Most species prized by hunters are above long-term population
averages.
JEFFERSON CITY-North American waterfowl biologists are predicting the
fifth-largest fall flight of ducks and geese in more than 50 years. That
is good news for Missouri hunters, but weather will play a critical role
in determining their success.
When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bird Regulations
Committee met in August to develop 2007-2008 migratory game bird hunting
regulations they decided on liberal regulations, with 60 days of hunting
in the Mississippi Flyway. The reason is simple - good news about almost
every duck and goose species.
Water conditions were favorable for ducks in their northern breeding areas
for the third consecutive year. This contributed to increases in the
numbers of breeding birds for most duck species.
Duck numbers were up 52 percent in the eastern portions of North Dakota
and South Dakota compared to 2006, and 86 percent above the average number
seen each year since 1955. Overall numbers of breeding ducks totaled 41.2
million. That is 14 percent more than in 2006 and 24 percent above the
long-term average.
This year’s waterfowl surveys showed the highest number of breeding birds
on record for canvasbacks (865,000), redheads (1 million) and northern
shovelers (4.6 million). It also showed the second-largest numbers on
record for:
Wigeons (up 29 percent from 2006)
Gadwalls (+19 percent)
Blue-winged teal (+14 percent)
Green-winged teal (+13 percent)
Conservation Department Resource Scientist Dave Graber said the increases
resulted from favorable water conditions on breeding grounds, including
the fourth-largest Canadian pond count on record. Furthermore, he said
rains continued to favor waterfowl breeding areas after the surveys.
“Rainfall was above normal in many areas during June and July,” said
Graber. “That can be a significant help to hens trying to renest after
losing their first clutch of eggs, and it should improve brood survival.”
Graber said that while duck hunters have every reason to rejoice about the
current good news, they should not think the gains are permanent.
“Duck numbers always surge in response to good nesting conditions like we
have seen in recent years. When drier weather returns, duck numbers will
decline again. We should enjoy the situation while we can, because sooner
or later drought conditions will return to the prairies.”
Graber said another factor contributing to the current strong duck
population is under human control. Several million acres of farmland
currently are enrolled in t he federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
The program offers landowners cash incentives to take land out of
production. Other incentives encourage planting wildlife-friendly cover on
CRP acres.
Contracts for a million or more acres of CRP land expire in the next year
or so. With grain prices on the rise, many farmers may choose to put those
acres back into production.
“There is a lot of high-quality duck nesting habitat in CRP right now,”
said Graber. “If a substantial amount of that land comes out of CRP and
the rain stops, we could see a fairly dramatic drop in waterfowl
populations.”
Although duck numbers are up 14 percent overall, Graber said Missouri
hunters’ success will be heavily influenced by weather - past and present.
He noted that a few state-owned wetland areas suffered significant damage
to levees and other water-control structures when flooding occurred this
spring and summer. The floods hampered efforts to grow corn and other
crops that draw waterfowl to managed wetlands and sustain them on their
migration.
The dry conditions and scorching temperatures that followed the spring
floods limited the growth of crops, such as corn. However, wild plants
like millet and smartweed, which also are favored by ducks, are better
adapted to weather extremes and did surprisingly well this year.
Finally, a shortened navigation season on the Missouri River could result
in low flows that could limit the Conservation Department’s ability to
flood wetland pools in time for hunting season.
“Lack of food and water could cause some ducks to keep moving south when
they hit Missouri,” said Graber. “A lot depends on the weather -
especially rainfall - this fall.”
The most abundant duck species, the mallard, is the mainstay of duck
hunting in the Mississippi Flyway. Numbers of breeding mallards are
estimated at 8 million this year, a 10 percent increase from 2006 and 7
percent above the long-term average. This year’s mallard fall flight index
is projected to be 11.4 million, which is close to last year’s figure of
9.8 million.
The Eastern Prairie Population produces most of the migratory Canada geese
taken by Missouri hunters each year. This population of geese had an
estimated 217,500 breeding birds this year. That is statistically similar
to last year’s figure of 185,400 and to the five-year average of 235,300.
The Mississippi Flyway’s population of giant Canada geese has doubled
since 1993. Giant Canada goose numbers in Missouri followed a similar
trend, peaking in 2000 with an estimated state population of 77,000. At
that level, problems with nuisance geese prompted state and federal
officials to liberalize hunting regulations to trim the flock. Those
regulations seem to be working. Populations of these “resident” geese are
declining. This year’s Canada goose hunting season dates and bag limits
are the same as last year’s.
Waterfowl managers remain concerned about the trend in northern pintail
numbers. That species is 19 percent below its long-term average.
Consequently, the limit on pintails remains one bird daily throughout the
60-day season.
Numbers of greater and lesser scaup increased 6 percent this year but
remain 33 percent below the long-term average. The trend is thought to be
related to changes in food sources and other habitat factors. This year’s
population estimate of 3.5 million is the third-lowest on record, leading
state and federal managers to continue the restrictive limit of two per
day.
Despite an impressive 25 percent population gain this year, canvasbacks
are among the least abundant hunted waterfowl species. For this reason,
seasons and bag limits for this species have been restrictive in recent
years.
Hunters were allowed to take only one canvasback daily during a 20-day
season in 2001, and the season was closed in 2002. The bag limit on
canvasbacks has been one bird daily, and the season only 30 days during
three of the past four years. Based on this year’s increase , regulators
have allowed a 60-day season and a daily limit of two canvasbacks, which
they say can be sustained while maintaining a breeding population of at
least 500,000.
Detailed information about waterfowl seasons, limits and other regulations
are found in the Waterfowl Hunting Digest. The publication is available
wherever hunting permits are sold or at
www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/wtrfowl/.
-Jim Low-
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