So what happens when (not if) we have a restrictive season again? When we have a 30 day season again, when do you want the season to end? If it runs into the middle of December like many on here are suggesting, that means a start date after Veterans Day.
What about a 45 day season?
So what happens when (not if) we have a restrictive season again? When we have a 30 day season again, when do you want the season to end? If it runs into the mid December like many on here are suggesting, that means a start after Veterans Day.
What about a 45 day season?
Peak waterfowl numbers are almost always Thanksgiving day +/- 3 days. Being on the generous side, run the season (north zone) 40 days before, 20 days after.
Managing for peak waterfowl numbers, what a concept.
All I can add is thank God you have a state with 3 zones that you can mitigate lost days by other zone dates. Yep travel would be a must but it is a means to mitigate the impact as a whole.
Bill so easy for you to say!!
Sitting on top of all three Zones and a State line.
We all have Hot Tub Mallards!!!
We ALL need a season structure to get after them.
Mitigate .... Tards in DesMoines
Yes. Perfect. Mix some free bluewing days in there and you have a short, yet likely productive, duck season.
The October days just suck total ass. And 20 of our 60 days are in that damn month (south zone). I can about guarantee every single year I average more ducks per hunt in any other month than October year in and year out. I really don't think I'm a minority here am I?
Even if you've got a woodduck honey hole, that's only 3 birds per hunt.
Don't care when the season gets put but I have to say I kill by far more 6 bird limits in Oct. than any other month. Rarely ever fill the bonus duck portion in Nov. or Dec.
Is this just based on shooting a 6 duck limit or the quality of your hunt?
Having 30-50 migrating ducks come down to check your spread is more satisfying to me than a limit that I rounded out with 3 local wood ducks. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I don't mind shooting my 4 mallards and waiting for others for a while, but I'm not going to say it was a bad hunt if I didn't shoot 6.
I'll take 4 mallards over two bluewings, two ringbills, a ruddy, and a wigeon every day of the year. But then I fall in the minority of it's not about shooting at every duck in range for me. On a 30 day I'd be fine with a 2 day or 1 week in Oct. Then rest of the days to end at normal ending & hunt the crap out of those last couple weeks.
I'll take 4 mallards over two bluewings, two ringbills, a ruddy, and a wigeon every day of the year. But then I fall in the minority of it's not about shooting at every duck in range for me. On a 30 day I'd be fine with a 2 day or 1 week in Oct. Then rest of the days to end at normal ending & hunt the crap out of those last couple weeks.
Obviously if we go to a moderate or restrictive season, those 30 or 45 days are going to be very important to be placed right from Oct to Dec.
Let's hope the Teal Season is still available in that situation so that takes care of days in September.
Here in the south zone, I'd say peak #'s are little later then what Gude mentioned for the north zone. It would be very tough not to have any days in October so somewhere, we would need 5 days, perhaps right in the middle. Than I'd close it and start it up again around Veterans Day so we still have plenty of days in Dec.
I'd be very worried about not having any days in December because of a mod/rest. season because that's the time that the least participation is but a year like this with mild weather, after Thanksgiving and until the last day of the season, really made for a memorable season for me and buddies. Even in a year like last year, it was the same situation.
I am glad you have all your facts straight and know the outcome of this hypothetical question before it ever even becomes a reality. The true reality is that like it or not as other states push their seasons back later, eventually Iowa will have no choice but to pull its head out of its ass and move the dates later and develop a solid 3rd zone!
All one has to do is look up the dates back in the early 90's when we had 30 day seasons to find out what the dates are more likely to be. Dec. Days would not exist, be lucky to get turkey weekend on the MO zone. Keep in mind that with a restricted season, teal season would be eliminated or at best a restricted season of 9 days if a miracle kept their numbers up.
Mallard Creek. some are working on getting that larger 3rd zone implemented so that more can take advantage of it. However for it to get bigger more of the folks in the Gude zone proposal have to show up and engage. Come at them hard and dont let up.
TH ( harvest numbers, participation numbers, and preference numbers )
If the bulk of your hunting days are up front early, its easy to figure out that your harvest numbers would be to. Participation early is roughly the same later. The difference is so small. Preference. Is the Sat & Sun of the 1st segment, Sat & Sun of the 2nd segment and Thanksgiving Weekend. All 3 periods are the most highly used periods in the whole season structure.
In a few cases one could do 2 things in the present south zone to close a little later.
1: Shift 3 of your 1st segment days to the end and close out on a weekend. Weekends are the mostly highly used periods of a duck season.
2: You could make the 1st segment run a full 7 days and shut it down for an easy 2 weeks. This gives those early hunters ample time to harvest those local ducks / Woodies and remanent bluewings. Which make up about 45 to 55% of the early harvest statistics. Most of the numbers are harvested within the 1st 2 days mind you or the bulk anyway. Not only would you pick up some later days but also close on a weekend. Again it highly depends on how they use the split. They can waste it like they have the past 4 years or they can use it as they should and for the reason it was developed in the 1st place.
The above is just my opinion so dont get all sideways.
For all who do have an opinion on this shit, YOU HAD BETTER SHOW UP TO JANUARY'S NRC MEETING THAT WILL DECIDE HOW YOU SPEND THE NEXT 5 YEARS OF YOUR DUCK SEASON.
If you dont, you could be eating a Shit sandwich for the next 5.
The above under such restrictive measures is the worst option on the planet.
Those under the restrictive structure within a zone who wish to obtain later days vs early must do so on their own within their zone. Do not put your wishes at the expense of others.
Strait 30 days statewide under a restrictive is what some have tried to do multiple times and we have beat that option down the shithole.
30 days in a North zone, 30 days in a south zone and 30 days in the Mo. River or Larger 3rd zone option, all with different start dates and different split cycles mitigates the negative implications or lost days under a moderate or restrictive structure. Maximizing the most days afield as possible by the use of all 3 zones. In all waterfowlers would obtain the opportunity to have more days afield by using those zones structures to their advantage.
It is the Only reason why a 3 zone option is the best option. It secures our ability to address whatever structure does come to the best of our ability. Flexibility is key.
No, it's the only way to get early days, mid season days, and late days within your own zone during a restrictive season, thus giving the most ability to 80% of hunters to hunt at least some days during their preferred period.
No TH your tell me in the zone that I am in how I should waste my opportunity for the sake of your own. Thats what that is. Sorry my man under a restrictive season a statewide structure does not provide the most days afield for all duck hunters. Being that we have Never used our splits for their designed purpose under a 3 zone structure you would in fact by using all 3 zones to your advantage cover every one of the issues you laid out and not at the expense of others.
More days my friend not less.
Even under the federal survey duck hunters nation wide suggested by majority that if such case was to happen what would they rather have, reduced days and lower bag limit or lower bag limit with the most days possible? You can guess what they said right?
Its all about the most days possible under any circumstance.
Not asking you to do anything for me. Just telling you the only way you will hunt days as late as you would like under a restrictive season. You would gain more from it than I.
I love early season, but really don't need to start south earlier than Oct 25, as an early season guy Halloween is when we get the first good push. We are wasting days opening as early as we are, it doesn't hurt my hunting because I wrap it up when the marshes freeze. Field hunting and river hunting are too time consuming for me with work and family. But it's wrong we can't accomadate the late season guys when we have a liberal season. The real trick will be as original poster says, when we get restricted where do the days go. Back in the day it was......November.
I think the Gude zone would provide a lot of opportunity both now and would be extremely beneficial with a restrictive season. Also think that days in the middle of October are wasted and should be used later.
You guys keep preaching historically!! Well guess what the migration has changed from it's historical patterns, if you cannot see that i cannot help that you are blind... The Dakota's and hell even northern Mn produce crops they never use to and it is helping keep the birds north longer along with mild fall and winters.. Things are changing and people i guess just have a hard time changing as well!! Since you also want to keep dragging up historical numbers and dates also why dont you mention the remaining wetlands in Iowa represent 1 percent of what was once here, but i am sure that did not change migration habits in the eyes of some when they all went bye bye... Point is things change the birds adapt and so should we!
The last 2 years in a row we have been frozen solid by Thanksgiving with the exception of some very large lakes and fast moving rivers. I'd rather wait to see if weather like this is going to become routine or if this year if just a fluke of nature.
I think he just refers to the one and only pothole he hunts and then just imagines it is that way everywhere else in the state! I would rather lose a few of my duck hunting days in december even if the state were froze solid knowing i got to hunt the entire migration than lose them in October waiting for a non existent migration...
There still hasn't been a migration east of Illinois. Still tons of open water in eastern Canada. I've seen more guys from Michigan complaining of no migration at all this year. It's been a weird year for sure. Bull said he has been froze out by Thanksgiving 2 years in a row, yet guys contradict what he says less than 50 miles from where he is. It is what it is, if you chose to stop cause the spot you always hunt is frozen, then that is your choice. I choose to drive a bit and not piss n moan when it freezes. Last year was the best 3 weeks of duck hunting I've had in Iowa in years. With only one of those in a field hunt. We didn't shoot full limits every time out but had quality shoots and were selective on which flocks we shot. Passed on many single hens hovering over the decoys. Take 99% of what he types with a grain of salt at best. Maybe a pile of sh!+
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