The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released its report on duck numbers nationwide, based on surveys conducted in May and early June by Fish and Wildlife and the Canadian Wildlife Service.
Overall duck numbers in the survey area are similar to last year and remain steady. Total populations were estimated at 48.4 million breeding ducks in the survey area. That is 38 percent above the 1955-2015 long-term average. Last year's estimate was 49.5 million birds.
The projected fall migration of mallards is 13.5 million birds, similar to the 2015 estimate of 13.8 million.
The main factor for duck breeding success is wetland and upland habitat conditions in the prairies of the northern United States and southern Canada. Conditions observed across the survey area were generally poorer than last year.
"In light of the dry conditions that were observed across much of the northern breeding grounds, it is reassuring to see that the breeding population counts were little changed from last year," said Scott Yaich, chief scientist at Ducks Unlimited. "But, with total counts similar to the long-term average, and with hunting season and winter mortality being a relatively small part of annual mortality, it's not surprising to see that populations largely held steady.
"What's not reflected in the report is that there was fairly significant improvement in habitat conditions after the surveys were completed," Yaich said. "In some key production areas, heavy June and July rains greatly improved wetland conditions. This could benefit brood rearing and the success of late nesting species, as well as give a boost to overall production through re-nesting by early nesting species.
The spring surveys provide the scientific basis for many management programs across the country, including hunting regulations. Individual states set their hunting seasons within a federal framework of season length, bag limits and dates.
Hunters should check the rules in their states for final dates and bag limits.
Sports on 08/23/2016