Best Duck Hunting the the US?

[prairie hunter]

About that data...
I haven't reported killing a duck in years.
Am the confirmed worst hunter ever.
According to govt records, very accurate, I haven't killed a duck since the late 1900s allegedly.

Your (and others) lack of participation is built into their models. Not sure how good they are at that though. No idea, but maybe for everyone like you (reports zero) there is a FB dude that inflates his kill ???

The reward bands showed how people lack interest in helping provide accurate reporting. Money seems to drive a response. I am sure that crosses over to general HIPS reporting too. The USF&WS has a pretty good idea on band return rates (especially those high $ reward bands). They have pretty good idea on kill rates of juvey ducks and all ducks, especially mallards.

I wouldn't fear accurate reporting unless you think Mr. Green Jeans has you under observation. Lack of data often drives wildlife managers to make more restrictions ... not less.

 

[bill cooksey]

These are just data points ...

Yes. Pacific Flyway has almost double the season length as MS Flyway.

That said, per HIPS survey data Californians spend an average of 9 days afield. Those in Arkansa, Louisiana and Tennesse average 8 days afield. Most Californians are not out there much more, but I suppose some can be more selective on what days they are.

Californians average about 3/day. Louisiana per day slightly higher that 3. Tennesse is about 2.1 or so birds per day.

I'm always a little surprised at TN numbers since only a sliver of the state is worth a flip.

 

[J.Bennett]

Number 1 county in all of USA is Cameron Parish, LA. I can tell you that based on personal experience ... probably true.

According to this, Cameron Parish is #2. Merced County, CA is number one (at least according to this report).

https://fws.gov/harvestsurvey/harvest-vis

 

[Squaller]

Californians average about 3/day. Louisiana per day slightly higher that 3. Tennesse is about 2.1 or so birds per day.

I do not believe that the average hunter shoots a 3.0 bird average daily for California... Not at all.... I am no great white hunter, but if the bird average breaks 3.0 at any given refuge, it means fairly easy limits for the better hunters...

And having the opportunity to shoot a few different clubs (and a couple of good ones), the vast majority of days, the average does not break 3.0 per hunter... On decent days, the decent hunters will have easy limits, and the less experienced hunters are still happy with 2-4 birds. In recent years, there have been more tough days more often, with birds arriving later in the season, and much lower bird averages...

Also, I have noticed at clubs that do reporting of bird numbers, that many hunters do NOT write anything down if the hunting was poor, but they sure post up good shoots on the bird sheets... Also hunters that do not do so great tend not to post up on the good days as well. Not posting up 1's or 0's artificially increases the bird averages right quick.

Also, I would guess that the top 2 birds shot in California are gw teal and Northern Shovelers... Mallards are about as common as wild zebras for most California hunters. Liberal seasons on geese, but there is a small percentage of guys who consistently do well on them... With huge spreads on private ground (that is difficult or expensive to access).

Pintail are the primary "trophy bird" here, but you can only shoot one, and they are less common than many would have you believe. In some areas canvas backs are more and more common, and a good number of widgeon are killed here... Spoonies and green-wing teal are probably the most killed birds by numbers though.

Consistent shooting on premium clubs will cost you a pretty penny... Decent shooting on average clubs will cost more than you want to spend... Rice clubs often have spotty shooting, and good holes do not get offered up frequently. The refuges are crowded, and getting a reservation is cause for celebration.

Once again, I enjoy my hunting in California, and am more fortunate than most... I enjoy some reasonably consistent duck hunting, and have had a decent season this year... But I have friends that leased blinds, that have yet to kill a bird in their blinds... They will have to keep joining, and wait for a better hole to open, or spend a bunch more money for a better club with a rotation system.

 

[woodiefanatic]

I think the numbers are inflated cause John Doe hunted 6 times with his buddies and “they” killed 35 ducks. Since it’s a group of 5 yahoo’s busting into each long group knocking down a bird or two no one knows who killed what. Everyone of those 5 people check the 30+ box instead of 7 cause they think they are killers. Numbers reflect 180 ducks killed vs 35. Pretty easy to get the data skewed

 

[letmwurk]

I do not believe that the average hunter shoots a 3.0 bird average daily for California... Not at all.... I am no great white hunter, but if the bird average breaks 3.0 at any given refuge, it means fairly easy limits for the better hunters...

Yeah I am very doubtful of that 3 bird average. Particularly since the limit on sprig has been one lately and last January there were 5.4mm dabbling ducks in the Sac valley and 42% of them were sprig....

 

[prairie hunter]

Woodie

Well in Wisconsin the reported (estimated) kill is 8 ducks per hunter (per year) with an average of 7 days in the field. That is a little over 1 duck per day. Hope that number is not inflated.

 

[lockingblock]

FIFU

I hunt the Atlantic from time to time when work calls. It is a joke unless you like sea ducks and giant boats.

the duck clubs around me have scheduled shoots where they release fake mallards raised in cages that eat dog food. You can shoot all you want for like $40 a bird. It is not hunting.

upstate NY does well but has limited access and little public land....plus it is NY.

ME...eh...deer hunting, not ducks.

the Atlantic flyway is bad if you want mallards. Not my cup of tea.

 

[blacktail]

According to this, Cameron Parish is #2. Merced County, CA is number one (at least according to this report).

https://fws.gov/harvestsurvey/harvest-vis

Thanks for the link. Very interesting info

 

[woodiefanatic]

Woodie

Well in Wisconsin the reported (estimated) kill is 8 ducks per hunter (per year) with an average of 7 days in the field. That is a little over 1 duck per day. Hope that number is not inflated.

Its Wisconsin. The average hunter here uses little to no decoys, stands on a dike road, and believes his gun is effective to 100 yards. Most of those type of people hunt the first two-three weekends then quit. I would actually say one duck per hunt is actually pretty accurate for 70% of the duck shooting population. If they include the cripples they sail that number should be higher.