This week I'm joined by former Flyway Federation Executive Director Duke Lowrie for a conversation about one of the most debated topics in modern waterfowl hunting.
Over the past several years, studies have shown that species like mallards and northern pintails are completing their fall migration farther north than they did decades ago. The question is why.
Duke shares why he believes unharvested flooded agriculture is one of the factors changing duck distribution, why Flyway Federation is pushing for a large-scale GIS study to quantify how much flooded agriculture exists across the landscape, and why he believes more research is needed before the debate can be settled.
We also discuss:
Duke's background and how he became involved in waterfowl advocacy
The origins and mission of Flyway Federation
The proposed GIS study and what it hopes to answer
Whether flooded agriculture is changing duck migration
Moist-soil habitat vs. flooded corn
Public land hunting and changing duck distribution
Louisiana harvest numbers and what they may (or may not) tell us
Duke's appointment to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission
What the future of waterfowl management could look like
Whether you agree with Duke's conclusions or not, I think you'll find this to be a thoughtful conversation about an issue that continues to generate debate among hunters across North America.
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