you guys would be shocked to see how much corn is now flooded or shredded in the Midwest. And it ain't 10 acres here and there...more like thousand of acres all over the Midwest are flooded each season now. Leasing land to clubs/outfitters has become a farmers wet dream in the past 10 years. does it stop the entire mallard population? NO. but it ain't helping either. Birds are not imprinted either like they were back as early as the mid to late 90's when the crème de la crème of green shoots started to come to a halt. yea, some of you cats may string up a green limit a day or 2 but the old farts like myself know what was what when it was really good. Lack of food source down here, declining imprinting over the years and a friggin outpouring of new hunters into the field the past 10 years will cause birds to change patterns. As far as the weather..yea it sucks..Green or not I likes me a butt azz cold ,blue bird morning and we don't even get those much each season anymore to make it feel like duck season. I agree whole heartedly with Todd's statement. Those of you who have been around as long as we have understand this to be true as well.

It's interesting that you bring DU into this conversation. I work for a company that sells into the ag industry all over the US. I was talking with a gentleman from Stuttgart one day, and somehow DU got brought up. His opinion of them was ... less than positive.

According to him, DU has these 'rest stations' around the Mississippi delta and elsewhere. They're property DU owns or leases, and he claimed DU tosses corn out on them. The corn provides a food source and keeps anyone from being able to hunt the area.

Even allowing for some exaggeration, the man was talking huge amounts of corn. He was middle-aged, had lived in the area his whole life, and said that the duck hunting has been noticeably impacted.

Now don't get me wrong; I'm all for DU. I think they're absolutely great and do wonders for duck hunting, the duck hunting community, and duck populations. I merely bring this up as another voice chiming in to say that migration routes can be changed. I'm not for, against, or indifferent; just interested.

Sounds like y'all are just making excuses for a season that has yet to happen. Excuse prepping...thats a new one. There's record number of ducks getting ready to pile down through the central flyway, whether their heads are green, red, purple or black just shoot them. They'll be plentiful and available to those that make the effort to find'em and kill'em.

not an excuse...FACT! You string up green every day for weeks on end during the season and then get back to me, scooter. ain't gonna happen What we will do though is bust the heII out of glads and widg to no end! ...and that is fine with me

Ahh hell, I don't care bout shootin no park ducks.

ScooterCogburn13

The facts are in the numbers.

797 green heads in 96.
812 in 97

Declining from there
29/2012 birds shot here last yr on my properties.

My point is Dont expect "fronts/cold" to push birds.

I hunt with a friend on the platte river in NE. Now they get pushes of birds!



I'm with rooster though. I will take this over a pile of green any day!

DU thinks its cool to pump water in Nebraska in Dec. Explain to me why the hell you need to flood in Dec in Nebraska. Every thing is frozen they can drain an aquifer with your donations for their private hunting land.

Only one way to save the duck, protect their spring time nesting habitat. Out side of that DU has no business, especially in politcs like supporting cap and trade

Let's get some snow! I want the deer to be forced to come to my feeders.

Moonie...love the sig bro

Homey dont play that

I sent this part to several callmakers and 3 different game wardens that work along the Mississippi flyway. They all said basically this is a lot of misinformation.


Part of one of the responses.

I kill plenty of mallards in TX.

Hey Elder, if you don't like other's opionion, why don't you just STFU and move on.

Brazos and Homey are right on track.....I agree 100%

Various things over the years have stopped mallards from migrating to Texas like they used to. Some of you may not be old enough or hunted long enough to know the difference, but its true.

Everything from drought, changes in Ag practices, short stopping, lies about bird counts and College DU Topwaters have all had negative impacts.


Easy there Sandman.....we all know you are a mallard killin mofo!!

I am with Brazosboyt...mallards are a rarity in central texas now. When everything froze up 3-4 years ago we got no push of ducks and what was here left. Early season I have had some good hunts shooting widgeon, pintail, gadwalls. Peanut country around Rochester doesn't get near as many mallards as they use to either(they still get millions of geese though).

You do the same thing Save the Cormorant

I however will not so save your breath

Well, unless you ask nicely

Mallards have learned to stay in city parks where they are fed AND don't have to migrate back and forth.

Gadwalls are the new greenheads