......full?
Or half empty?
I've been waterfowl hunting since I was 12 back in 84 ish. I'm now almost 41. I have seen the good and bad in bird numbers, hunter numbers, as well as attitudes and actions.
I don't think from what I've seen that ducks are going to dry up anytime soon. There are changes, but each year I'm pleasantly surprised finding new areas with good bird numbers in them. It ain't always perfect or poetic hunting. But you can still get under birds with a little rooting around. Hunters were hunters when I started, and are still hunters today. I'd say with the advent of cell phones guys are a little more cautious with breaking the law. There's still law breakers today, just like there where years ago.
So much of it seems to be in ones perspective.
My dad is 80. He fell on the ice this winter and broke two ribs. He moans and groans like we young guys would. But he still keeps moving forward. Last fall he still got out and enjoyed being part of the migration. He got to become part of the fluidity of motion and flow of birds.
It seems many would rather complain about what they don't have anymore. I'm glad I still have my dad and the opportunity to hunt with him. And glad he has taught me to be thankful for what I have and been blessed to be part of.