Good News For Waterfowl Hunters: Record High Duck Breeding Population

Montana's waterfowl hunters have something to look forward to this fall, with the duck factories of North America producing a record high number of waterfowl, The tentative opening date for the general waterfowl season is Oct. 1, with the Youth Waterfowl Season the preceding weekend on Sept. 24-25.This year, the combined population of 10 primary duck species on the traditional spring survey areas totaled an estimated 45.6 million—a record high for the survey that dates back to 1955.  It is an 11 percent increase over 2010 and 35 percent above the 50 year long-term average. 

         Among the ducks important to Montana, mallards, the most sought-after species in the state, were up 9 percent from last year at 9.2 million—22 percent above the long-term average.  Gadwall numbers were 9 percent higher than last year and at 80 percent above the long-term average.