Episode #256 Mallards Down. Should Seasons Change? w/ Dr. Mike Brasher, DU Senior Waterfowl Scientist

In this episode I sit down with Dr. Mike Brasher, Senior Waterfowl Scientist for Ducks Unlimited, for a deep dive into one of the most debated topics in waterfowl hunting right now.

Mallard numbers are down, pond counts are below average, and hunters across the country are asking the same question.

Should seasons and limits be reduced?

Dr. Brasher walks us through the science behind duck population surveys, how breeding population estimates are actually conducted, and how Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) determines the frameworks for duck seasons in North America.

We also discuss the ongoing debate about compensatory vs additive mortality, whether harvest is impacting duck populations, how pond counts affect productivity, and why the current regulatory system still supports liberal seasons despite declining mallard numbers.

This conversation covers the full picture of how waterfowl populations are monitored and how hunting regulations are set.

Topics covered include:

• How duck population surveys are conducted
• What the breeding population estimate actually represents
• The role of the May pond count
• Why habitat drives duck populations
• The science behind Adaptive Harvest Management
• Compensatory vs additive mortality
• Whether harvest impacts duck populations
• Why we are still in liberal seasons

If you want to better understand how duck populations are managed and what the future of waterfowl seasons may look like, this episode is packed with valuable insight.

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