Everything coming up roses for duck hunters… so far

Duck hunters will find much to rejoice about in the 2009 breeding duck report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
The report estimates North America’s total breeding duck population at 42 million. That is up 13 percent from last year and 25 percent more than the average since 1955.
The FWS estimates the mallard breeding population at 8.5 million. That is 10 percent more than last year and 13 percent above the long-term average (LTA) for the species most sought after by hunters.
The survey estimated breeding numbers of blue-winged teal at 7.4 million, 11 percent more than last year and up 60 percent from the LTA. This has special significance for the early teal season in September, whose length depends on blue-winged teal numbers. This year’s season will run for 16 days, from September 12 through 27.
Estimates of other ducks’ breeding numbers were:
· Northern pintails, 3.2 million, up 23 percent from last year but still 20 percent below the LTA.
· Green-winged teal, 3.4 million, up 16 percent from last year and 79 percent above the LTA.
· Gadwalls, 3.1 million, about the same as last year and up 73 percent from the LTA.
· American wigeon, 2.5 million, about the same as last year and down 5 percent from the LTA.
· Northern shovelers, 4.4 million, up 25 percent from last year and 92 percent above the LTA.
· Redheads, 1 million, essentially the same as last year, but 62 percent above the LTA.
· Scaup, 4.2 million, up 12 percent from last year but down 18 percent from the LTA.
· Canvasbacks, 662,000, up 35 percent from last year and 16 percent above the LTA.
Resource Scientist Dave Graber, a waterfowl biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, said ducks must find favorable nesting conditions in Canada and the northern United States in order for high breeding population numbers to translate into a strong fall flight of ducks. Particularly important to Missouri hunters is the Prairie Pothole Region of southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, plus the north-central United States. The number of ponds in these regions was up 45 percent from last year and 31 percent above the LTA. Pond numbers were especially encouraging in Montana and the Dakotas, which had 108 percent more water than last year and 87 percent more than the LTA.
Graber said....
Read the complete story in the July 23rd edition.