North Dakota Game and Fish

[don novicki]

I wish I knew how to link a video, but I just watched a video from them and it doesn't sound good. The video was made 6-19-25 and the gentleman talking went into great length about how the spring was so dry when they did there survey, and a lot of species were hit hard. They said Mallard numbers were down 35% form last year and that overall production was poor. If anyone could find this video and link it here I think you would be amazed, and not in a good way. Yet the USF&WS still continues with a 6-60.

[Ducaholic]

https://youtu.be/QQRvrJorhdY

[Rick]

[don novicki]

Thanks fellas. Pretty depressing report from the PPR. Even though here in Pa. we don't get any of those ducks through here for migration, looks like it could be slim picking come this fall. I had hopes of going this year but his report kind of put me off.

[Rick]

It'll be what it'll be, and that will be better than not going.

[Duck Engr]

Eh, ya never know, Don. I’ve long tried to link the pre season reports to my season success (or not) and have yet to do so successfully. I’ve just stuck to “don’t know till ya go.”

We had fantastic (wood) duck numbers locally last year but not as good duck numbers over toward the Mississippi where I travel to hunt.

Will also caution that we knew North Dakota would be bad. It was in a significant drought over much of the state for most of the spring. Will be interesting to see report from Canada. Parts of Saskatchewan and Alberta had better moisture.

[PorkChop]

I am not worried yet. I am seeing ducklings and goslings. As I mentioned in the past it’s my uneducated opinion these surveys are outdated. They need to adapt and change to weather conditions. That being said I agree overall duck numbers have been declining and I think they are ignoring it.