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Message
re: Shortstopping Ducks over 25 years not 20
Posted on 1/12/26 at 6:54 pm to Clyde Tipton
Posted on 1/12/26 at 6:54 pm to Clyde Tipton
quote:
If that's the case why aren't we seeing more ducks stop here that used to make it to Mexico
Don't the majority of wintering ducks in Mexico arrive via the Pacific flyway?
I honestly don't know.
0
Posted on 1/12/26 at 6:58 pm to Antib551
quote:
normal agricultural practice
Has zero to do with it.
You favor the government being able to tell farmers what they can and can't do on their private ground with their own crops when it doesn't deal directly with WRP/CRP payments?
Posted on 1/12/26 at 7:09 pm to geauxbrown
quote:Mostly no, I dont agree with government telling me what to do. But I do want the government to tell them that they cant hunt it, because again it is not normal to flood corn after harvest. The age old question that the government cant answer, what is the difference between bringing water to food vs bringing food to water? Its a simple question.
You favor the government being able to tell farmers what they can and can't do on their private ground with their own crops when it doesn't deal directly with WRP/CRP payments?
No that wouldnt help bring ducks down if they still flooded it, but it would help the population, which i think is historically low. And again, if they cant hunt it, then why leave it standing and manually flood low lying areas?
Posted on 1/12/26 at 7:45 pm to Antib551
quote:
Antib551
I appreciate your taking the time to explain that to me. So often in these flooded corn threads folks become hyper emotional and can’t express themselves.
What is your opinion on why we no longer have the number of Robins in Louisiana that we once did during the winter?
Posted on 1/12/26 at 8:31 pm to Antib551
What if I keep an area in my corn field unplanted and put a pond there and leave the corn that’s say 50 yards from my pond standing?
Posted on 1/12/26 at 10:05 pm to geauxbrown
quote:Sensible conversation is only way things can move forward one way or another. Same in politics. Im always happy to have these condos. But in no way am I am expert on any other and alot of what I believe may very well be bullshite, but I havent seen the science or data to prove one way or another.We all just have a bunch of opinions and a few facts we can use to supports our stances.
I appreciate your taking the time to explain that to me. So often in these flooded corn threads folks become hyper emotional and can’t express themselves.
What is your opinion on why we no longer have the number of Robins in Louisiana that we once did during the winter?
I really have no clue about Robins, or other migratory birds in general. Is there any general feelings on why they aren't seen as much? I would imagine habitat across the country has greatly reduced overall population is the main factor. Probably the sheer amount of predators crammed into much smaller areas now is another factor. Are there still large populations in northern states? Its not like theres a hunting season that Im aware of.
Only bird I know that still migrated in massive numbers is those goddamn a-hole cormorants.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 10:20 pm to Antib551
quote:
Are there still large populations in northern states?
My reading says, yes.
However, the reasons you mentioned are certainly plausible.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 10:22 pm to SmoothBox
quote:Good question. I think that still requires a clarification of baiting/farming from the federal government. But if we are going by my example of not being allowed to hunt flooded corn, I think by current LA rule, Mr green jeans would say your baiting.
What if I keep an area in my corn field unplanted and put a pond there and leave the corn that’s say 50 yards from my pond standing?
Here is the current regulations regarding bait in LA, im sure ither states are 99% similar:
Agricultural areas must be prepared in accordance with official recommendations to be legally hunted. It is a separate offense to place bait on or adjacent to an area that causes, induces or allows another to hunt by the aid of bait or over a baited area.
Posted on 1/12/26 at 10:30 pm to geauxbrown
I genuinely dont have a clue, as I live in the city now, but yeah now that you mention i dont really see them in the rural areas anymore either.
Is it also possible that maybe these birds (all migratory birds) are genetically evoloving over 30-40 years with the weather patterns generally warmer to not simply not migrate as much? I mean sure there are years its brutally cold. Especially in the Midwest, but it doesnt seem to be a lasting cold like the past. "Winter" is more of a pendulum of warm and cold trends over a few months now. And I personally believe that all 4 seasons have pushed back a SOLID month calendar wise. Its hot AF in September still. November's weather is generally what October used to be. January cold is now February. And so on down the calendar. I think this is a major factor in timing of migration as well.
Is it also possible that maybe these birds (all migratory birds) are genetically evoloving over 30-40 years with the weather patterns generally warmer to not simply not migrate as much? I mean sure there are years its brutally cold. Especially in the Midwest, but it doesnt seem to be a lasting cold like the past. "Winter" is more of a pendulum of warm and cold trends over a few months now. And I personally believe that all 4 seasons have pushed back a SOLID month calendar wise. Its hot AF in September still. November's weather is generally what October used to be. January cold is now February. And so on down the calendar. I think this is a major factor in timing of migration as well.
Posted on 1/13/26 at 2:16 am to CitizenK
I was told that ducks migrate south, eventually reach Mexico, find a mate, and then migrate back north, where breeding takes place. If ducks truly are no longer migrating south as they used to due to not having a need to find food, could this also be a/the cause of population decline? In other words - if ducks are not migrating south, not partnering up in Mexico, and in turn not migrating back north with a mate to breed as they have naturally done in the past, then could we assume that agricultural practices have in some way negatively impacted duck population growth? I live and hunt in coastal LA, and the decline in numbers is so disheartening to us hunters that love to hunt and want to pass the tradition on to our children. What is causing it? I know it isn't one specific issue, but where do we start?
In addition, southeast LA gets mostly my namesake (Lesser Scaup) in mid to late season. We can only harvest 2, nobody else shoots them because they are "trash," yet their population continues to decline. Why? Are they using the same prairie potholes for breeding grounds as other species? If not, where do they go to reproduce? Same habitat for food? If so, why do they migrate to our coastal waters with all the flooded agricultural fields available on the way down. I understand that they are divers, but have you ever seen a dogris in a fed pond??? (I've only heard rumors from friends) The Scaup phenomenon is just one of many head-scratchers that we outdoors men continue to battle in the once-fruitful waters of south LA.
And Kennedy won't do anything
In addition, southeast LA gets mostly my namesake (Lesser Scaup) in mid to late season. We can only harvest 2, nobody else shoots them because they are "trash," yet their population continues to decline. Why? Are they using the same prairie potholes for breeding grounds as other species? If not, where do they go to reproduce? Same habitat for food? If so, why do they migrate to our coastal waters with all the flooded agricultural fields available on the way down. I understand that they are divers, but have you ever seen a dogris in a fed pond??? (I've only heard rumors from friends) The Scaup phenomenon is just one of many head-scratchers that we outdoors men continue to battle in the once-fruitful waters of south LA.
And Kennedy won't do anything
Posted on 1/13/26 at 6:07 am to Lesser Scaup
Not only dogris, but what about the numbers of pouledeau? Every lake in southeast LA used to be loaded with pouledeau. You could kill a limit anytime you had an envee'. Now there aren't any, nowhere.
Posted on 1/13/26 at 6:21 am to Lesser Scaup
Ducks in that flyway do go to Mexico.
Ducks coming to Louisiana winter here. They form large rafts in the Gulf at times. This serves to get rid of mites due saltwater. They can fly back and forth to Arkansas during the winter and certainly were 50 years ago.
Ducks coming to Louisiana winter here. They form large rafts in the Gulf at times. This serves to get rid of mites due saltwater. They can fly back and forth to Arkansas during the winter and certainly were 50 years ago.
Posted on 1/13/26 at 7:24 am to CitizenK
quote:
Ducks coming to Louisiana winter here. They form large rafts in the Gulf at times.
They also are well known to loaf throughout the day and feed at night. You can go to Lacassine refuge and Cameron Prairie and several other NWRs where there are thousands of ducks. Those ducks pick up at sunset and head out of there and right before shooting hours they come back.
Also in February when the shooting stops those very ducks venture out of the refuges onto other areas. These are the ducks that “just showed up” in February
Posted on 1/13/26 at 7:43 am to Ron Cheramie
Almost 45 years ago, a classmate hunted Lacassine by himself. He would take his boat with 75hp launch late and pass everyone else up using 7.5-20hp to get to where he liked to hunt. We had no school one Monday, so he did his normal thing. No one was at the launch, so off he goes.
He had a decent hunt, when the game warden showed up. Warden asked how did he do, so proudly Al held up a couple of geese and several ducks. The came, "Son, we are closed on Monday."
He went to Federal court where he was fined several hundred dollars, and his hunting license suspended along with his Fed duck stamp.
He had a decent hunt, when the game warden showed up. Warden asked how did he do, so proudly Al held up a couple of geese and several ducks. The came, "Son, we are closed on Monday."
He went to Federal court where he was fined several hundred dollars, and his hunting license suspended along with his Fed duck stamp.
Posted on 1/13/26 at 7:52 am to CitizenK
All this dude is good for is sound bites. He has accomplished nothing since he went to DC.
As far as the lack of ducks in Louisiana is concerned.
1. Mild dry fall weather patters, mild winters allows for more natural food sources are available longer.
2. Breeding and staging habitat have been reduced due to subsidies for corn ethanol.
3. More corn equals more food, less migration.
4. Flooding and aeration of agricultural crops in the upper Midwest keeping food sources and water available much later into the season.
5. Duck season starts to early, or we need a longer split and extend the closing date of the 2nd split another 3-4 weeks.
6. Agricultural shift in Louisiana. Where rice once dominated the landscape, sugar cane has become more profitable and has taken over hundreds of thousands of acres that were once rice.
4, 5 & 6 are the only things that can be done to help with the lack of birds down in Louisiana.
For SE La, you boys need more diversions off of the Miss River to bring back freshwater/brackish marsh. Good luck with that.
As far as the lack of ducks in Louisiana is concerned.
1. Mild dry fall weather patters, mild winters allows for more natural food sources are available longer.
2. Breeding and staging habitat have been reduced due to subsidies for corn ethanol.
3. More corn equals more food, less migration.
4. Flooding and aeration of agricultural crops in the upper Midwest keeping food sources and water available much later into the season.
5. Duck season starts to early, or we need a longer split and extend the closing date of the 2nd split another 3-4 weeks.
6. Agricultural shift in Louisiana. Where rice once dominated the landscape, sugar cane has become more profitable and has taken over hundreds of thousands of acres that were once rice.
4, 5 & 6 are the only things that can be done to help with the lack of birds down in Louisiana.
For SE La, you boys need more diversions off of the Miss River to bring back freshwater/brackish marsh. Good luck with that.
Posted on 1/13/26 at 7:58 am to SmoothBox
quote:Legal so long as you do not disturb it except for incidental disturbance while retrieving game, setting decoys, etc..
What if I keep an area in my corn field unplanted and put a pond there and leave the corn that’s say 50 yards from my pond standing?
Posted on 1/13/26 at 8:00 am to Ron Cheramie
quote:
They also are well known to loaf throughout the day and feed at night. You can go to Lacassine refuge
I hunted a lot as a guest on the northern boundary of Lacassine. Said to be the largest Spec roost in North America sat a blind called "Steamboat" Bill DuPont, of the chemical company offered Jim Bel, $250,000 to lease that blind, when they were both serving on the board of DU.
Where I hunted was in what they called "The Fish Pond" because it was shaped like a fish without a head. Only 3 blinds and a large rest area in the middle. Always a limit, but by the late 90's mallards were harder to come by and pintails almost nonexistent. On foggy days, Specs were taken right and left as the fog began to break. Everyone got at least one spec after getting their limit of ducks and waiting an extra hour. Still we had to complete our duck limits with bluebills and a Mexican Squealer or two. A section of land, rice field, was flooded with an inch or water between that area and the ridge just on the north side of Lacassine to hold ducks.
Posted on 1/13/26 at 8:03 am to Antib551
quote:Whats normal (i.e. normal ag practice) or your opinion of what's normal doesn't matter.
But I do want the government to tell them that they cant hunt it, because again it is not normal to flood corn after harvest.
Posted on 1/13/26 at 8:43 am to Antib551
Point I’m trying to make is these properties that spend a fortune to farm for waterfowl will always find a loophole.
Posted on 1/13/26 at 9:22 am to chew4219
quote:
we need a longer split and extend the closing date of the 2nd split another 3-4 weeks.
This will never happen
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