Keeps getting worse every year. Weather, liberal limits, people not willing to work ducks properly and instead shoot them at 60-70 yards, heavily pressured public lands, expansion of the refuge system (including private refuges for the purpose of hunting), the practice of using the loudest motor possible, and new types of motorized decoys have all led us to where we are now.
Unpopular opinion here but I would be happy to see a ban on mud motors on public land. Shell limits (1 box) might decrease skybusting, and remove the 3.5in shell while we are at it. Lets be honest, manufacturers might as well make a 5in shell for how far people are willing to take a shot these days. Let the ducks work INTO the decoys, could yall imagine how many more ducks would actually work or quite it would be if there wasn't somebody skybusting a single at 70 yards.