Bullet21XD wrote:[quote="tornadochaser"][quote="Bullet21XD"].
Bailey, i've hunted SD quite a few years now, and I concur, lower numbers. But I mostly blame that on degrading habitat caused by increasing water levels. If we run through a drought cycle and habitat increases, I expect a fast recovery.
Habitat won't increase as we dry out here in SD. Ever since water levels started receding in 2014 farmers have been tiling. I've got tons of spots we used to hunt waist deep water that are now pattern tiled in lake and Kingsbury county. Even with low prices these guys are putting tile in where they can. An now there is renewed interest in tile in a whole new area of the state from Parker southwest to Wagner as that area got pounded with rain this summer and had/has lots of flooded spots in fields. Our only hope out here is a new cycle of wet times and adding acres to crp in the next farm bill. Lots of guys would put grass back in right now if they could get it in the program.
Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk[/quote]
I don't know how long you've been out there, but maybe not long enough. There's many wetland complexes that are completely inundated now, that were once very good duck holes.
The landscape has changed drastically. But I do agree, another severe wet cycle would be beneficial as well. Newly flooded ground is always good. I'd prefer more flooding![/quote]
It goes both ways with water in SD. Some of the lakes and larger wetlands we used to hunt used to be just loaded with a variety of ducks and tons of bluebills. Tons. The high water really hurt a lot of these food wise and one were you used to see 10000 bluebills you might see a few hundred now. It also washed out a lot of the islands.
Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk