Build it - and they will come

[renny]

I've been reading all you guys opinions and ideas for a while now on why there are no ducks or lack of. I think everyone is right in some fashion and have good ideas for the future. I'am new to duck hunting in the last 4 yrs, so no way do I hold a candle to you life long hunters. So here's my 2 cts worth. My dads farm was put into the CREP program 4 yrs ago, land that had been farmed for 100 yrs. they planted natural parire grass and flowers, 9 ponds were dug in, rain has finally filled most of them up. We probley are not in any special flyway. and not alot of lakes are very close. But mother nature sure does know how to take care of things. A buddy of mine and I went out there last sunday to look things over and are amazed what has happened. There is vegatation around the water i have no idea that got there, natural blinds. Frogs!, where did they come from, minnows, all sorts of creatures, and best of all we snuck up on 13 huge mallards. We've had teal, geese, and a couple ducks I have no idea what they are. So point being, there are many many reasons there may or may not be lots of ducks, but from my point of view it all has to do with habitat, and there only so much of it around as long as man destroys or builds it. good hunting to all.

[gorrilla]

AMEN renny!!

Our mantra should be around preserving habitat...

Biologically speaking 4 vs 6 ducks doesn't amount to squat. Its just political pandering not biological decisions that led to the reduced limits this year. I wish people all would consolidate their efforts to the habitat cause instead of complaining about DNR regulations which are about like putting a band-aid on a heart wound...

[Fish_Off]

I agree we need to have better habitat for the bird numbers to even start going up. When the numbers are this low and birds are nesting in areas with no cover what are they going to be nesting in when the numbers are up. We need more habitat. As for the 4 bird limit I think it's minnesota trying to do something to stop the dropping bird population weather it helps or not is a different discusion.