Roanoke
Eight Pointer
This is as dry as I have seen it for this time of year. Last time is this dry was back in 95. Everyone that has so much to say about ducks not being on the Lake needs to go and take a look. Coast is going to be the place to go this season. I am guessing that only 45% of the impoundments in NC will be flooded this season. I know many landowners that have wells for pumping and there is not enough ground water to keep up with all the evaporation. The warm trend that we are having now is not helping.
My biggest concern is my flooded timber. This drought will effect us for the next couple of years. We have been fortunate with extremely wet winters for the past 15 years. All of the water from past years has enabled us to dawn and hold a good number of mallards. This year they will have to find another location to pair up and get ready for the trip back home. It takes a few years to recover from a bad drought. I have seen this happen on my lease in Arkansas. You may think that you are holding now just because you have water in one of your holes. Your first hunt will be good but watch what happens after they get some pressure. Big ducks like roosting in flooded cutovers that has water over two feet deep so they can dive and get away from owls. How many flooded cutovers have you seen? I try to go and watch ducks every evening. Roosting patterns have totally changed from past years. If you build it they will come but you have to add water. I flew over much of North Eastern NC this week and it does not look good. Currituck is holding as well as many other coast spots. I will be back in the scissor rig some this year with the rest of the crowd.
My biggest concern is my flooded timber. This drought will effect us for the next couple of years. We have been fortunate with extremely wet winters for the past 15 years. All of the water from past years has enabled us to dawn and hold a good number of mallards. This year they will have to find another location to pair up and get ready for the trip back home. It takes a few years to recover from a bad drought. I have seen this happen on my lease in Arkansas. You may think that you are holding now just because you have water in one of your holes. Your first hunt will be good but watch what happens after they get some pressure. Big ducks like roosting in flooded cutovers that has water over two feet deep so they can dive and get away from owls. How many flooded cutovers have you seen? I try to go and watch ducks every evening. Roosting patterns have totally changed from past years. If you build it they will come but you have to add water. I flew over much of North Eastern NC this week and it does not look good. Currituck is holding as well as many other coast spots. I will be back in the scissor rig some this year with the rest of the crowd.
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