave me the bug for waterfowl hunting riding with mom across the eastern part of the state to grandma's house.  My dad chased pheasants but can say Mom is who got me into the ducks and geese. Today looking at those blank ponds probably is doing nothing to get today's generation into the waterfowl hunt. 

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