Waterfowl numbers are at all-time highs. What does this mean to you? One of the best duck seasons that we have ever lived through is possible. Ducks Unlimited recently released their flyway forecast for the Pacific, Central, Mississippi, and Atlantic flyways.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), this year’s estimate of breeding ducks in the traditional survey area was 49.5 million birds, a slight increase from last year’s record total and the largest since standardized surveys began in 1955. This year’s mallard breeding population of 11.6 million birds was also a record, eclipsing the previous all-time high of 11.2 million birds set in 1958. In more good news for duck hunters, green-winged teal numbers were up 19 percent, hitting a record high of almost 4.1 million birds. Populations of gadwalls, redheads, canvasbacks, blue-winged teal, American wigeon, and northern shovelers were also well above their long-term averages, while northern pintails and scaup remained below their long-term averages.
Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
