re: The golden years for ducks are gone....

I agree. I don’t know about a shift, but birds are not migrating as far south. Missouri and Northern Arkansas are holding birds like never before.

It has to do with habitat IMO. I think more efforts are being made up north to attract and hold birds. Conversely, in MS, LA and Arkansas in particular, 10s of thousand of acres of what used to be low lying, grain producing AG fields have been planted in CRP/WRP through reforestation easements.

The food is no longer there to attract and hold ducks.

I think this has affected areas like Delta/Wax by approximation.

It’s almost always about the habitat. Ducks are trying to eat and survive.