Hunt Lake Manitoba Narrows

In 1916 the First Migratory Bird Treaty with Great Britain was signed. It recognized the Federal Government’s obligation to care for migratory birds while they were in this country. World War I virtually halted waterfowl hunting, both in Canada and in the United States. Ducks increased until by 1919 they were almost as numerous as in the early 1900′s. Then, after the end of the war, came a veritable flood of hunters, along with better guns and ammunition , plus more deadly hunting methods. In 1918 the United States signed a second Migratory Bird Treaty recognizing its obligation to protect waterfowl from guns except during certain open seasons. From 1921 to 1931 the U.S. Department of the Interior estimated that hunters took a bag limit of ducks that exceeded by 9,000,000 a year the number leaving the nesting grounds. The pressure of human population, more effective guns and ammo, rapid transportation and vast drainage projects for agriculture were already being felt by the 1930′s. In 1929 the Migratory Bird Conservation Act was passed by Congress, authorizing a program of acquisition of lands and water acreage as inviolate sanctuaries for waterfowl. The next year drought became more evident over the land; it had been rearing its ugly head since 1915. In 1930 the population was down to 27,000,000. People became genuinely alarmed. Some made the dire prediction that waterfowl faced extinction. The situation called for heroic measures. In 1934 the Duck Stamp Act was passed. J.N. (Ding) Darling, who had taken over as chief of the U.S. Biological Survey, designed the first stamp. It sold for $1 and depicted a pair of mallards pitching into a marsh. A total of 635,100 were sold, the proceeds to be used for wetlands acquisition, refuge management and law enforcement. Meanwhile, the Federal Government had been steadily reducing the season and limits on waterfowl. A 107-day season with 25 ducks daily and 50 in possession had prevailed from 1920 through the 1929 season. In 1930 the season was left at 107 days, but limits were cut to 15 and 30. In 1931 a 92-day season prevailed with limits remaining at 15 and 30. The next year hunters were given only 61 days with 12 and 20 limits. By 1934 the plight of ducks had become so drastic that the season was cut to 30 days with six five day periods for hunting and a limit of 12 and 24. The 30-day season prevailed through 1935 and 1936, with limits of ten ducks daily and ten in possession. Now there were signs of abatement in the drought, and the stringent restrictions in waterfowl hunting were beginning to pay off. The ducks, assisted by man and nature, began to bounce back. By 1938 it was possible to have a 45-day season, by 1940, a 60-day season, 1942, 70 days and 1944, 80. But limits were held strictly to the 10 and 20 formula in the Mississippi flyway which was worst hit of all.

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Hunt lake Manitoba Narrows

Alberta – Fish and Wildlife Director Curt Smith of Alberta said breeding ducks are down 25 to 35 percent overall in the province. Many pairs of ducks on potholes do not appear to have been successful in nesting attempts. This is particularly evident among canvas backs and redheads. Early broods appeared to indicate rather good nesting success in the early part of June. But the optimism generated at the appearance of early broods has now been curtailed by the absence of succeeding hatches. It appears that ducks again will be scarce throughout Alberta, as was the case last year. The only optimistic observation that can be made is that rains falling south or Edmonton may increase the ground moisture and, if rains continue, they may provide a condition more suitable for a runoff next spring. Rains south of Edmonton have only reduced evaporation and contributed nothing to re-establishing potholes here.

E.W. Burkell, Alberta provincial manager of Ducks Unlimited, said that southern and east-central portions of the province are experiencing drought conditions. Because of the lack of runoff, there wasn’t water to entice the birds. The more northerly parkland areas generally are in good-to-excellent condition. But some birds nested on non permanent waters.

Fred Sharp, Alberta provincial naturalist reported that one of the brightest spots in the province is the Peace River area north of Edmonton. Spending the second week in May there, he found water conditions excellent, with the countryside dotted with countless potholes full of water at full-supply level. In the south, waterfowl are at a minimum, while in the Grande Prairie-Peace River areas there is a heavy nesting population. Although there is an excellent population in the north, it would not account for the large numbers of ducks missing from the big duck factory of the short-grass plains.

North Dakota – Bud Morgan, Midwest representative for the National Wildlife Federation, stated that 104 square miles in north-central North Dakota were sampled on June 1. Water conditions were greatly improved over 1961, and nearly twice as many ducks were recorded. The ducks were there to raise families, and the greatly improved quality of production habitat indicates they will be successful. Most of the water was the result of May rains which came after the peak of migration had moved into Canada. Production in North Dakota may be increased over that of 1961 but may not be sufficient to recoup losses of the past three years.

South Dakota – Walter Fillmore, game-fish and parks director for South Dakota, commented that, for once, there was more water than there were ducks to fill the available nesting habitat. Water conditions are excellent throughout the state, probably as good as they ever will be. Unfortunately, when the spring migration took place through the state, many water holes were dry or nearly so. When the potholes did fill up, many ducks had already passed through. Even so, it would appear that production will be above or near the ten-year average. May surveys indicated a 64 percent increase in water and a 44 percent increase in nesting ducks over 1961. Since June, however, conditions in the Dakotas have turned more bleak.

Flick Davis, game management chief in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with headquarters in Minneapolis, said the most recent information is that duck production in the Dakotas has been poor. Many nests were drowned out when the rains came after nesting had begun. Those broods which survey men checked have been small in size and number. The broods are averaging only three or four ducks, and in North Dakota only one brood was seen that had as many as six ducklings. Moreover, those broods that have appeared are very late. Usually the first broods of mallards and pintails are seen around May 20; this year mallard and pintail broods only days-old were seen as late as July 1.

Minnesota – Jim Kimball, Minnesota game and fish director, reported water conditions 98 percent improved over 1961 in the western pothole area and that levels have held up well through the summer. Breeding-pair survey were made in ten western countries where most of the ducks are produced Local ducks, principally mallards and bluewing teal, are up an estimated 10 percent over last year, and 14 percent above the 1958-61 average. There was some flooding of nests and some renesting, but the feeling is that over production will be at least as good as last year.

So, all in all, it looks like this is not yet the year for liberalization of duck harvest regulations. But there is an encouragement for the future in the fall that 1962 saw the end of the long drought that nearly ruined major duck producing regions.

Now, at least, we seem to be turned around and headed in the right direction. And we must remember that ducks are an elastic wildlife resource. They can and have bounded back from dangerously low population levels. But they need conservation by man and major assist from the weather.

At the turn of the century incalculable millions of ducks migrated along the flyways of North America. Hunting was unrestricted as to seasons, method and limits.

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Hunt lake Manitoba Narrows

Canadian  Fleet

Open Year-Round

Advance reservation for all tours.

Reserved groups have tour times as required.

Normal booking times are at 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., & 7:00 p.m.

Open winter weekends and daily during the summer.

Walk-ins welcome, when space is available.

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Hunt lake Manitoba Narrows

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MANITOBA can boast some of the best outdoors-style craftspeople in Canada. We have painters and knife makers, and some of Manitoba’s woodcarvers are beginning to take the decoy carving world by storm.

As many know, decoys are used by most waterfowl hunters to help lure birds within shotgun range, and the art of wooden decoy carving goes back many hundreds of years. Back in the “old days,” wooden decoys were the norm and the collecting of those antique decoys has become an obsession for many. In fact, there are decoy styles that typify certain carvers and certain regions of North America. For example, Manitoba’s own Delta Marsh, for decades a treasured waterfowling area, has its very own “Delta-style” wooden decoy.

The Manitoba decoy carving tradition is thriving, thanks in large part to the Oak Hammock Carving Guild. The guild is a group of about 20 dedicated carvers who regularly meet at the Oak Hammock Centre (OHC) to create wooden decoys and other types of carving as well. And according to master carver Bill Palmer, Manitoba’s carvers rank right up there with the very best.

“Manitoba’s decoy carvers can truly be described as world-class,” said Palmer. “Take St. Claude’s Jean Minaudier, who creates stunning decoys, and when he attends the World Carving Competition, he literally cleans up.”

During the weekend of May 15 and 16, the guild held the seventh annual Decoy Carving Competion at OHC. According to Palmer, the event is designed to test the skills of Manitoba’s master carvers to create real traditional hunting decoys that can be taken into the marsh.

“We had three categories,” explained Palmer. “There are the true hunting decoys that are sturdy and painted with oils so they won’t deteriorate in the water. Then we have the traditional hunting decoys that most often end up in collections, and then we have the contemporary hunter decoy class where the carvers’ imaginations take over with often stunning results.”

Interestingly, the decoy judging takes place literally in the water. Decoys are placed in the marsh and three judges carefully grade the “birds” based on their actual utility in the duck blind.

“Many guild members are dedicated waterfowlers,” explained Palmer, “which explains why our fall weekend workshops have fewer attendees; they are all in the marsh with their decoys and shotguns.”

Bunch of winners

Best of Show winners were: Danny Myhal, novice division; Ron Pozernick, intermediate division; and Saskatoon’s Harvey Welch, open division. The Oak Hammock purchase award went to Ray Minaudier for his black scoter; the Richard Whittom award went to Frank McFarlane for his merganser drake head; the Rod Fowler Memorial purchase award went to Doug Carson of Neepawa for his plover; the Ross Gage purchase award went to Al Whitfield for his antiqued Shorebird. A merganser hen by Harvey Welch received the Best of Show award.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/other/carving-a-name-for-themselves-95172669.html