2024 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey Analysis

[@nelsonoutdoors9510]

One thing I think would be interesting to see more data on would be the drake/hen ratio for pintails and how that may be effecting the population as a whole. During my last couple seasons, I could’ve sworn I’ve seen 100-1 Drake/hen ratio. I wonder if hens are getting too beat up during breeding season to have an effective brooding cycle.

[@JoshSDshot]

I see that with mallards 2 tons of drakes few hens last 4 years

[@TacticalFowlNW]

Age would be a good question too. If older hens are still alive but not producing nests, they aren't helping the population grow.

[@nelsonoutdoors9510]

@@JoshSDshot yeah, not nearly as bad as pintails though. Last I heard mallards were at a 3-1 Drake/hen ratio. I haven’t seen any study’s on that for pintails.

[@nelsonoutdoors9510]

@@TacticalFowlNW yeah, viability could be having an effect too.

[@gr8shot4ayankee17]

What can east Wisconsin area expect?

[@jonathonallen7112]

Why is it that in a majority of your videos nobody gives updates about the Atlantic flyway?

[@donnovicki9771]

Because the AF sucks. I live in Western Pa. and it's bad here, really bad.

[@expansioniskeyrn]

I hope this 3 pintail limit is locked in. Rather drop the mallard limit out here in CA since it’s rare to even see that many a season, let alone being able to harvest many. Seems like the bulk of the population are at a park, lake or golf course.

[@donnovicki9771]

I can't believe they would allow 3 hens per day. That seems foolish to me, but I'm no scientist.

[@andrewn.5117]

@@donnovicki9771should be 1 hen limit for all species with an emphasis on trying to not harvest any hens. They don’t make pics look any better

[@scottleggejr]

I usually have 3-4 limits of dove in early season and it usually an indicator of duck. I knocked down 11 dove this year. Skipping ducks and sticking to upland this yr. Not wasting time and money on permits and stamps. Trichomoniasis killed them all off and the government did nothing to mitigate. I presume ducks have it too and no clutches will be viable.

[@MegaZboo]

Unbelievable mild winter last year for good winter survival. Still wonder why the numbers were not much higher especially for mallards. Still most likely going to sit out another year.

[@mjuberian]

The lower the number the more we increase the limits... insane. Ducks are up slightly from almost extinct..great news

[@tracyelsinger1088]

"almost extinct" exaggerate much?

[@mjuberian]

@@tracyelsinger1088 Ducks are in terrible shape. I started hunting 60 years ago and no comparison to today. Far fewer birds, far less places to hunt , tons more hunters and on and on

[@tracyelsinger1088]

@@mjuberian ah yes, the "good old days". Ever wonder why every generation of hunters looks back on decades past as being far better than the present day? Not saying duck numbers aren't lower now, because they probably are, but that kind of hyperbole is just dumb.

[@mjuberian]

@@tracyelsinger1088 Because they wre far better days... you apparently are not old enough. Not only far more birds but far more places to hunt, far less technology and just better people who were duck hunters than present IMO.

[@StormWidgeon]

​​@@tracyelsinger1088Your being ignorant because you don't know. Things were better, they have been getting worse. I've kept detailed logs of ever hunt, including weather, decoy placement, birds seen and harvested, etc... The DNR does not manage wetlands property. They rent them out to bait farmers and the minnows eat all the invertebrates. Which in turn destroys the food source for ducks. You have all these wetlands with no ducks on them, this is just part of the many reasons why.

[@scottschaeffer8920]

The politics of seasonal wetlands is where the future battle looms. The nonsense regarding nexus, connection to a perennial water body, etc is ludicrous. If it’s hydric soils, hydric vegetation, it must be protected. These basins are what makes you waterfowlers happy or not so much in the Fall. And just so ya know, the Trump Administration wants these marshes unregulated-period.

[@StormWidgeon]

Is that so? Let's see a link that says it like you claim, because that's BS.

[@donnovicki9771]

@@StormWidgeon Look it up yourself. Nothing preventing you from doing it. It's true anyway.

[@StormWidgeon]

@@donnovicki9771 So I did, like I suspected it's a generalized statement taken out of context. Take a look at this while you're at it. www.doi.gov/pressreleases/trump-administration-announces-more-130-million-public-private-funding-wetland

[@scottleggejr]

​@@donnovicki9771The guy who signed the great American outdoor act vs. the entirely nothing for hunters this admin has done 🤔 Here's some wolves you don't want and they're protected 😂