DComeaux wrote:SpinnerMan wrote:DComeaux wrote:SpinnerMan wrote:DComeaux wrote:We just need more birds to make it to this state for everyone to have an opportunity.
Opportunity. What's enough ducks for it to be considered an opportunity? If I killed as many as you do, I'd feel like I had hit the duck jackpot. I shot 1 duck in Illinois this year. It's not my first 1 duck year either.
4 to 8 per hunt with 2 men, and a few hunts like our last day.
So it may take as many as an average of 4 birds harvested to even feel like you had an opportunity
By that standard there are extremely few duck hunters that have an opportunity.
I think this is the thing one of the guys mentioned in that series of videos. Pheasant hunters can only harvest 2 birds, which they don't do every time. Yet they are the happiest hunters. Some duck hunters are very unhappy unless they are getting more than double every time out. They just can't enjoy what they have. You have an incredible thing. The cup is a lot more than half full. It's an incredible opportunity don't let the fact that in theory it could be better take that away from you.
It's all of us older guy's down here have known, those that have seen better, and it will be very hard to transition to what's happening today. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching the sunrises in the marsh and all other non-waterfowl hunting activities, but I could also do this with a lot less work and the expense involved with waterfowl hunting. I'm anxious to see how the upcoming season plays out.
I don't understand not enjoying what you have even though, yes of course there has been better. I doubt this is the bottom for you guys either, but maybe back in the 30 day seasons it was better for those much fewer days. Obviously a shorter season should have a higher fraction during the peak migration period.
But my point is that it's only bad relative to expectation. For most waterfowl hunters, it would be wonderful. I guess the truth is that when you are on top, there is nowhere to go but down. It's unrealistic to think that when you are at the top of the top that should be what you expect for decades on end. Climate changes, weather patterns change, agriculture changes, land use changes, ... All those have to work in your favor to be the top of the top. All those are working against you, but you still have it very good.