The Duck Distribution Problem | ep. 64

“Where are the ducks!?”

You want answers and we don’t blame you. This episode explores some hard truths affecting where and when ducks arrive in the southern United States. Our expert panel includes host, Joel Brice, Chief Conservation Officer, with guests John Devney, Chief Policy Officer, Dr. Frank Rohwer, president and chief scientist of Delta Waterfowl, and Dr. Chris Nicolai, waterfowl scientist.

You've been asking. We've heard you. There are five key parts of duck distribution:

Duck Production – When conditions are dry on the prairies, like they’ve been for years now, few ducks are produced. That means there are fewer juvenile birds in the fall flight.  Birds of the year are easier to hunt, so the overall numbers seen and taken drops.

Weather Variability – We talk to long-time hunters and farmers in Canada and the Dakotas. They tell us it’s staying warmer, longer in the north country. Here in North Dakota, it used to be 50/50 whether we’d be frozen out by Halloween. Now the water commonly remains wide open and fields stay bare of snow until Thanksgiving, even Christmas. Ducks are staying north longer.

Changes in Agriculture – There’s a lot of internet chatter about migrations and wintering areas shifting, but the data mostly shows otherwise. However, in the core wintering areas, agricultural practices have changed and that impacts exactly where within those areas those the birds hang out. 

Public Land Issues – Public lands – HISTORICALLY FAMOUS places to provide habitat and high quality hunting opportunities [BM1] – are falling to ruin due to declining resources for maintenance and management. On the other hand, private lands are being managed more beneficially than ever, so that too impacts where ducks spend their time.

Hunter Expectations and Regulations –At Delta WE ARE THE DUCK HUNTERS ORGANIZATION. We understand expectations are influenced by what you’ve experienced, the kind of seasons you’ve lived through, the variety of regulations you’ve hunted under in your lifetime, and – today – by social media. What you’ve personally lived through determines what YOU consider a LOUSY duck season or a GREAT one.

The dedicated team at Delta doesn’t take any of this lightly. We’re digging in, and doing the analysis.

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