Another DB outfitter?

[Old Critter]

I like your perspective, Dawg. But one thing about Missouri’s WMAs, it gives some folks a place to hunt where they have a good chance of bagging a few. Nobody has to hunt the draw spots. There are other places to hunt in MO.

 

[DAWG]

This thread has been about waterfowl hunting for the first 30 pages.
As far as I'm concerned, it still is.

I fully agree with you.
For many years, I hunted California's lottery system refuges. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
That's one reason I believe reducing the DBL is the only equitable way to lower hunting pressure.

A long term drought takes care of it all and I pray for it yearly. A 30/3 season in the Mississippi/Atlantic flyway and less dates out west………will clear out the marsh. We have been in a liberal season date/limit for nearly 30 years and that’s about the length of the normal cycle the last 100 years.

The “dip and Spit” jacked up truck driving homers will all go deer hunting, instead of killing 3 ducks for 30 days. 2 mallards a day isn’t enough of a hero picture for the Gram and other social media platforms. I hope CB stays dry for another 3-4 years. Let all the internet guys forget about the place and move on. Make CB what it was back around 2000

That my Get of My Lawn post

I like your perspective, Dawg. But one thing about Missouri’s WMAs, it gives some folks a place to hunt where they have a good chance of bagging a few. Nobody has to hunt the draw spots. There are other places to hunt in MO.

The draw areas are a good option for a hunter, but they could make it so much better. They have giant parking lots every 300 yards to park your rig and launch a boat. Allocated spots and areas. Its a dumbed down duck hunt. Just look at the kill chart for the week and decided where to go based on your draw selection. They could do a draw area and an open area to open up opportunity. 4R has the draw and the open area. Bob Brown was a draw and Nodaway Valley was open. Then they put NV in a draw. Fountain Grove is huge. Split it into a draw and open area. For MDC its about Control. They have tens of thousands acres that are prime habitat for hunting, but no pumps. They want to pump the draw areas, because they can control the type and amount of hunting.

Yes MO has the MS river blinds. They aren't bang em all season blinds and its a pain to do, based off the limitations and blind qualifications you have to meet. Then a flood wipes it all out and you start over. The MO River has great hunting late season or when its cold. Cold didn't hit this year. Its more opportunistic than an every day beat em up deal. Truman and some of the other USACE lakes can be great at times, but its a weather deal. Stockton when the Northern 2/3's of MO is frozen. Truman with some high water or late season flight days.
The big issue is if your not close to the major duck parks, its a harder deal to get ducks to you. They are a huge attractant to the birds and they have imprinted on the areas for decades now. They have food and water, plus closure at 1 pm at most areas, with 1/2 the area as a giant refuge. A duck doesn't have to be a duck and go look for its survival. They are welfare ducks, with a hunter who has been conditioned as the same. Put in for the draw. No scouting. The kill board tells you where to go. The "window guy" will let you know where folks have been sitting up and banging on them, plus the daily weather report on where or how to set up. Easy in and out parking lots. The only thing missing is the bird boys tossing up some flyers for folks. I've hunted all over the US and never seen an abortion of a duck hunt like we do in MO. Anyone wanting a draw implemented in their state needs their head examined

 

[Old Critter]

Missouri’s draw areas provide an easy, dumb-down hunting experience. Just look at the number of draw applications and people standing in the poor line. Apparently, many folks want that kind of hunt. So the State gives it to them.

 

[DAWG]

Missouri’s draw areas provide an easy, dumb-down hunting experience. Just look at the number of draw applications and people standing in the poor line. Apparently, many folks want that kind of hunt. So the State gives it to them.

That's because the powers to be at Mostly Duck Control, MDC, don't want to give any other experience. A dumbed down hunting experience is all they have. The unimproved areas don't get many crops planted, they don't get flooded by a giant pump, or the Department decides to do renovations and improvements in the winter, because its easier. Nevermind doing it when its hot and dry in the summer, and it won't effect hunting. The dumb down areas hold the majority of the birds due to control of the hunting area. MDC says they are successful....look at all the hunters daily. You can feed a starving man a pile of turds and he will eat it......because its all he is given and he doesn't know any better

Its about money and funding, as to man/use hours, which is how the areas get their money to spend. The more man/use hours per season, the more money for next year. Turn it into a madhouse draw and limit the opportunity, creating a shortage of chances to hunt, and they can justify their man/use hours. 60 days of hunting. 4 hunters per party. 8 hours per man. Equals a big budget for next year.

Spending money on an open area, where they have zero control over parties hunting it, placement of people, man/use hours, and open hunting all day can't be "controlled hunting or controlled conditions" Every survey they have sent out asking what hunters want, MDC does the opposite. 75% wanted Nodaway to stay open. It got closed. Hunters wanted later dates, so they moved them up. The "average duck hunter" in Missouri hunts 3-4 times a year and they want to cater to those guys. Not the guys who hunt 30-50 days a year. That is a quote over and over from the people in charge.

 

[golden boy]

True dat