doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Duck hunting and climate change

Craig the high crop prices and development of short-growing season corn and beans have accelerated wetland drainage and conversion of native grassland and domestic hayland to cropland across the U.S. portion of the Prairie Pothole Region. This is reducing the ability of the Region to support breeding ducks even though the fall migrants may stay around for a bit longer on the deeper lakes and reservoirs. Another serious problem is the loss of diversified farms. I can show you hundreds of wetlands that were formerly grazed, sunlit and filled with short emergent or submerged native plants that are now idle and choked with hybrid cattail and willow. These are next to useless for breeding ducks and nearly all other native wetland birds. And its not only private land that is in this condition...most of our National Wildlife Refuges and Waterfowl Production areas are in the same sad condition.

Hal, I am sure you are correct about what is happening in the Prairie Pothole region with respect to breeding. But in the east the breeding areas are more stable (they are in non arg regions), our problem is the wintering areas to the south are more developed. The National Wildlife areas in our area are expanding and in better shape than ever due to DU projects and private help. My point is in the east the land use is making it easier for the ducks to stay instead of moving south. Our area is hilly, the winter snow blows off the grain fields exposing grain to the ducks which allows them to feed through the winter. Our wetlands are improving. By the way ND is a very nice place, I hunt in the Streeter area every year.

Thanks Craig. I used to hunt diving ducks on Big Alkali lake west of Streeter, but now the water levels are too high and the lake is full of slimy fish. Hard to believe the bottom of this lake was farmed in 1915.