Ducks short stopped or is it weather?

Shortstopping ducks is an internet rumor.

How come every other migratory bird just migrated on along? They have over represented duck numbers for a long time.

DU and Delta are probably more interested in banquets and cash than ducks.

People talk about a shift in flyaways, but I know guys that have been slaying them in Oklahoma and Kansas since the late 80s. But you can’t deny the degradation of the LA coast.

I dont see near the Robins I saw as a kid. Migration patterns change.

Agriculture and more habitat along the flyway have definitelt had impacts as well

Heere we go

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Shortstopping ducks is an internet rumor.

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What is your definition of short stopping ducks?

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Is it changes in agriculture?
Is it lack of extended cold weather up north?

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These two play a major role in waterfowl migration.

More farmers are doing no-till now than ever before. That means that waste grain is sitting on top of the ground instead of being tilled in, making it easier for ducks to get to.

And while there are species who are going to migrate regardless of how cold it gets (blue-winged teal, gadwall, wigeon), species like mallards and pintails are only going to go as far as necessary to find resources to survive. If they can find water and food that is not frozen/snow covered in Kansas or Oklahoma, they aren't coming to Louisiana. Not in significant numbers anyway.

Migration in any species is driven by resource scarcity. If resources can be reached at shorter distances, they aren't going to migrate as far, as it just becomes a waste of fat reserves to do so.

However, I think the decreased numbers and variable condition of the breeding grounds plays a role in how many birds we are seeing. This is speculative on my part, as I haven't researched bird numbers/trends in Northern states, but if Kansas and Oklahoma historically supported x number of birds, any birds over that would continue to move south. If their wintering grounds haven't changed, but we have less birds overall, then less birds are flying south.

Also, species distributions are changing in general. Look at the eastern expansion of the black-bellied whistling duck. That is but one example of what we are seeing in many birds.

Wild turkeys-how much impact do you think wild hogs and population explosion of raccoons have had on the number of turkeys.
It’s crazy how many coons there are these days.No one traps anymore,widespread corn feeding of deer.Also I don’t think many people coon hunt anymore.

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What is your definition of short stopping ducks?

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That organizations like DU are spending money to plant corn that goes unharvested or keep ponds from freezing.

You don’t think people work with DU to make “Habitat Improvements”? I know I do and others do. You don’t think DU had a hand in all the refuges that don’t allow duck hunting?

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What does this have to do with shortstopping ducks?

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A fricking lot.
Ag practices- more free food left behind.
Better private land habitat for ducks- ducks have a lot more habitat up the flyway so they don’t have to leave for better habitat.
Refuges- even here in Ms there are tons of birds that spend most of their time in areas you can’t hunt
Weather- if it doesn’t get enough ice and snow they aren’t pushed down.

That is what my definition of short stopping means.


There is way more habitat up the flyway. Yes, that includes flooded corn and rice fields. Yes, I even do it myself. I know people that have 300 acres of rice left just for ducks to have a rest area on their “club”.

Maybe duck numbers are low, but I couldn’t give an honest opinion on that.

Now, if you are referring to The Nets… well, I don’t feel like getting Arkansided