Duck Population Surges | Video

Joel Porter | 7/7/2012

In a little more than two months, North Dakota residents will once again be able to hunt waterfowl.

And this year, the duck population is approaching record numbers.

Delta Waterfowl researchers say estimates for the mallard population have increased by about 15 percent.

Both blue and green wing teals are now at all-time highs.

They say last year`s wet season created more nesting opportunities for ducks.

That`s not expected to last very long thanks to a dry spring along with North Dakota expecting to lose around a million acres of CRP by 2013.

"And we know that when we start to go dry like we did this spring, that it`s disproportionately the small, temporary and seasonal wetlands that dry up. And those are the ones most important to breeding ducks," John Devney said.
Devney is the senior director of US policy for Delta Waterfowl.

The early waterfowl season opens to residents on September 22nd.

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