Could be a tough year for waterfowl hunting on Delmarva
The first bits of information about what sort of duck hunting season we could see this fall are beginning to trickle out as biologists analyze data from the first aerial surveys, pond counts and water levels on the breeding grounds. Delta Waterfowl, one of the major waterfowl conservation organizations, has the first word on the subject and it isn't a good one — dry.
"A remarkably high number of returning ducks had to compete for a remarkably low number of wetlands," said Dr. Frank Rohwer, Delta Waterfowl president and chief scientist. "That doesn't mean good things for duck production."
"Incredible duck production, which results in high numbers of decoy-vulnerable juveniles, is what leads to incredible duck seasons," Rohwer said. "This spring's dry conditions indicate we'll be hunting flocks with more adult ducks in them this fall."
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The pond count numbers on the prairie breeding grounds, which last year numbered 6.3 million, look to be below the long term average this year, down under 4 million. Those poor conditions on the prairies means puddle ducks will fare the worst. Many ducks appeared to overfly the best nesting areas due to lack of water, heading farther north into areas with more water but less productive habitat.
"The total duck estimate should remain strong," Rohwer said. "Last year, the overall population estimate was 49.5 million, so I suspect we will still exceed 40 million ducks — which is well above the long-term average — thanks to high carryover from several good breeding seasons."
"I anticipate that mallards and pintails will see big drops in their population estimates, due largely to their tendencies for overflight in dry years," Rohwer said. "Production is also likely poor, especially for pintails. Their success is closely tied to the presence of shallow, temporary wetlands, so it simply isn't going to be a good year for pintails."
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The best news this year could be diving duck numbers. "Canvasback numbers should remain fairly stable," Rohwer said. "I predict some reduction in cans from last year's estimate of 757,000, but it would be surprising if the number drops below the long-term average of 581,000. The scaup estimate may prove the bright spot this year," Rohwer said. "I expect it to be relatively unchanged, and perhaps even show an increase."
Keep in mind that all the surveys and data collected this year will be used to set seasons occurring over a year from now, for 2017-18. The seasons, dates and bag limits for this coming fall, 2016-17, are already set, finalized and available for viewing either in the new Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping or online at www.dnr.maryland.gov.
And geese too?? Reports from the breeding grounds of our migratory AP Canada geese are also, if not gloomy, as least cause for angst. We'll still have plenty of geese this year and the season is already set as far as hunting, but reports from the aerial survey flight crews (which you can find on www.flyways.us) indicate late ice and snow cover in the Ungava peninsula area, where our geese breed, and poor numbers of breeding pairs. While the overall numbers of geese remain strong, if the birds have a poor hatch as expected it will mean a much higher proportion of smart, adult birds in the wintering flocks on Delmarva. That, my friend, can make for tough hunting.
Outdoor Calendar
July 29-31: 3rd Annual Big Fish Classic, Talbot Street Pier, Ocean City, 410-213-0325
Aug. 2: Maryland waterfowl blind site licensing day, first day lottery for each county
Aug. 5-6: Eighth annual Marlin Club Ladies Tournament, OC Marlin Club, Ocean City, 410-213-1613
Aug. 6: Ninth Annual Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce Flounder Tournament, Pines Point Marina, Ocean Pines, 410-641-5306
Aug. 8-12: 43rd Annual White Marlin Open, Harbour Island Marina, Ocean City, 410-289-9229
Aug. 13: Maryland Waterfowlers Association swap meet, Talbot Rod and Gun Club, Easton, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., www.talbotrodandgunclub.com
Aug. 15: Start of Maryland crow season, Wednesdays through Saturdays only
Through Dec. 20: Maryland striped bass season for Chesapeake and tributaries, two fish daily, 20-inch minimum, only one fish over 28 inches