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Message
re: Shortstopping Ducks over 25 years not 20
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:10 pm to geauxbrown
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:10 pm to geauxbrown
FTR, they were shortstopping long before 2000. The traditional first major flight stopped coming down by the mid 1990's because of this.
Climate change moved the frostline below Lake Chuck in first quarter of the 1900's and wiped out a small but growing citrus industry.
Climate change moved the frostline below Lake Chuck in first quarter of the 1900's and wiped out a small but growing citrus industry.
1
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:12 pm to CitizenK
quote:
FTR, they were shortstopping long before 2000.
I'm sure. I'm only going on my personal experiences in the midwest.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:20 pm to CitizenK
What the flyway federation and John Kennedy both miss is hunting standing unharvested crops has never been considered "normal ag practice". 
What's even cooler is the FF entire mission is based upon their misinterpretation of the baiting rules.
Them baws should read this from DU: changes-to-us-migratory-bird-hunting-regulations-on-baiting-laws
What's even cooler is the FF entire mission is based upon their misinterpretation of the baiting rules.
Them baws should read this from DU: changes-to-us-migratory-bird-hunting-regulations-on-baiting-laws
This post was edited on 1/12/26 at 2:23 pm
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:22 pm to CitizenK
I don't duck hunt so genuinely wondering if I have a solid grasp of what is going on.
It's my understanding that habitat improvements up north and degrading habitat down here are the main culprits. Other than sh*tty duck hunting down here, what is bad about the ducks not having to migrate as far? Am I missing something?
It's my understanding that habitat improvements up north and degrading habitat down here are the main culprits. Other than sh*tty duck hunting down here, what is bad about the ducks not having to migrate as far? Am I missing something?
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:26 pm to Loup
quote:These are opinions.
It's my understanding that habitat improvements up north and degrading habitat down here are the main culprits.
Larry Reynolds has stated migrators in Russia/Europe are not flying as far south as well, that it's a global phenomenon, no citation but there's more too it than flooded cone IMO.
take these orange arse tree ducks that showed up 20 yrs ago, and white wing doves, etc.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:36 pm to White Bear
quote:
these orange arse tree ducks that showed up 20 yrs ago, and white wing doves
Most definitely. But it is specific to those particular species.
If that's the case why aren't we seeing more ducks stop here that used to make it to Mexico?
Is Mexico experiencing the same thing?
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:43 pm to Turnblad85
quote:
Mallard Harvest down 95%
quote:1999: 354,432; 2021: 16,773
Is this actually true?
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MS Flyway Databook
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:44 pm to Clyde Tipton
quote:don’t know. Also idk what other species are missing or new? Just easily noticeable species whose arrival seem to correlate with the good ducks leaving.
Most definitely. But it is specific to those particular species. If that's the case why aren't we seeing more ducks stop here that used to make it to Mexico? Is Mexico experiencing the same thing
This post was edited on 1/12/26 at 2:46 pm
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:45 pm to choupiquesushi
quote:
No till farming has cetrainly had a major impact on migration since it started.
I don't think those in LA appreciate just how much grain is left in these fields. I hunted next to a corn field yesterday. The number of doves alone using it was impressive, not to mention the 1000s of ducks and geese. Every field I've stepped foot on in the last 3 years has been the same way, corn or milo everywhere.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:52 pm to White Bear
quote:
take these orange arse tree ducks that showed up 20 yrs ago, and white wing doves, etc.
They were around long before then especially between Lake Chuck and Lacassine Bayou. Not much sport in shooting something so slow so no pressure on them.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:53 pm to Clyde Tipton
quote:
Is Mexico experiencing the same thing?
Not the same flyway as here. Friends still slaughter them there annually.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:53 pm to CitizenK
quote:They were not where I was in N La.
They were around long before then especially between Lake Chuck and Lacassine Bayou. Not much sport in shooting something so slow so no pressure on them.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 2:56 pm to White Bear
quote:
They were not where I was in N La.
They are as good eating as a mallard though but so many pen feathers you have to skin them instead pluck
Posted on 1/12/26 at 3:02 pm to CitizenK
quote:I’ve never shot one. Had one jump out of a knot hole in a cypress tree when I motored by 06-07 ish. Thought I’d died.
They are as good eating as a mallard though but so many pen feathers you have to skin them instead pluck
Posted on 1/12/26 at 3:07 pm to Loup
quote:
It's my understanding that habitat improvements up north and degrading habitat down here are the main culprits
That is what a big portion of the shortstopping argument is. More habitat up north keeps the ducks there. To sum it up: waterfowl fly south due to cold and lack of food. Some all the way to the Gulf, while others tolerate the weather when they find a good food source.
The habitat in Louisiana is changing. What used to be rice fields is now sugar cane. Not only is that not duck food, a sugar cane field wont flood like a cut bean, cotton, or other field will after a big rain. No water = no ducks.
Ducks don't make it this far south like they did decades ago. Do I think there is enough habitat up north to hold enough ducks to affect a whole state of duck hunters, hard to say. Personally I think the duck population is low. Why else would we have hard freezes, snow, ice, etc and still see no ducks? Up north is frozen solid in those conditions. Birds have to eat.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 3:33 pm to CitizenK
Louisiana’s total duck habitat is worsening every year and I believe that is playing a big role in the decline of our duck hunting. I also believe the populations are way way down and worse than is being reported. Waterfowl not named mallards and Canada’s still migrate but there’s just not as many and may be going to areas with better habitat.
Flyways are also somewhat shifting is a theory of mine.
Killing piles of mallards in S LA is dead and has been for awhile since they just don’t make it down here in big numbers anymore.
My dad would consistently kill limits of mallards in rice fields throughout S La up through the 90’s. You still could just not near as consistently through the 00’s but the decline in migrating mallards began in the mid 90’s and has gotten to where it is now over the last 30 years.
Flyways are also somewhat shifting is a theory of mine.
Killing piles of mallards in S LA is dead and has been for awhile since they just don’t make it down here in big numbers anymore.
My dad would consistently kill limits of mallards in rice fields throughout S La up through the 90’s. You still could just not near as consistently through the 00’s but the decline in migrating mallards began in the mid 90’s and has gotten to where it is now over the last 30 years.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 3:43 pm to Midtiger farm
quote:
Its poor breeding grounds/ lots of the prairie pot hole region has been drained to farm it, they've had numerous droughts, etc
certainly a part of it, but the problem ITT is identified as short stopping and lack of birds in LA, it isn't the breeding.
quote:
I would love to hear what you want the Senator to do regarding this or what you think the problem is
there is nothing he is going to do about sugar cane farming or rice farming here. I'd be happy to ban cane farming for many reasons--Firstly, we do not need this much damn sugar in our foods. Second, cane provides zero habitat or food for ducks. but guess what? There is too much $$ in it to save ducks. It is our reality.
Rice used to help with habitat but the methods have changed to incorporate almost zero grain loss at harvest. Then the ponds are too deep because they are also crawfish farming. Again, I understand the economics and that no one is going to tell farmers how to do what they do for the sake of ducks.
We all know how farming is done now is a huge problem for ducks down south, but no one wants to give up that money. Sort of like the issue with the MS river--we know getting rid of levess would help our erosion issues, but the economics of it isn't feasible anymore.
I hunted in Wyoming last week. Cut corn is still all over their fields. They had not even froze up yet. so weather/climate is another factor. To me, habitat is the most important factor down here. Kennedy is just another politician throwing stones.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 4:10 pm to Motorboat
quote:
I hunted in Wyoming last week. Cut corn is still all over their fields. They had not even froze up yet. so weather/climate is another factor.
This is kinda where I am at this year. I feel like we've been having the same discussion for 10-15 years now. We're having a warm winter and we didn't have enough major weather systems occur during the 90 or so days that we all focus on it.
I feel like all of this can be true at the same time. Are ducks short stopping? Yes. Do farming practices have something to do with it? Yes. Have the prairie potholes had a tough go recently? Yep. But even with all of that, I feel like we've all managed to scratch out some good hunts in Januarys gone by. I just don't recall a winter that was this warm with no major weather systems to speak of...so for this year...I'm saying that's the difference maker.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 4:37 pm to LPLGTiger
quote:The problem is the last few generations of mallards (and most ducks in general) don't even know about the habitat degradation here. I'd bet the majority of them have never seen Louisiana. That migration has been bred out of them. They will only travel far enough to eat, and that is the only thing dependent on the weather. They move back and forth with the small fronts. There is lightyears more food abundance up north now than 30 years ago. Ducks do not give a flying shite if its cold. For the most part, they no longer migrate based on temperature. There are thousands of videos out there of ducks happily living and eating on ice. There is plenty water. Food is their sole migration factor. And they are adapting and evolving to accessing that food source. Mallards have ZERO problem standing on ice and eating the corn right off the stalk or digging through shallow snow.
That is what a big portion of the shortstopping argument is. More habitat up north keeps the ducks there. To sum it up: waterfowl fly south due to cold and lack of food. Some all the way to the Gulf, while others tolerate the weather when they find a good food source.
The habitat in Louisiana is changing. What used to be rice fields is now sugar cane. Not only is that not duck food, a sugar cane field wont flood like a cut bean, cotton, or other field will after a big rain. No water = no ducks.
Ducks don't make it this far south like they did decades ago. Do I think there is enough habitat up north to hold enough ducks to affect a whole state of duck hunters, hard to say. Personally I think the duck population is low. Why else would we have hard freezes, snow, ice, etc and still see no ducks? Up north is frozen solid in those conditions. Birds have to eat.
The only thing that forces mass migration is massive snowpack. Ice is nearly irrelevant. That's why I stated massive snowpack, like 1'+. That simply doesn't happen anymore. And the ducks (even the ones that do make it down here) have adapated to head back north to the "better food" source when it warms up. We can't control the weather, but we can control the agricultural practices. Sure, it doesn't help that Louisiana habitat is in the shitter, but like I said, most of those ducks up there have zero idea the condition of Louisiana anyway.
I present to you mallards happily eating corn right off the stalk standing in a frozen flooded field like a bunch of degenerate crackheads. This video is only partially frozen.
How about this longer one of a full hunt showcasing thousands of ducks keeping the water unfrozen themselves while these jackasses get to smash them in face while the ducks are all drunk on fermented corn. Is this size field, with this amount of standing corn, normal agricultural practice?
Youtube Link
Posted on 1/12/26 at 4:57 pm to Motorboat
quote:
Rice used to help with habitat but the methods have changed to incorporate almost zero grain loss at harvest.
This isn't true. yea the combines are more efficient but there is plenty grain left out there after harvest
quote:
Then the ponds are too deep because they are also crawfish farming.
Again not true - go ride up to whiteville/bunkie and see all the ducks(not mallards) in that deep water they are about to start crawfishing
Also there is plenty of rice stubble in NELA and south Vermillion/South Jeff Davis/Cameron parish that isn't crawfished and most of it isn't full of ducks
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