January Migration Report
Ducks and geese are on the move again as the south thaws following a major cold spell that had iced over much of the country. Here’s Delta’s January migration report, with a look at hunting conditions across all four flyways.
In the SE why would anyone take up duck hunting? Since 2013 in my home state (Georgia) I have killed no ducks, fired no shots. Hunting in areas where in many years past, my partners and I have killed a fair amount of ducks of many species. (I have been hunting ducks in Georgia over 40 years!) Unless one can join an exclusive duck club or hire a guide in a “real” duck hunting state, one should deer hunt ( or some other species of game) . Both of these options are well out of the price range of most working guys. I like to go multiple times per season since I have a substantial investment in equipment but am discouraged to the point of calling it quits.
I am starting to believe the talk in the Deep South that why would any duck fly down here to eat hard to find food when he can stay to the north of the bayou state and eat grain, corn in any shape and other rich food that is served to him and easily found. I do know if I were a duck or any waterfowl I wouldn’t fly down to the Deep South either !!!!!!!! Since 1989 there have been fewer and fewer ducks making that extra few miles to eat wild food that’s so hard to fill the hunger that is needed for the flight back to the most important destiny grounds. I am wide open for comments, and other options !!
Hunters you are seeing the new reality of the landscape 6″ above and 6″ below your man made high water mark.
Wetlands are dynamic water needs to go and down in some what of natural state and pattern. The public wetlands of the south are suffering from too many demands and good intentions placed upon them. If they are boating and fishing parks for the none hunting season and storm water catch basins for year around sheet water runoff they are not waterfowl areas .They will not maintain the quality Bio diversity and health for migratory bird staging and
resting.
You will have to organize on a local level and fight it out with your state government outdoor regulatory bodies.
Your grand father and fathers Pittman Robinson money and state hunting fees purchased that public access real estate that you are attempting to hunt. It was usually the best the region had to offer at the time of transaction. If you do not stake a claim loudly and publicly for the original intent of purchase and management , Well then you quit
and should joined the rest of the past causes at the end of the Bar .
P.S. any well run natural wetland with controlled access to same degree of a private flooded agriculture lease
will produce more and better quality hunts for a season per acre. Make sure your regional wildlife hunting area managers actually values and understands wetland waterfowl management.
I can prove it , I have seen it
Bob landerman
Wisconsin Waterfowl Hunters Chairman
Delta Member
Bob can you answer a question that has hound on me for years? Any state or local law that has been broken is also a broken federal law. That being said how is it legal to hunt ducks and geese over a corn field, soybean, rice field etc well you see the picture i’m talking about . Waterfowl are protective federal birds and I know it is not legal to hunt over any of the above mention fields down here in the Deep South. But yet you see hunting shows on tv where that is happening. I know they are huge acreage fields and the farmers grow them to make their livelihood. But hunting over grain, rice no matter what it is, it’s still hunting over a baited field evenif the corn, soybean, or whatever has been removed 30 days before the season opens. There is no way all agriculture can be removed therefor it leaves it baited. Once again I am wide open for opinions and comments, even from wildlife agencies