[KO]

3 days left of the MN waterfowl season. It will go down as the worst I've seen in 37 years of hunting. Talked to 100's of hunters who agree. Yet the USFWS allowed a 60 day season and 6 bird limit. Talked to hunters from Canada who state they have never seen so few birds. Talked to others who state the DAkotas had only a couple of good days. I heard an un-named biologist state that we will always have ducks to look at, but not enough to hunt. He isn't far off. I just spent the last week in the best fall waterfowl areas of western Mn. 1000's of geese, swans. Ducks? I was impressed when I saw about 500 rafted on the National wildlife refuge. Checked 2 other great duck refuges, same story, geese, no ducks. The bottom line is this, the USFWS is doing a horendous job in managing the continents duck population. Hunters need to speak up and do it soon and loud to the usfws and their state and local politicians before it's too late. I for one have parked to rig and am done paying 15.00 for a stamp. I'll continue to buy my state stamps, but I can no longer justify killing ducks. You'd think in 2004 we could do better. Apparently not

 

[Dunk221999]

I agree with you 100%. The first step to solving a problem is admitting that there is a problem, however, when the USFWS continues to give liberal seasons, and then open up the season a week earlier, it isn't helping populations very much!

Habitat is poor, the duck population is poorer. This has been a terrible duck hunting year. I've shot over 40 honkers, but few ducks.

ALthough I love hunting, next season should be a 3 bird limit.

 

[Quackkills9]

theres always alot of ducks and geese holding on Agassiz Refuge each year but later in the season goes, they stay in the refuge almost all day...

 

[Dunk221999]

There are a few, to me a lot of birds isn't a few hundred, or even a few thousand, and if those are the numbers that we are going to be satisfied with then we as hunters and conservationists have an even bigger problem. That is the will to get our populations back up to the levels they were in the late 90's. 11.5 million mid-continent mallards in 98 to 8.5 in 2004, is a huge loss. Together we need to get the word out that we are not happy with the status of our wetlands and the conservation practices that are currently taking place. Write your congressman and express yourself. Layin back and saying nothin is heading us into a disasterous situation.