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"Trying To Understand" Being one of those larger mammals (duck hunters) myself, it always amazes me what can change from one season to the next, providing different challenges in the pursuit. Earlier reports indicate bird numbers for several species are down some this season, but hunters in the lower part of the Mississippi Flyway have other issues to be concerned about. Issues that have changed dramatically since the last season, issues that may change even more before the season opens in the southern part of the flyway. Yes, the ducks will migrate and yes they will do it about the same time as always. How far they will go and how long they will stay is a much harder call to make, but those aren't the changes I'm talking about. Instead, I'm talking about the changes in habitat and conditions! Many of the southern states in the MS Flyway experienced a much wetter spring than normal. Rivers overflowed, with record water levels reported. Lakes and reservoirs were full to capacity, some of which had all the floodgates on their dams open for the first time ever. The high waters kept many farm operations from planting the crops of choice and some operations didn't even get to plant all their fields, because of the floods and field damage from the rushing waters. To add to the nightmare farm operations faced this past spring, many of the same farmers have reportedly lost large portions of their crops … as a result of the recent visit from hurricane Gustav. I've been told that some farmers in Louisiana had finished their rice harvest and others were well under way before the torrential rains and high winds hit, but that's only in the southern part of the state. Along with Louisiana, portions of Mississippi and Arkansas got an unusual amount of rain, as a result of the hurricane. Reports from southeastern Arkansas indicate as much as 12 inches of rain fell in some areas. That's a lot of rain, on crops that were ready to harvest and the rain and wind took its toll on some of the farm operations in those areas. A news report I saw yesterday said that as much as 30% to 40% of the rice crop, in the hardest hit counties in Arkansas, may have been knocked down. I've also heard tell of one large farm operation, in the Grand Prairie Region of Arkansas, that had both their rice and corn crop beat to the ground by the driving rains. Anyway you look at it, this is not good situation. Hopefully the farmers will salvage part of the downed crops, allowing them to recoup some of the thousands, upon thousands of dollars they had invested in it, but there's a chance some will loose more than they will harvest. From a duck hunter's standpoint, the downed grain may not be of any benefit either. With another month or so of warm weather predicted, the water soaked grain will more than likely sprout, eliminating much of its food value for ducks. With hurricane Ike predicted to make landfall within a few days of this writing, it looks as though we may not be through with the weather yet. Forecasts are calling for rain again this weekend and into next week. Hopefully conditions won't be as severe as the problems Gustav caused, since Ike appears to be heading for Texas, but Ike's weather is still going to be a factor in the rest of the south. The heavy rains have filled many of the oxbow lakes, sloughs and rivers in the south, which can be an advantage for hunters. While these states have not started trapping water on the public hunting ground, the amount of available surface water should help hold the early birds as they arrive. Then again, with the possibilities of additional rain from Ike and other such storms and weather patterns that are sure to hit, we may find the southern part of the MS Flyway facing a really wet year. When you think about it, using the term "wet year" may be putting it lightly. We could be looking at another year with major floods. Then again, wet or flooded, when you factor in the additional amount of surface water, with what appears to be somewhat of a change, or elimination, in the food supply the ducks are used to finding, we may all find ourselves … "Trying To Understand" … what those elusive birds, with the small brains, are thinking … or where they're hiding! |
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