spectr17
12-29-2002, 07:52 PM
MS WF&P
MISSISSIPPI WATERFOWL NUMBERS AND HUNTING REPORT
12/9/02
In previous years the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) has been able to conduct waterfowl surveys and post waterfowl numbers on the MDWFP web site to aid hunters in locating waterfowl concentrations and follow migrations in Mississippi. In effort to improve the survey method the MDWFP has provided funding to Mississippi State University for research to develop a sampling method that is efficient, accurate and more scientific for providing absolute numbers of waterfowl wintering in Mississippi. Over 1,800 miles of transects will be flown bi-monthly to obtain this data. Waterfowl numbers will be provided as soon as possible to aid hunters across the state. Along with this information will be waterfowl hunting reports provided by hunters across all regions of the MS Delta.
WATER CONDITIONS:
All areas of the MS Delta are in fair to good condition. Several tropical storms and hurricanes passing thru the state in September and October left the soils in saturated conditions. Most areas that are managed for waterfowl could not capture the rainfall runoff due agricultural crops remaining in the field. Once the crops had been harvested landowners were able to close water control structures to capture surface water runoff. One exception is the areas adjacent to the Tallahatchie and Cold Water Rivers. These areas were flooded due to the excess runoff resulting from those late summer and early fall storms. Those areas have remained flooded to date. The North-West Delta has moderate levels of standing water and the South Delta has low to moderate levels of standing water.
WATERFOWL NUMBERS AND HARVEST REPORTS:
North-East Delta - Duck numbers have drastically fallen off as compared to each of the two previous weeks. This portion of the state had been estimated to have been wintering greater than 100,000 ducks two weeks prior to this report. This area of the state has had the greatest harvest success than any other areas as reported by hunters on both public and private land. Harvest success continues to be greater than any other area.
North-West Delta - Duck numbers are low to moderate for this region. Hunter success has been spotty. As always, hunter success tends to follow population numbers.
South Delta - Waterfowl numbers are low. A record low as compared to the previous two years. This is directly related to the limited areas of standing water in suitable waterfowl habitat. Conditions are improving. Hunters on public lands on average are harvesting one bird per hunter, while hunters on private lands are having mixed success.
MISSISSIPPI WATERFOWL NUMBERS AND HUNTING REPORT
12/9/02
In previous years the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) has been able to conduct waterfowl surveys and post waterfowl numbers on the MDWFP web site to aid hunters in locating waterfowl concentrations and follow migrations in Mississippi. In effort to improve the survey method the MDWFP has provided funding to Mississippi State University for research to develop a sampling method that is efficient, accurate and more scientific for providing absolute numbers of waterfowl wintering in Mississippi. Over 1,800 miles of transects will be flown bi-monthly to obtain this data. Waterfowl numbers will be provided as soon as possible to aid hunters across the state. Along with this information will be waterfowl hunting reports provided by hunters across all regions of the MS Delta.
WATER CONDITIONS:
All areas of the MS Delta are in fair to good condition. Several tropical storms and hurricanes passing thru the state in September and October left the soils in saturated conditions. Most areas that are managed for waterfowl could not capture the rainfall runoff due agricultural crops remaining in the field. Once the crops had been harvested landowners were able to close water control structures to capture surface water runoff. One exception is the areas adjacent to the Tallahatchie and Cold Water Rivers. These areas were flooded due to the excess runoff resulting from those late summer and early fall storms. Those areas have remained flooded to date. The North-West Delta has moderate levels of standing water and the South Delta has low to moderate levels of standing water.
WATERFOWL NUMBERS AND HARVEST REPORTS:
North-East Delta - Duck numbers have drastically fallen off as compared to each of the two previous weeks. This portion of the state had been estimated to have been wintering greater than 100,000 ducks two weeks prior to this report. This area of the state has had the greatest harvest success than any other areas as reported by hunters on both public and private land. Harvest success continues to be greater than any other area.
North-West Delta - Duck numbers are low to moderate for this region. Hunter success has been spotty. As always, hunter success tends to follow population numbers.
South Delta - Waterfowl numbers are low. A record low as compared to the previous two years. This is directly related to the limited areas of standing water in suitable waterfowl habitat. Conditions are improving. Hunters on public lands on average are harvesting one bird per hunter, while hunters on private lands are having mixed success.