Outdoor Guide
JOHN FLORES PHOTO
2013-2014
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Waterfowl forecast
By John Flores uring the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association’s annual conference held in Lafayette on Aug. 10, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Waterfowl Study Leader, Larry Reynolds, presented a discussion titled “Pre-Season in Louisiana: Standing Solid … Mostly.” His presentation dealt mainly with the question, “Why are things the way they are?” What many hunters don’t realize is this is the 17th straight 60-day – six-duck liberal harvest waterfowl season. Only the older hunters can remember when there were 30day and three-duck seasons. And, why things are the way they are is simply moisture improvement in the upper Midwest and Canada this past spring. When comparing this year’s pond count to the spring of 2012, there was a 24 percent increase totaling 6.9 million ponds, which also
Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • October 2013
equated to 35 percent above the long-term average. Reynolds also pointed out in his presentation that spring surveys showed 45.6 million ducks; down six percent from 2012. But, in spite of being slightly lower, duck numbers still remained 33 percent above the long-term average dating back to 1955 when the United States Fish and Wildlife Service began conducting surveys. Reynolds said, “Last year we had a record number of ducks, but hunters were dissatisfied with the hunting. An increase in pond numbers correlates to improved reproductive success over last season. What we found last season after looking at wings turned in by hunters was lower reproductive success. We should have expected that right away. Last year we lost 35 percent of our ponds, but we got 24 percent of them back this year.” Perhaps the biggest news was the increase in daily bag limit from four to six teal during the
recent September special teal season. During the spring survey, 7.7 million blue winged teal were counted; down six percent from 2012. But, blue winged teal still remained a whopping 60 percent above the long-term average and provided waterfowl hunters with another 16-day liberal season again this year. The bottom line from the department is when blue winged teal numbers go below 3.3 million the season will be closed. When blue winged teal numbers are between 3.3 and 4.7 million the season will be set at nine days. And, when numbers are above 4.7 million the season will be 16 days. There’s nothing like good news. And this year the LDWF decided to increase the possession limit on ducks from a two-day bag limit to three. Reynolds said, “We have been fighting over possession limits for three years at the flyway meetings. We cannot find any evidence
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