Rick wrote:Public management areas and private individuals who could afford it have been flooding grain for hunting at least as long as I've been serious enough about waterfowling to notice, circa '70s. Vandamore ain't got nothing on the Ohio DNR or Auggie Busch.
I am aware of those in the past that have done this and still do, and know the baiting laws allow for flooded grain (discretionary in some cases) but this has multiplied substantially over the last twenty years and continues to grow. Heck, if the tractor would have stayed working that one year, and we could have drained well enough in years after that, I would have had a stand of jap millet going. I'm fairly certain you've seen the affects of baiting on a local level. Fill the mid migration route with that and it's a no brainier.
If I didn't feel so strongly that flooded corn or other grains, private or NWR's, were affecting the migration, I'd not be interested in this mess. I feel it's the only thing we can eliminate from the equation to at least have a chance of keeping what we have. Natural phenomena and standard, modern farming practices are nothing we can stop or change. Imprinting is real, and as long as this continues I feel we're in trouble. Eliminate what you can, and not worry about the rest. Accept the outcome. As long as there's a removable piece to the puzzle, I'll not be at rest.
It does in deed.
