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Started By
Message
re: Anybody killing ducks consistently and where?
Posted on 1/5/26 at 7:45 am to GREENHEAD22
Posted on 1/5/26 at 7:45 am to GREENHEAD22
quote:
I still think another huge factor is the real duck numbers are a lot lower than stated.
This is #1,,2 and 3 on the list
if the numbers were what they used to be are even what is stated those other things on the list wouldn't be as big a deal
probably should be at 3/30 framework if the numbers were correct
0
Posted on 1/5/26 at 7:54 am to TulaneUVA
quote:
Take it to extreme: let’s say limit was 1 duck for 30 days. That would surely make a difference.
Yes, that extreme would make a difference. My statement was in reference to a 3 duck limit or 6 duck. Average hunter success is generally between 2.5-2.8 birds per effort. Sure, that would go down a small amount if the limit is 3 versus 6, since it takes a few 6 days to offset the 0 days in that average. Statistically though wouldn't make a huge difference.
However, if you have half as many days to hunt, the number of ducks killed would drop drastically. Your average hunter can't cram many more days in since he has a job, family, etc. The clubs and outfitters that hunt every day would be cut in half. They could start hunting multiple times per day, more blinds, etc., but their harvest would suffer long term.
Posted on 1/5/26 at 7:58 am to Ron Cheramie
Mallards are “corn pile sentry’s” 
Too many hands in the pot living off the $$, conservation orgs, states, equipment mfg, outfitters.
12 yrs ago the La trout biologists told the commission long term numbers were trending downward. They chose to ignore for political reason$, land building effort was killed by a small group (oyster mafia), buffer zone for menhaden is non existent in 2026.
Bottom line, La is no different than any other state when it comes to corruption. The pols are going to vote the way their masters tell them to vote be it ND, OK, KS. Science will follow the money 99% of the time.
Too many hands in the pot living off the $$, conservation orgs, states, equipment mfg, outfitters.
12 yrs ago the La trout biologists told the commission long term numbers were trending downward. They chose to ignore for political reason$, land building effort was killed by a small group (oyster mafia), buffer zone for menhaden is non existent in 2026.
Bottom line, La is no different than any other state when it comes to corruption. The pols are going to vote the way their masters tell them to vote be it ND, OK, KS. Science will follow the money 99% of the time.
Posted on 1/5/26 at 8:35 am to choupiquesushi
quote:
I am of the opine that whatever strain of rice they are growing now - the ducks don't like it like they used too
I just heard of this recently and surprised this is isnt talked about more. A guy on the Mickey Eastmans 610 outdoor show in Houston talked about this. Said they did a study on geese in SETX and they will not eat a certainstrain of rice that is largely being grown now.
Have a buddy that family owns abunch of rice fields in central LA and never understood why they dont have a ton of ducks and geese but they dont.
On the topic of Duck counts -- I do believe theyre off because you talk to anyone across the flyway and other flyways, no one outside of maybe the really big hunting clubs - Places like White Oak duck woods or Habitat Flats come to mind, but they could just be great at marketing and social media - are doing better than they were 5, 10, 15 years ago.
Was at the OU LSU game in November and talked to a guy, he said Arkansas is stealing all of their ducks. You talk to guys in Arkansas they say the flyway shifted west and Oklahoma has all of their ducks. Everyone blaming everyone else and IMO there just aren't as many ducks as there used to be.
Posted on 1/5/26 at 8:39 am to KemoSabe65
quote:The very reason the LWFC...no DWLF was created in the first place and don't ever forget that
(oyster mafia)
Posted on 1/5/26 at 8:42 am to TulaneUVA
quote:The limit was 2 for a few years......
Could you share more on this theory? Take it to extreme: let’s say limit was 1 duck for 30 days. That would surely make a difference. 1) it would reduce # of hunters who wound want to chase 2) the effect is the same. More ducks left alive after each day
Posted on 1/5/26 at 8:49 am to SmackoverHawg
Yes
Southern Illinois.
Southern Illinois.
Posted on 1/5/26 at 8:51 am to geauxbrown
quote:
Yes
Southern Illinois.
Figures.
I can usually track them in Arkansas by Facebook/social media posts of pics. few and far between, even at some high dollar places.
Posted on 1/5/26 at 10:27 pm to SmackoverHawg
It is hard to argue the numbers are just “hogwash”. You can’t prove it one way or another.
People have them if they have the money, right habitat management, have enough land to let them rest and are in the right spot. Or you are smart and use that neighbor to your advantage.
I have personally been told by neighbors that the ducks had left because they didn’t see much that morning. I then show them video of thousands of ducks not a mile from where they hunt.
Crappy weather, no natural water, “no ducks” and we are killing the most ducks we have killed in over 10 years. We don’t kill them by the thousands or anything close to that. We may go 30-35 times this year and will probably kill 350-450 birds. Mostly hunt 2-3 man groups and will call it as soon as we get the limit of mallards. Of that 350-450 birds 60ish percent will probably be mallards.
I haven’t even hunted a moist soil unit or ag field this year. They have strictly been for the ducks. I start getting mallards early November and feed them my blood sweat and tears (the wife’s too) until mid March and a little later some years. I say, “I will do my part to keep them coming down.” That way I will be able to tell my 3 year old son I did everything I could if they ever stop coming down.
I just happen to work for a guy that loves duck hunting and we decided back when I started managing his property that we would try our best to turn this property into the best duck and deer property in the state. We haven’t achieved that yet, but as long as he is willing to write the check I am willing to do the work and actively try to use the best resources I have available. That would be people, personal experience and working with colleges. We will trap mallards after season to band, get DNA samples and even place GPS backpacks on some. Hopefully that data will help with the future of mallard populations. If not, what else could we physically and monetarily do?
And no, I am not a social media persona. Others kind of know me, but I don’t even have an active social media account.
People have them if they have the money, right habitat management, have enough land to let them rest and are in the right spot. Or you are smart and use that neighbor to your advantage.
I have personally been told by neighbors that the ducks had left because they didn’t see much that morning. I then show them video of thousands of ducks not a mile from where they hunt.
Crappy weather, no natural water, “no ducks” and we are killing the most ducks we have killed in over 10 years. We don’t kill them by the thousands or anything close to that. We may go 30-35 times this year and will probably kill 350-450 birds. Mostly hunt 2-3 man groups and will call it as soon as we get the limit of mallards. Of that 350-450 birds 60ish percent will probably be mallards.
I haven’t even hunted a moist soil unit or ag field this year. They have strictly been for the ducks. I start getting mallards early November and feed them my blood sweat and tears (the wife’s too) until mid March and a little later some years. I say, “I will do my part to keep them coming down.” That way I will be able to tell my 3 year old son I did everything I could if they ever stop coming down.
I just happen to work for a guy that loves duck hunting and we decided back when I started managing his property that we would try our best to turn this property into the best duck and deer property in the state. We haven’t achieved that yet, but as long as he is willing to write the check I am willing to do the work and actively try to use the best resources I have available. That would be people, personal experience and working with colleges. We will trap mallards after season to band, get DNA samples and even place GPS backpacks on some. Hopefully that data will help with the future of mallard populations. If not, what else could we physically and monetarily do?
And no, I am not a social media persona. Others kind of know me, but I don’t even have an active social media account.
Posted on 1/5/26 at 10:41 pm to Outdoorreb
quote:
Outdoorreb
Reb, you have the right attitude! So many folks around me just want to hunt and couldn’t be bothered with anything else.
I am newly retired and if y’all need any help with banding (or anything else), just let me know…I think that would be very interesting. I am in Madison and can travel the entire state.
Posted on 1/5/26 at 11:12 pm to Spankum
I am in Humphreys County just North of Belzoni. I will let you know if we do. I know some grad students will be here also
Posted on 1/6/26 at 6:50 am to Outdoorreb
Bout where y'all at?
Just curious on where the hot spots seem to be. Of course, you've put in time and resources to make yours a great place. Just wondering if it's worth the work.
Just curious on where the hot spots seem to be. Of course, you've put in time and resources to make yours a great place. Just wondering if it's worth the work.
Posted on 1/6/26 at 7:37 am to SmackoverHawg
nm
This post was edited on 1/6/26 at 7:38 am
Posted on 1/6/26 at 8:37 am to SmackoverHawg
quote:
Bout where y'all at?
You want me to drop you a pin or something? I think I said enough in the post above yours on “about where y'all at?”
There is a thing with being in the right location. Luckily this area has federal refuges pretty close and “historically” has been ducky. It isn’t White oak or anything, but the birds increase yearly and there is another property close enough that does a good job with habitat, food and pressure.
Posted on 1/6/26 at 8:43 am to Outdoorreb
Missed that.
Posted on 1/6/26 at 9:00 am to SmackoverHawg
Outside of the points about Louisiana’s issues in terms of ducks and habitats.
The biggest issue is habitat in the prairies. The prairies have been in drought line issues more often than not over the last 15 years.
We are continuing to lose prairie to agricultural fields.
Duck hens also have to deal with farmers getting into the fields too early which can destroy hen nests and an increase in nest raider predators that didn’t really exist on the prairies until the 60’s or so.
Someone mentioned the mallard count as 6.5 million. I swear most years in the late 00’s, early 10’s those numbers were well over 10 million every year.
TL:DR until habitat improves on the prairies, duck numbers will continue to be on the low side.
The biggest issue is habitat in the prairies. The prairies have been in drought line issues more often than not over the last 15 years.
We are continuing to lose prairie to agricultural fields.
Duck hens also have to deal with farmers getting into the fields too early which can destroy hen nests and an increase in nest raider predators that didn’t really exist on the prairies until the 60’s or so.
Someone mentioned the mallard count as 6.5 million. I swear most years in the late 00’s, early 10’s those numbers were well over 10 million every year.
TL:DR until habitat improves on the prairies, duck numbers will continue to be on the low side.
Posted on 1/6/26 at 9:49 am to Outdoorreb
Great!
This post was edited on 1/6/26 at 9:50 am
Posted on 1/6/26 at 10:14 am to Outdoorreb
I agree with everything you said, and respect what you are doing. But you can absolutely prove the numbers are down from 10-15 years ago. Mallards are down 40%. That is a fact. And when there are less numbers overall, they can congregate on great ground like it sounds like you are doing the hard work to provide for them.
Posted on 1/6/26 at 10:18 am to DuckSausage
quote:
Said they did a study on geese in SETX and they will not eat a certainstrain of rice that is largely being grown now.
well then someone should tell all the geese in Ark that because that certain "strain" is about 75% of whats planted up there
Posted on 1/6/26 at 10:19 am to Outdoorreb
quote:
Outdoorreb
lots of rumors on social media that White Oak and some other big clubs got busted for baiting
any truth?
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