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JEFFERSON CITY--Waterfowl hunters can thank Mother Nature and Uncle Sam for much of North America^s booming duck populations. Wet weather and the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) are largely responsible for boosting duck numbers to record levels.
Last spring, breeding duck numbers (about 41.8 million) were only slightly lower than the record 43.4 million ducks in 1999. Ducks Unlimited Chief Biologist Dr. Bruce Batt says, "This is almost certainly the result of excellent wetland conditions since the mid 1990s, and the increased production we have seen is a result of upland habitat provided by the Conservation Reserve Program."
Congress created the CRP in 1985 to help address environmental problems caused by the conversion of natural habitat to crop land. Clearing and draining of wetlands reduced waterfowl nesting and migrating habitat by millions of acres. Limited habitat and drought caused duck populations to dwindle to record lows in the 1980s.
CRP provides financial incentives for landowners to manage their property in wildlife- and environment-friendly ways for 10- to-15 year periods. The program has encouraged landowners throughout the duck breeding and migrating grounds to convert millions acres of crop land to grasslands.
While it is well known that ducks need water to thrive, it is unlikely that the return of favorable weather conditions alone could have caused duck populations to rebound to their current levels. Upland habitat, added through CRP, also was critically important because it provided nesting cover.
The changes in weather and habitat improvements have provided some of the best waterfowl hunting opportunities seen in decades. This is the fourth year in a row that hunters could go afield 60 days to pursue ducks. Duck season continues through Dec. 24 in the North Zone, Dec. 31 in the Middle Zone and Jan. 14 in the South Zone.
Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until sunset. The bag limit is six ducks daily, with the following species restrictions: four mallards (no more than two females); three scaup; two wood ducks; one pintail; one black duck, two redheads, one hooded merganser; one canvasback. The possession limit is twice the daily limit.
- Arleasha Mays -
Uploaded: 12/16/2000
Uploaded: 12/16/2000