Hunting: Mallard, other duck numbers down, but Mississippi may still have a good season

‘If we get the weather we need for sustained migrations, Mississippi would still have a good season.’

The US Fish and Wildlife Service recently released its duck survey population numbers and while the numbers may look concerning for some species, particularly mallards, Mississippi hunters could still see a good season.

“The populations are still doing well,” said Houston Havens. Waterfowl Program coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. “We’re still in liberal frameworks. “

At the top of the list are mallards, which are arguably the most sought-after duck in Mississippi. According to the survey, their numbers are down 18% from 2022 and down 23% from the long-term average. However, there are still more than 6.1 million mallards, according to the survey.

“Mallards are certainly an important species” Havens said. “They’re the species that drives adaptive management. They’re the species we use to set our frameworks each season.”

Duck numbers and drought conditions

The overall population of ducks in the survey is down 9% when compared to the long-term average, which Havens attributes at least in part to weather.

“It could be a variety of things,” Havens said. “We’ve had drought conditions in key areas the last few years. We need some wet years in those key areas.”

Northern pintail numbers may look discouraging at first glance, but they’ve shown improvement. At an estimated 2.2 million population, their numbers are 43% below the long-term average, but they’re up 24% from 2022 estimates.

Havens explained that drought conditions negatively affected numbers of other ducks such as mallards that relate to wetlands for nesting, pintails relate to upland grasses for nesting. So, dry conditions may not have had as much of an impact on them.

“Pintails are the bright spot in the survey,” Havens said. “Their population was very close to the threshold for having to close the season. Everybody was interested to see what the numbers would be this year.”

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What does this mean for Mississippi duck hunters?

While the report indicates that more work needs to be done in waterfowl conservation, the overall numbers are healthy. The survey estimates the North American duck population is more than 32 million.

According to Havens, it’s just a matter of them reaching Mississippi in numbers.

“If we get the weather we need for sustained migrations, Mississippi would still have a good season,” Havens said.

And so far, the weather has cooperated. Cooler weather pushed teal South just in time for the early teal season.

“I’ve had a few reports from private and public land,” Havens said. “Hunting has been pretty good.”

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Mississippi duck season dates

• September teal: Sept. 9-24
• Ducks, mergansers and coots: Nov. 24-26, Dec. 1-3, Dec. 9-Jan. 31
• Youth, veterans and active military days: Feb. 3-4

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.