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Duck & Goose Hunting
on the
Tennessee River
& Kentucky Lake
"A great
guide and hunting setup" -Tony Accerano, SPORTS AFIELD MAGAZINE
a Ducks
Unlimited
Sponsor
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Waterfowl
Forecast
Click on the Weekly Waterfowl Report icon (on
your left) for recent duck counts, hunting reports, and updated
information.
(Posted July 3, 2010)
GOOD NEWS FROM BREEDING GROUNDS AS DUCK NUMBERS
HOLD UP...(see
chart below)
By Steve McCadams
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service released its preliminary report today on mid-continent breeding
ducks and habitats, based on surveys conducted in May. The total duck
population is nearly 41 million, which is similar to last year’s
estimate and 21 percent above the long-term average.
“These are
encouraging numbers as we see most species are at or above their
long-term averages,” said Dale Humburg, Ducks Unlimited chief biologist.
“The habitat conditions in many regions should support a good breeding
effort.”
2010 Estimates of May Ponds and Breeding Ducks
(in millions)
|
Species
|
2009
|
2010
|
% Change
From 2009
|
% Change from
Long-term Avg. |
|
May Ponds (U.S. & CAN)
|
6.434
|
6.665
|
+4%
|
+34% *
|
|
Total Ducks
|
42.005
|
40.893
|
-3%
|
+21% *
|
|
Mallard
|
8.512
|
8.430
|
-1%
|
+12% *
|
|
Gadwall
|
3.054
|
2.977
|
-3%
|
+67% *
|
|
American wigeon
|
2.469
|
2.425
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-2%
|
-7%
|
|
Green-winged teal
|
3.444
|
3.476
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+1%
|
+78% *
|
|
Blue-winged teal
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7.384
|
6.329
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-14% *
|
+36% *
|
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Northern shoveler
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4.376
|
4.057
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-7%
|
+76% *
|
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Northern pintail
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3.225
|
3.509
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+9%
|
-13% *
|
|
Redhead
|
1.044
|
1.064
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+2%
|
+63% *
|
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Canvasback
|
0.662
|
0.585
|
-12%
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+3%
|
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Scaup
|
4.172
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4.244
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+2%
|
-16% *
|
* indicates
significant differences
Habitat conditions across the
U.S. and
Canadian prairies and parklands were generally good. However,
further north, wetland conditions in
boreal
regions of Alaska and northern Canada were only fair at the time of
the survey. During the survey and into early summer, many regions
important to breeding ducks received significant precipitation, which
could increase later breeding efforts and ensure brood survival. If
these wet conditions continue, prospects going into the winter and
possibly into spring 2011 could be favorable as well.
Mallards, gadwalls, green-winged teal, northern shovelers and
redheads mirrored last year’s numbers, and all remained above their
long-term averages. Canvasback and American wigeon numbers were similar
to last year’s, as were pintail and scaup numbers, although populations
of these two species remain below their long-term averages.
“It’s great to hear the report of steady duck populations, but
habitat loss continues to be a significant threat to North America’s
waterfowl,” said Dale Hall, DU CEO. “For most species, this year’s
numbers are encouraging, but DU must remain dedicated to its
mission of
long-term, landscape-level habitat conservation if we are to meet the
life-cycle needs of the continent’s waterfowl.”
“I would expect to see a fall flight similar to last year’s,” Humburg
says. “But everyone must keep in mind that weather and habitat strongly
influence the timing and distribution of ducks in the fall flight, and
these factors are very dynamic. Although I’m optimistic about the 2010
fall flight, it’s several months before the season opens, and a lot
could happen to migration and wintering habitat before then.”
Steve
McCadams
Professional Guide Service
Crappie and Bass Fishing ~
Duck and Goose Hunting
on Tennessee's Kentucky Lake
655 Anderson Drive
Paris, Tennessee 38242
Phone: (731) 642-0360
E-Mail Steve
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Fishing on
Tennessee's
Kentucky Lake
"America's
Best Known Crappie Fisherman" - Nick Sissley, FISHING WORLD
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