Journals

Midwest Drought Worsens

Drought Worsens in Midwest – MS Delta Receives Rainfall

The once-in–a–lifetime drought that affects most of the U.S. Corn Belt got worse as August draws to a close, according to a new Agriculture Department report.

The U.S. Drought Monitor showed that just over two-thirds of the nation’s biggest corn producer, Iowa, was in exceptional drought as of Tuesday, August 21. That’s up more than 5 percentage points from the previous week. Nearly all of Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois were in extreme or exceptional drought. More than 63% of the contiguous U.S.A. is experiencing some level of drought. More than 23% is under exceptional or extreme drought.

In contrast Tropical Strom Isaac recharged MS Delta wetlands and brakes which were already at the best end of summer levels that we’ve seen in recent years as well as providing moisture to produce a stand on additional end of the summer millet and natural seed grasses.

We like the predictions of Delta Waterfowl Scientific Director, Frank Rohwer. “I’d suspect we won’t see the ducks held in the Midwest like we have in the past,” Rohwer said. “It’ll be good for coastal hunters and hunters in the South.”

Exceptional corn and soybean yields in the MS Delta should translate into abundant supplies of waste grain. The ever increasing popularity of no till farming provides a tremendous boost to leftover grain in the field. Fall rains wash the grain into lowlying areas where floodgates are closed to create open field duck holes.

We at MS Delta Ducks are getting excited about the upcoming season and hope that you share our enthusiasm. Come hunt with us – we’ve got a place for you!

Delta Ducks More Concentrated

Mississippi Delta Ducks More Concentrated as Available Water Acreage Shrinks

While the impact of the Midwest’s historic drought has the potential to push a large number of wintering ducks into the MS Delta, it is important to provide good habitat (food and water) to hold them in the area. I am already seeing a number of teal moving in to join the local ducks.

Several factors in the current agricultural sector will affect available water and food. First, the rice acres planted in our state are at the lowest level since the 1970’s. Traditionally re-flooded, harvested rice fields are a prime holding spot for ducks. Second, catfish pond acres have been reduced from 113,500 acres in ponds to 51,200 acres of current ponds. Catfish production is down 4,300 acres from just last year. With high corn prices (a component of feed) and low catfish prices, this trend will most likely continue. Finally, the Mississippi River’s levels as well as those of its tributaries are extremely low as a result of the drought.

At MS Delta Ducks we diversify our acreage and hunting experiences. We have chosen to locate some hunting acres in habitat complex areas that consist of flooded fields, brakes, wetlands and active catfish ponds. These areas attract quantities of waterfowl early and hold them throughout the season. Also, we have other acreage in timbered brakes and flooded fields which are totally removed from any catfish production. These areas are favored by mallards in the mid-to late-season. We supplement the natural and waste grain food sources with a blend of planted millet and other seed grains. We’re getting ready for the record number of waterfowl to head to the MS Delta where we have a place for you. Take advantage of our season hunt program and come hunt with us.

August Perspective of Duck Season

View of the Duck Season from a Favorable August Perspective

As all of you duck hunters are now aware, the 2012 spring duck population is the highest ever recorded. Populations of mallards, green-winged teal and northern shovelers have all increased. Locally, I have witnessed more ducklings. Each summer the number of ducks that choose to remain rather than migrate increases. Included in the local ducks are mallards, green-winged teal, northern shovelers and wood ducks. Other than wood ducks most of these species have not been very prolific in their MS Delta hatch numbers. It appears that they have begun to adapt to the spring and summer conditions in the Delta ponds and wetlands and adjusted their nesting and breeding habits to more successful patterns.

We all know that even great population numbers don't always translate into even a good wintering population in a particular area. Last year a near-historic spring and summer flood left large quantities of water in the wintering grounds to our north. Combined with a historically warm northern winter weather pattern, the conditions didn't push a major migratory wave south. On August 1 of this year, the worst drought conditions in the Midwest since 1956 has dropped the Mississippi River's summer level in Memphis to over 14 feet below normal. By August 22 it is forecast to be more than 55 feet lower than the highest reading taken during last year's flood. The level will almost match the record low level set in 1988.

When the waterfowl begin the migration, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missori, Iowa and Illinois will be experiencing lower winter water levels. Currently our local brakes and wetlands are at huntable levels on August 1. With a favorable cold northern winter, our conditions are better for holding ducks than in many years. Great duck numbers, dry northern wintering grounds and good MS Delta water levels could translate into a memorable 2012 - 2013 duck season. We're getting prepared by planting millet and building blinds.

Reserve your group a spot in the MS Delta Ducks Season Hunt Program and come hunt with us!

Trade Shows 2012

2012 Trade Shows

For weeks, our staff has been gearing up for two outdoors trade shows. After much anticipation, we loaded up early Friday morning for our first show in Birmingham, AL. I was really looking forward to this show for a lot of reasons. It was hyped up to be a very big show, and it was also a new one for us. We arrived around noon and spent an hour setting up our station before we grabbed a late lunch before the opening of the show’s first evening.

To my surprise, there were quite a few big name hunters there. Lee and Tiffany Lakosky were definitely the main attraction. They have a popular hunting show on The Outdoor Channel called “The Crush with Lee and Tiffany.” It was nice to get to meet them and visit with about how they started out in the outdoors industry. Also in attendance was Glenn Guist from the hit show “Swamp People.” I’m pretty sure he never wore shoes the entire time he was there. I watched in amazement as he walked around downtown Birmingham without shoes, smoking Marlboro cigarettes. It was truly a sight to see.

We were at the Birmingham trade show for three days and had the privilege of talking to hundreds of people. It was the biggest show that I have ever been to. They had anything and everything for hunting and fishing that you could ever want or want to learn about. It was estimated that about 40,000 people came through the show in those three days, and I would not be surprised if it was even more than that.

We spoke to a lot of good people and had a great time making new friends and talking duck hunting. In our booth we previewed a slide show on my computer and a video of our holes playing on a flat screen TV (that is now up on the front page of the website) for everybody to come by and look at. We also had our calls and did some calling to aggravate the booths around us and hopefully call in some fellow duck hunters.

Another big name at this show was Bill Dance, a legendary fisherman. I remember growing up and watching his shows as a kid. He taught people a lot of new and different techniques about the sport of fishing. One of the coolest things we got to see is one of the booths had a capuchin monkey. The monkey would go around and get quarters and dollars for “Good Luck.” I wish I knew how many thousands of dollars that monkey collected because I did not see many people pass up that opportunity to get “Good Luck” from a monkey.

There were a variety of booths at the show, ranging from exotic hunts to offshore fishing trips to local deer and turkey hunts. They had something for everyone. The boys and I really enjoyed this show and are looking forward to attending it next year.

The second show we attended was in Jackson, Mississippi. It was nice to

have a local show and see some good friends and familiar faces. It was like playing a home game for us. The Jackson show wasn’t as big as the Birmingham show, but it was definitely still a lot of fun. We had the opportunity to meet a lot of new people, which is always enjoyable for us. Another highlight was seeing all the big deer killed throughout Mississippi this past season.

During the three day show, we got to try a lot of good food – something we are very fond of. There were several deer processing place, known for doing excellent work, which were within smelling distance of our booth. Probably the best thing I sampled was green onion deer sausage.

Like last year, there were a lot of call companies in attendance. I got the chance to quack on several nice ones but came back to our good friends at Houndstooth Game Calls when it came time for me to purchase a call. I ended up buying a beautiful wooden, double-reed call that was made of cedar wood with a nice rich tone. I had never heard of a duck call made of that type of wood before, and it gives me a little touch of home when I blow on it.

Both of the trade shows that we attended this year were big successes. We had a great time and are looking forward to next year.

Delta Waterfowl Press Release

Delta Waterfowl issued a press release announcing that the 2012 spring duck population is the highest ever recorded. It revealed a 7 percent increase from 2011's record number of 45.6 million birds. Particularly significant to hunters in the Mississippi Delta are teal and northern shoveler numbers which are at an all-time high. These are our bread and butter birds in December. Green-winged teal weigh in at more than 3.4 million and shovelers now top 5 million. The number of mallards is promising news for the fields and brakes in January. At 10.6 million, the level of breeding mallards is a 15 percent increase over 2011 and 40 percent over the long-term average.

Jole Brice, Delta's senior director of conservation put it succinctly when he said, "Let's not forget that we hunt the fall flight, not the spring count." Good conditions are developing locally to hold wintering waterfowl in the area. The brakes and wetlands are at more favorable late summer levels than the previous two years. Recent rainfall should maintain the levels heading into fall. Grain prices have resulted in record acres of feed grain which will provide ample waste grain for winter food. We need an early, long, cold northern winter.

I will keep you apprised of local conditions as the season approaches. We are busy building blinds and planting millet for the MS Delta Ducks season program. My staff and I will be at the 29th Annual World Deer Expo in Birmingham on July 21 - 22 and at the Mississippi Wildlife Extravaganza in Jackson on August 4 - 5.

August and September are very big months for us in adding new groups to the program. Hope that you come hunt with us this season. Garrett will serve as senior field staffer this season joined by Jake and Britt along with one or two new guys. Give me a call with any questions or just to talk duck hunting. Come see me in Birmingham or Jackson.