Duck Numbers Are Up!

[GooseFlocker]

Preliminary report shows increase in breeding ducks for 2007.

http://www.ducks.org/news/1305/Ducknumbersupslightl.html

[Mike Hungle]

Excellent! Things really do look good up here this year.

[daboone]

This is great news!!! Im so excited to see this increase of birds in my decoy spread :D Ya gotta love the spooners being at an all time high. Its pretty concerning to see the Pintails decrease 2% when everything else is up.

[Craig Boyd]

Great news!

Thanks for posting.

[Hockeyman]

For a duck hunting outdoor writer, this is indeed Christmas in July - duck numbers are up, some at record high levels.

With plenty of water in my home state of Texas this fall, all we'll need is some cold weather and perhaps the table is set for a banner waterfowl hunting year.

Sure hope so.

Here's the link to the DU press release on our site:

http://www.waterfowlandretriever.com/articles.asp?ArticleID=45

And here's the link to the Delta Waterfowl press release on our site (some different things noted, including the fact that mallards may not be in as good a shape as everyone is hoping for):

http://www.waterfowlandretriever.com/articles.asp?ArticleID=46

Finally, if you get a chance, check back at www.waterfowlandretriever.com later today and I'll have a new column up about today's announcement and how this one duck hunter is looking forward to this fall's duck season.

Thanks,

Hockeyman (Lynn Burkhead)

[Hockeyman]

Well, learned a valuable lesson - don't promise something until it is ready to go up.

Friend had a death in the family yesterday evening, so I never made it back to get column written.

If you'd like to take a look at my column check back on the www.waterfowlandretriever.com site in the morning.

Hockeyman (LB)

[duckin82]

more wigeon,gadwall, and cans is good news for me.
thanks for posting

[Hockeyman]

Well, finally got the column up.

Kind of a personal thing for me to write after missing last season due to emergency surgery.

Take a read, see what you think.

LB

http://www.waterfowlandretriever.com/articles.asp?ArticleID=48

[Hockeyman]

Also more good news for duck hunters, especially those back east - feds say that black duck numbers and ring-necked ducks are way up thanks to good habitat.

Here's fed's news release along with a video link showing habitat conditions and biologist interviews.

http://www.waterfowlandretriever.com/articles.asp?ArticleID=47

LB

[Mallardbreath]

Nice article Hockeyman. BTW, why the name hockeyman?

[Hockeyman]

Live in Texas, fell in love with the Dallas Stars when they came to Big D, have played roller hockey off and on, and wish I could have grown up playing ice hockey.

So I guess I'm a wannabe hockeyman.

That and I love to hunt mallards in the snow! :)

Sounds like I should live in Minnesota, North Dakota, or Montana rather than Texas.

LB