I received my Delta Waterfowl magazine in the mail this week . I t has some good information about how the duck population is doing in the North American continent in comparison to other bird species .In general the article claims that duck species are increasing . At the same time other bird species are in decline It claims that grassland birds are the fastest declining birds with a 34 % decrease . And the number one reason for that decrease is habitat loss Than it goes on the say Thank a Hunter for the growth of the duck population .Because of hunters and their conservation mindset . I would add that as trappers we have a significant part in the hatching success rate of a majority of birds The many ground nesting predators that impact e are the same furbearing animals that trappers target on their trapline .Trappers provide a service to everyone interested in watching wildlife The predator population control that is mostly free of charge to the public is seldom mentioned. When it domes to the value of having trappers as part of the community of those that enjoy wildlife . Trappers are often forced to justify what we do Well the truth is what it we do is make it possible for many of the bird species to continue to exist I SAY THANK A TRAPPER

That is right. Turkey nests are raided by coyotes Foxes Possum and even crows. I see a Possum on my farm I shoot it on site or whack it

Don't forget coon. They do a lot of damage when it comes upland birds as well.
When I do my trapping class during our firearms training classes, I always point out the important role trapping plays in maintaining these predators. If we didn't have trappers, we would see dwindling populations of all types of birds, rabbits, etc.

Whack a crow...save a duck. Lots of research on the nest robbing antics of the black winged predators.

Delta Waterfowl is on record noting the benefits of trapping to waterfowl nesting success rates. In fact, they actively manage nest predators by trapping and publish their findings on their properties.

That said, Delta's focus is waterfowl so I suspect that is why they only make passing reference to other ground nesting bird species which are in decline... those issues belong to Pheasants Forever, NWTF, et. al. and the arguments are not Delta's to prosecute... it is not what duck hunters "buy" when they donate.

The larger issue is that non-consumptive resource users (people who don't hunt) assign more intrinsic value to a cute raccoon than to a quail or grouse or turkey AND they can't work out mentally why we should kill a raccoon in order to save a turkey that we're just going to also kill. Most of them are very myopic and will selectively deny established, peer reviewed science that supports the North American conservation model.

We even have nutbars here who believe that Norway Rats are an important link in the food chain LOL... the antis are using the stupid to wage a war of attrition against reasonable people and right now, they are winning.

And the sad fact of the matter is the rate of growth of the stupid people is far greater than the people that still have the capacity to think on their own .And recognize the difference between truth and the self serving garbage put out by those that are trying to convince you to just send them some money .

Ugggh!!! How could one not include raccoon?

Crows will come into hen calling during the Spring. Georgia now has a season for some reason. It just made them another SSS.

Not exactly. Crows can be killed year-round in Ga....if they're causing damage. Amd when are they NOT causing damage?

True. And the more I talk with biologists and GW they are very lenient towards predators, especially those that prey on ground nesting birds.

Treaty with Mexico

I dont know where Delta Waterfowl gets that ducks are increasing. Overall harvest has fallen by about 33% over the past ten years with basically same number of hunters