For some reason I had no idea that hunters took out that much of the population annually. Even if it's a third, that's still a huge number.

I know biologist argue that there is only so much viable breeding ground so a lot more ducks making it back in the Spring doesn't result in a linear increase in production. Basically the grounds can only hold so much... but I have a hard time believing it.

Another realization... about a million duck hunters and 10-14M ducks killed. An average of 10 or so ducks per hunter per year. That's just an average weekend to me. Maybe I'm part of the problem

I'm not one of those folks that would hesitate to do the same 2 am wake up and 2 hour drive for 2 or 3 ducks a hunt.

Below is a link to complete a survey on your thoughts on this season.

https://www.thestandardsportsman.co...YKVtWuuT5w-nQ_aem_wXq8PRJ-7vxcJsso_ppXIw

Harvest rates seem high until you only figure 10 for each hunter. I know a lot don’t shoot 10, but one guy that shoots 100 takes care of 9 that didn’t.

All 3 can be hens too. Another semi lengthy thread on that, almost identical to this one, just pintail based. Waterfowl population status thread by sniper John. Same thing, hunting doesn’t matter, research this and that, chug more kool aid, repeat.

The Katy prairie is gone,and around Eagle Lake went from 45,000 acres of rice to 4,000 and y'all wonder why we don't have ducks!

I don't think there is a single post here that "wonder why we don't have ducks!"...rather this has been a discussion, with anecdotal as well as reference to published analysis of the plight of waterfowl across at least this flyway and more broadly across the continent. In much the same way as the rice acreage on the Katy Prairie has dwindled, the participants of this thread have noted their alarm at the apparent lack of realization, or possibly purposefully ignoring the data being provided by knowledgeable, professional and respected waterfowl population biologists and statisticians, of the fact that population survey estimates don't match actual numbers seen by both members of the hunting public, and more importantly "professional" observers. Rice farmers steadily decreased the acreage committed to farming rice on the prairie in an almost exact duplication of the reduction of acre feet of water available to flood rice fields...no water...no waterfowl ~

Waterfowl population experts... actual biologists and statisticians, have had their findings diluted or completely ignored by the politicians that "lead the Agencies" that formulate and dictate policy, seasons and bag limits...These agency decision makers, no doubt influenced by the lobbyists for the equipment providing mega-stores, the social media influencers, etc, have guided hunting seasons and bag limits down the path of demise we now find ourselves on...Only by rending the future of waterfowl hunting from politicians and "biting the bullet" now do we stand any chance of preserving our water-fowling heritage...I have exercised VR regarding hens for 15 plus years...and "paid" extra to Delta and DU for any hens taken in error...and since my wife, [censored] that she was, passed in 2015... I have limited myself to 4 teal/day during early season and 3 ducks/day in aggregate, during regular duck season...and on the days the birds don't cooperate...I still get to spend hours in the duck marsh, with my canine companions, scanning the sky for the visual that still raises my pulse and makes me fumble for a teal whistle, or single reed duck call.

Just as the founders of Delta in 1911 and DU in 1937 stepped up and committed to preserving what was important to them...and their legacy...it's time we give all we can and take a little less...

Exactly! We shot them good the last 2 weeks of the season. And the past few years have been great.

I dont go off of stats and what magazines put out. I go off what I see each year and what the weather does. For some reason, alot of guys dont realize that weather is a huge reason why we either have birds or we dont. The other are crops in each flyway. More food...more ducks. Pretty simple.

Basing your assumption off of what you see in one area is very oblivious, these birds move thousands of miles annually in search of what they need. The overall population is low, and we continue to have liberal seasons and limits. Even raising the limits on some. The last time numbers were around these levels the limit was 3(2mallards)....just saying.

It is probably a combination of things rather than one issue. Could be any of Low population, more successful hunting methods, bird flu, short stopping, refuges, flooded crops and hunt clubs, higher limits in Canada and Mexico, poaching, climate changes, reduced nesting areas, predators, weather, wind farms, etc., but combined.

I completely agree that limits should be moved to 4 ducks per day. That should have been done years ago. I pray for the day that game laws follow scientific studies instead of fat wallets.

Personally I don't feel the number of ducks that can be shot is going to affect the trend. I don't believe any numbers the USFWS puts out. None. Why isn't there real research on the problem? I for one think forage is the number one reason.

Forage? What kind? Winter food? Nesting cover?

Agreed. Some of those things we can’t control. About half of them we as hunters can, and we are not. Not everyone included, but once upon a time hunters as a whole were conservationists as well. I’m seeing less and less of that these days.

Thank you!!!! If you have the right weather, and you have food for them....you will have ducks...period!

I know a guy who just got back from Tamaulipas...5 guys killed 300 ducks in one day. Mostly redheads.

Here you go, though I always assume these things are done deals despite the comment period.


https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/fee...tewide_hunting_migratory_game_bird.phtml

AUSTIN — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is accepting public comment until March 27 for the following proposed changes to the 2025-26 Statewide Hunting and Migratory Game Bird proclamations:

Migratory Game Bird Regulations

Increase the daily bag limit of pintails from one to three in all duck zones.
Reduce the early teal season from 16 to nine days in all duck zones.
Extend the regular season length in the High Plains Mallard Management Unit by seven days.
Reduce special white-winged dove days from six to five days.
Reduce rail and gallinule season to nine days in September to match early teal and move seven days to the end of the season.
Extend the falconry seasons by six days for select migratory game birds.
Allow for calendar progression for all other migratory game bird hunting season dates.

Just banged out my missive...told them keep Northern Pintails at 1, reduce teal to 4 in the aggregate, during early teal season and reduce overall aggregate(all species) to 4 during regular season.

And I continue to ask all waterfowlers to practice Voluntary Restraint when it comes to hens...especially after the split when hens are readily identifiable...just my opinion

Oh yeah, and shoot every skunk, coyote, and bobcat you see in/near the marshes of TEXAS...or anywhere else waterfowl congregate.

All for show. tpwd is run by a bunch of buffoons. They have their minds made up & just throwing something out there to think they care.

I have started just about every conversation same way, except we had lots of ducks all year at one of our 3 wetlands we hunt. Pretty much record number is three out of the last four years and last year was a banger.

I have consistently seen population increases where I hunt. Managing private and putting little pressure if you have food and water/ coupled w good part of flyway, hunters moving birds, etc is the key. I don’t buy the rhetoric that populations are down 30-65%, except for pintails and few other species-we have been covered up w pintails last 3 years

100% great posts

Since you don’t buy into the rhetoric of the numbers being down, I’m going to say it’s pretty safe to state that you do not know the overall condition of the prairie pothole region? Have you ever been there? Have you compared its current condition to its condition during the banner duck number years? If you are going to assume that everything is great and ok based on your 3 personal wetlands(that total what? 10 acres) you are missing the point and the big picture being discussed.