But i have eyes…an they dont seen no ducks no wer they ustah see hundreds and hundreds….congratulations…yall have extincted them

I had business in Guntersville twice last week and didn’t see the first duck on the lake. Just some coots.

Good maybe the dynasty guys will read this. They are where they are being fed.

You mean where the rich people hunt

You can blame it on duck dynasty all u want, they helped get the ball started like 10-15 years ago. But social media is what killed duck hunting. TikTok, Instagram, hat brands, logos, etc etc. mommy and daddy’s money had no end to it. Look, young boys couldn’t kill many the old ways, so with baited holes and shooting every thing that cupped down, duck numbers has went south. Or that’s my thoughts anyway. Lol

Then what caused the decline of ducks in Alabama starting in the 90’s?

Pressure started it.

Lots of duck hunters way back in the 50s-70s. Early 80s rapid decline of hunters. Then the number of hunters started ramping up. I started in the 80s and the old duck hunters were saying y’all hurting the population. Kinda scolding us. Here in the shoals hard to find many duck hunters back then. The sport starting growing again and ramped up. Pressure started and we weren’t seeing what we used to. Still a good number of ducks so with the popularity and hunter screaming we need more more more. Well we got it. 4/45. Better equipment and tactics came along. Hunters scream more more more. Well we got it. 6/60 and the new era of representing our brand arrived. It fed itself even though duck numbers were declining in the south.

Goose hunter in the Midwest turned to smashing ducks because of declining Canada goose populations. More pressure hits and state realize the boom water Fowlers bring to their economy. So promoting becomes increasingly important to the states bottom line. Measure were taken to hold birds. Shortstopping them along with pressure changes migration patterns. Duck dynasty was formed for tv because of the young men and wanting to market to them. Bigger expensive brands take over and the cool factor kicks in.

Now we have well dressed cool kids representing their brands and no ducks. 😝

There is 2 distinct migrations now. The early one and the late one that rarely shows up unless forced

Big ducks now relate to freeze lines going back and forth. They also went west to escape constant pressure. Hunters are not moving in that direction. Money is no object because now it’s about social status.

Greed is what happened. Pressure is what happened

Greedy hunters wanted more more more

Greedy corporations saw and marketed hunters into buying their brand

Hunters ended up with much better equipment and staying all day

It’s really simple
We actually did it to ourselves.

I knew things had changed when a gal I knew asked if I was going to the DU banquet. Her husband and friends were going. Their business catered to the who’s who of the Shoals and were not hunters.

That was my sign things had shifted.

I have heard that the reason we quit getting big ducks in the Mobile Delta was because nutria moved in and at all the duck weed and all that the ducks fed on their. Not sure if that’s true or not but that’s what I was told.

I don't know if this is factual or not, but it sounds good, and the increasingly grumpy old man trapped inside my body is inclined to agree. I'm worried it's starting to happen with turkeys too. I've only been turkey hunting for around 10 years now, but even I can see a LOT more publicity on social media about it compared to when I started.

Loose lips sink ships. Age old

It’s a combination of Mojo decoys, social media, OnX, 180 month financing at 6% on boats, $1000 waders, and Boykin Spaniels

Sitka camo

Even though there are multiple companies selling $800-$1200 waders with lifetime warranty, the "normal" waders that were $250-$400 are now $400 - $700 waders that STILL only last a season or two before the same leaks they were plagued with at $300 are still there in the now $500 waders with no improvements in quality...exact same waders with a higher price that leak in the exact same places with the same extremely limited warranty.

Come on now.....I've got a Boykin who refuses to lower himself down to the level of Duck Retriever. He is a professed Pheasant Dawg!!

Duck Hunting in the 90's was fantastic for me. The weather pattern seemed to of changed and the duck numbers swinging through Guntersville started to decrease. The DDDH 100% made me stop duck hunting, as it totally ruined it.

No til planting has changed the patterns. Birds don’t need to move. Food staying on the ground not getting turned under. It takes snow to cover the food in most cases.

I actually love Boykins, they’re great family dogs and just little goobers. It just cracks me up seeing them being used primarily as waterfowl pups

Boykin spaniel looks like a female country music singer from 1994

That’s like when I payed $995 for SBE. Friends were making fun of me spending that much when they were buying 870s for $350. I still that hun and it’s had not telling how many cases thru it.

Buy once cry once. I abuse guns so after a buddy saw how well that gun held up he bought one.

Same with waders
I bought a pair of Banded. $600. First pair of breathable and leaked the second year. Wouldn’t cover replacement. MPWs literally had thousands of pairs returned.
Chene $1000, much more comfortable than those Banded and lifetime some will see.