Post-Season Ramblings - Spring 2026

[Darren]

Calendar says February but habits have already turned more spring-like with yard projects, etc. In the duck world, it's really just about watching what the birds might return to on the breeding grounds moving forward in the months to come.

Drought monitor for the Dakota's looks much improved, with weather models hinting at fairly decent chances of snow/rain for the foreseeable.

Screenshot 2026-02-17 145613.jpg

Have (fingers crossed) a penciled day or two at the camp the wknd of Feb 28th so trying to make plans for some blind work at South Roseau and possibly also swapping out my GPS in duck boat for the next screen size larger. We're thinking only one other blind likely needs notable repairs/upgrades with the West Pond needing a new floor and maybe rails. Blind work in near term is of course subject to water levels, so TBD.

[Ericdc]

Canada as of January 31st. PPR looks mostly white and yellow.... better than orange and red.




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[Darren]

Canada as of January 31st. PPR looks mostly white and yellow.... better than orange and red.
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Yea really should track that one just the same. Want to say it was pretty dang colorful in recent past.

[Darren]

Got to know Roland through some past writing work, he's been at Dave's Bayou now for a good few years after a while in Arkansas.

To see the staggering swarms of green wings in this video, while also taking into account how many I saw, killed with my groups, or saw photos of others killing, is just bewildering as to the sheer number of them. Also taking into account they've been similarly hammered, anecdotally only of course, for at least the past handful of years as their availability brought them the brunt of hunters disgruntled with lack of "big ducks" they may have preferred but didn't have.

[Rick]

Felt they abandoned me this year, as my parties shot but 107 where we'd killed 173 the season before. Neil, who hunts what had long been CR marsh's strongest teal blind, has suffered a great downturn in their numbers in recent years and suspects they dislike the black-bellies that have taken over and made it the generally hottest spot for them.

[Darren]

Felt they abandoned me this year, as my parties shot but 107 where we'd killed 173 the season before. Neil, who hunts what had long been CR marsh's strongest teal blind, has suffered a great downturn in their numbers in recent years and suspects they dislike the black-bellies that have taken over and made it the generally hottest spot for them.

Black-bellies giveth, and black-bellies taketh away?


Speaking of; not sure I saw clarity on what the proposed early BBWD season means for the Fulvous variety??

[Rick]

Black-bellies giveth, and black-bellies taketh away?

Perhaps. While the black-bellies' penchant for flotant and general avoidance of open water most ducks are prone to use, they can't help but compete for some moist soil feeds puddlers also use.

On the other hand, in years not too far past, Clark and I have enjoyed watching great clouds of preseason teal and pintails fall from the heavens beyond sight to join CR's black-belly show. Can't say with real authority how they got along once on the marsh, beyond that on the one occasion I've sat in the observation/trigger blind on a black-belly and wood duck banding shoot, the two species shared our bait without meaningful discord until two squabbling mottleds showed up and ran them all off for a while: a very small sample.

Speaking of; not sure I saw clarity on what the proposed early BBWD season means for the Fulvous variety??

I'm fairly certain I've seen Larry point out that the early BBWD season would exclude their fulvous cousins.

[Darren]

I'm fairly certain I've seen Larry point out that the early BBWD season would exclude their fulvous cousins.

Oh boy, don't see that going well if in fact the case.

[Darren]

I'm fairly certain I've seen Larry point out that the early BBWD season would exclude their fulvous cousins.

Oh boy, don't see that going well if in fact the case.

Confirmed, no fulvous allowed in the bag. That sure seems like a tall ask for a state known for ID mistakes.

[Ericdc]

Louisiana manages for opportunity instead of resource.

Backwards in my opinion.


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[DComeaux]

Louisiana manages for opportunity instead of resource.

Backwards in my opinion.


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They'll tell you this straight up. Just ask. It's not a secret. Those that influence the USFWS ask for the same. I feel conservation has taken a back seat to opportunity and money, and has for some time now. I've said it many times, I liken it to welfare, it's going to be hard to take it away.

When you see a matrix change like this in today's waterfowl situation, it makes me wonder.

This past seasons pond and population numbers would have put us in a restrictive season.
2022

2022.png

2024

2024.png

[Ericdc]

I trust the science for now. What I don't like is all the extra hunting pressure we are creating with these extra opportunities l, whether it's veterans in February or BB's in October.


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[Darren]

I trust the science for now. What I don't like is all the extra hunting pressure we are creating with these extra opportunities l, whether it's veterans in February or BB's in October.
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Yea would surely rather not see anything hunted after the overall statewide closing bell. As for the black bellies in early October, have to believe that's negligibly impactful given most migrators aren't yet here at that time. In the greater (interior) Delacroix marshes, they are likely going to stack the black bellies without meaningful impact to actual migrators that may be present, which would be blue wings and maybe a few spoons anyway.


Note on that matrix sliding; was there not significant discussion on that vary observation last year? There seemed legit reason as to why it had shifted, and even some historical context of it having shifted both toward the liberal and the conservative at different points in time.

What's lately on my mind, and apparently plenty others, is the highly questionable excuses Big Corn has afoot in their messaging defending its current and continued use. One big name in Arkansas with public platform bangs the drum of "if there were more birds, it wouldn't matter, so lets focus on that," which I have a hard time accepting as reasonable justification.

[Ericdc]

Let's point the finger at ethanol if we are talking "big" corn.

We weren't whining about much 10 years ago when the BPOP was healthier.


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[Darren]

Let's point the finger at ethanol if we are talking "big" corn.

We weren't whining about much 10 years ago when the BPOP was healthier.

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Have to believe the quantity of flooded corn (and enhanced habitat in general in the mid-latitudes) is MUCH different today than ten years ago. But this argument of well there's just less ducks now, so its not our fault for slowing the migration and attempting to hold "our" birds just doesn't fly with me. Make no mistake, that sentiment is exactly what they're all doing, very openly in their public messaging. I'll pull some direct quotes from a couple of recent podcasts for the group, soon.

[Ericdc]

Oh I've seen it and read it. I just think the population is problem #1 (which includes production).

If we don't get that fixed, nothing else matters.


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[Rick]

Outlaw flooded crops, and folks will turn to moist soil management along with the pressure management that's the real key to holding birds.

[Ericdc]

Outlaw flooded crops, and folks will practice moist soil management along with the pressure management that's the real key to holding birds.

Yep. Those with the means will use them.

I understand why my area doesn't hold a lot of ducks anymore. Until farming changes or habitat is improved locally, we'll kill them on weather days and other than that, that's how it's going to be.


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[Duck Engr]

Yeah certainly agree that population and PPR drought is the number one problem but am also with Darren that the big boys wouldn’t be beating the drum so hard to keep it and spending $500+/acre to plant it if there wasn’t something to it.

A buddy of mine over a decade ago made an observation calling it the “bullseye” effect. He mused that it allows to hold a lot more ducks on much fewer acres., thus reducing the need to forage, so hunters see fewer ducks flying around. . I think the duck use days per acre are like 10x or more for standing rice/corn than comparable moist soil. Some cases it’s 20x to 30x for harvested fields and hardwood bottoms.

Re: the sliding scale of the season matrix, ducks unlimited did a whole podcast on it if you have some idle time. Start at 36:45 mark.

https://youtu.be/X22XQPZbHRI?si=INH85LSh0awgOMtJ