Duck hunters look forward to fall season

There were a lot of happy duck hunters this past week as the season and limits for the fall flight was announced by the Missouri Conservation Department With a 14 percent increase in the numbers of ducks that will be heading south this fall, area waterfowlers like Robert Johns and Gene Southwick, Joplin, are already planning for the upcoming season.

Southwlck said, "Several years ago, l almost gave up duck hunting because the mallard population had declined, but with some eight million mallards heading our way in a few months. I'm glad I hung on. We usually start the season around the Fountain Grove area and move south with the ducks by hunting Four Rivers or the SchellOsage Wildlife Areas."

Surveys in the duck breeding grounds show mallard population up by 10 percent form the 2006 fall flight. Other popular ducks using the Mississippi Flyway have also increased, including Gadwall, up 19 percent; American Wigeon, up 29 percent; Bluewing Teal, up 14 percent and Greenwings, up 13 percent.

The increase in the number of ducks is a result of winter snowfall and percipatlon made for good habitat in the nesting ground this spring.

Southwlck went on to say," Should we have good weather and water conditions by the time the duck season opens, it Will be a year to remember."

The early teal season that opens on Sept. 8 for a 16 day run, looks promising. The early migrants have been increasing in numbers for the past two years and with water conditions good, hunting for these fast flying small ducks should be the best In years.

Southwlck said, "We usually combine the teal season with dove hunting next month. There have been many times we have gotten our limits of both dove and teal. This looks like another year we might do the same."

Global Warming is a concern for most hunters and anglers. Most anglers and hunters are concerned about global warming. According to a national poll of more than 2,500 sportsmen and woman conducted by Angler and Hunter Survey.com last month showed 58 percent of hunters and 66 percent of anglers reported they considered global warming to be a threat Two-thirds think global warming is a natural cycle that is accelerating as a result of human activities. At the other end, nearly a fourth of the hunters and 16 percent of the anglers felt global warming was not an lame, but is being made into an issue by others.