That the Division of Pure Sources (DNR) might have been joking when it just lately issued potential modifications to state duck looking rules appeared at first look — and second and third glances — a chance.

The state’s duck looking woes are well-known. Sightings of mallards and different fowl have been much less frequent in current a long time than they have been a half-century — or perhaps a quarter-century — in the past, the explanation for which is easy: What is not there cannot be seen.

The DNR has acknowledged these duck declines, citing the state’s widespread lack of wetland and different habitat, a lot of it brought on by USDA farm packages that insufficiently promote conservation. Many shallow lakes, for instance, that when have been residence to breeding and migratory geese are actually residence to minnows, carp or each. Ditto lots of the state’s remaining wetlands, a few of that are handled extra like repositories for metropolis and farmland runoff than incubators of aquatic vegetation and the invertebrates that geese have to survive.

Consequently, Minnesota waterfowlers have fled the game in droves, or are looking in different states and provinces. Within the Seventies, the DNR licensed as many as 140,000 waterfowlers, a quantity that declined to only below 80,000 in 2019. Certainly, as a result of, because the DNR itself has stated, “no different state has the waterfowl manufacturing potential of Minnesota,” the state for many years led the nation within the variety of duck hunters it put within the area. Now, empty skies means empty blinds.

Sociological and demographic modifications are also liable for duck-hunter declines. Child boomers are graying. Urbanization is rampant. Everyone seems to be busy. Different components embrace single-parent households, an emphasis on group sports activities amongst excessive schoolers and the character of waterfowling as a sport: appreciable tools is required, as are calling, capturing and dog-training abilities, and a willingness, oftentimes, to rise early and drive lengthy distances.

So it’s that Minnesota duck managers are confronted just about concurrently with a number of challenges.

Foremost is retention of duck hunters the state nonetheless has, a passionate group that in lots of instances considers waterfowling extra a way of life than a pastime. Lofty however attainable, this objective can greatest be achieved if these hunters imagine the DNR intends to retain, not scale back, the standard of waterfowling the state nonetheless presents.

On the identical time, managers should proceed to reinforce and increase the state’s wetland habitats, which finally will enhance Minnesota duck looking. And at last, makes an attempt should proceed to recruit new waterfowlers, thus guaranteeing long-term funding and political help.

Nearly unbelievably, the current waterfowling regulation modifications (see beneath) the DNR is providing for hunter consideration appear much less an effort to make sure the way forward for waterfowling in Minnesota than an try and shoot our technique to extra geese, an method that finds little help within the annals of waterfowl administration.

Contemplate: The DNR desires Minnesota hunters to weigh in on institution of an early September teal season as much as 16 days lengthy, which, if authorised, would again up the DNR’s already ill-advised Youth Waterfowl hunt this fall to Labor Day Weekend.

The DNR can also be providing for consideration legalization of spinning-wing decoys all through the season, in addition to legalization of different motorized decoys — comparable to duck “floaters” that scoot round, simulating actions of stay birds.

There’s extra:

• The DNR desires waterfowlers to contemplate ending the 4 p.m. closure within the season’s early going, a restriction established to carry geese within the state longer within the fall.

• Additionally urged is permitting over-water goose looking statewide, a proposal the DNR makes with this justification: “Though initially carried out to cut back waterfowl disturbances, there aren’t any knowledge supporting the effectiveness of this restriction.” Counter-argument: That is as a result of duck disturbance is so apparent whereas capturing geese over water it would not want finding out.

• The DNR can also be providing the thought of legalizing open-water duck looking, which the DNR defines as permitting “hunters statewide to shoot from open water utilizing a format boat or anchored boat blind.” The DNR’s rationale is that “few hunters presently use this technique so growth would enhance looking alternative with out negatively impacting duck populations.” This final sentence calls into query whether or not anybody within the DNR truly hunts geese. True, format boats aren’t a part of Minnesota’s waterfowling heritage. However anchored boat blinds that do not have to be hidden in or adjoining to vegetation? Already these craft are used extensively amongst Minnesota waterfowlers, and the one restriction that retains them from proliferating additional is the present requirement that they be anchored in vegetation. Enact this proposal and a duck-hunting arms race will comply with, with geese and duck looking the losers.

• Lastly, the DNR desires hunters to contemplate permitting battery-powered trolling motors on state wildlife administration areas. “Trolling motors might present extra alternatives and entry for hunters whereas minimizing disturbances,” the DNR says. “Minimizing disturbances?” Already, parking a number of many, if not most, WMAs are crowded on days geese are current. If this alteration is enacted, most waterfowlers would proceed to row or paddle — as they at all times have — into the pre-dawn darkish, hoping to discover a spot to set their decoys, whereas previous Billy Bob and his buddies race forward, courtesy of their 112-pound-thrust “trolling motors.”

Upshot: In tossing out concepts to make duck looking “extra accessible,” which means simpler, the DNR dangers diluting nonetheless additional the standard of Minnesota waterfowling Sure, the state has fewer geese. However these birds are being pursued by comparatively fewer hunters who, due to their ardour, nonetheless managed the identical particular person seasonal harvests right here in recent times that state waterfowlers did, on common, the previous 20 years.

The perfect path ahead for the DNR is to deal with what’s greatest for geese. Put geese within the sky, and hunter numbers will rise.

Till that occurs, and to make sure no additional diminishment of the state’s waterfowling heritage, the DNR ought to: 1) Eradicate the early youth hunt; 2) neglect early teal looking; 3) open the common season in central and particularly southern Minnesota later to account for later migrations; 4) outlaw over-water goose looking till the common duck season; and 5) neglect altogether about making waterfowling simpler and extra comfy.

Duck looking is at its greatest arduous and uncomfortable.

Thus its problem. And attraction.

DNR potential duck looking modifications embrace

Develop early teal season: Beginning this fall, enable a September teal season as much as 16 days lengthy that will precede the September duck opener, permitting as much as six teal each day.

Permit motorized decoys: Take away all restrictions on spinning-wing and different motorized decoys statewide, together with on state wildlife administration areas.

Eradicate early-season 4 p.m. closure: Searching can be allowed till sundown all through the season.

Over-water goose looking: Take away all restrictions statewide towards looking geese inside 100 yards of floor water.

Finish restrictions on open-water duck looking: Besides on a number of giant lakes, hunters now should be in or abutting hid vegetation. As an alternative they might shoot from open water in a format boat or anchored boat blind.

Permit trolling motors on state wildlife administration areas: Saying battery-powered trolling motors would assist hunters entry WMAs “whereas minimizing” duck disturbances, the DNR is proposing such motors be allowed for duck looking statewide.

For extra proposed modifications, and to supply your opinion, go to dnr.state.mn.us.