Minnesota ducks hunters should smile a bit at the Department of Natural Resources' announcement this week that the number of breeding ducks in Minnesota is up.
Ducks that bred in the state or were hatched here make up 20 percent to 40 percent of the ducks we shoot, said Steve Cordts, DNR waterfowl specialist. Wood ducks are probably the highest number for local birds but Minnesota mallards make up 40 to 50 percent of the bag, he said. Other ducks, such as scaup, are all from outside the state, he said.
According to the Minnesota breeding survey, "despite fairly dry conditions, duck numbers seemed good across all species," he said.
Some numbers:
• The mallard breeding population was estimated at 243,000, 18 percent above last year's estimate of 206,000 breeding mallards, unchanged from the 10-year average and 7 percent above the long-term average measured since 1968.
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• Blue-winged teal population is 317,000 this year, 88 percent above last year's estimate and 50 percent above the long-term average.
• The combined populations of other ducks such as ring-necked ducks, wood ducks, gadwalls, northern shovelers, canvasbacks and redheads is 208,000, which is 39 percent higher than last year and 17 percent above the long-term average.
"The estimate of total duck abundance (excluding scaup) is 768,000, which is 47 percent higher than last year and 25 percent above the long-term average.
The estimated number of wetlands is 221,000, unchanged from last year, and 13 percent below the long-term average. Wetland numbers can vary greatly based on annual precipitation.
The news on Canada geese isn't as upbeat. The DNR estimates 202,000 geese, lower than last year's estimate of 250,000. An additional 17,500 breeding Canada geese are estimated to be in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
"Even with lower numbers, goose production seems to be very good with lots of young geese across the state, following the early spring this year and early nesting effort by Canada geese," Cordts said.
New title for Quandt
DNR Conservation Officer Tyler Quandt has a new title — District 18 supervisor.
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He takes over from Dean Olson who retired last winter. District 18 includes Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona counties.
Quandt has been serving in the Goodhue County area since 1998 and has won some major awards, including four letters of appreciation, one meritorious service award, two lifesaving awards, one dedication to the mission award, as well as four officer of the year awards.
He was named the 2011 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the Minnesota Chapter of the Wildlife Society. He was praised for responding to major floods in Minnesota and North Dakota and being among the first responders following the 35W bridge collapse.
Quandt's other honors include 2007 DNR Boat and Water Safety Officer of the Year, 2009 National Wild Turkey Federation Officer of the Year, and 2009 DNR Enforcement Education Officer of the Year.
What got him by far the most attention, however, was his part in solving the poaching case of a man who illegally shot a monster 8-point buck, scoring 185 inches, in the Cannon Falls area. It is the biggest typical 8-pointer ever known and the DNR picture of it show Quandt holding the rack on the overlook at Frontenac State Park.
