I look at them every year and I don't know how they come up with the numbers they do sometimes. I have been to a few of the refuges this year and they look empty. But they show counts in the thousands.
I also see most of the counts at a fraction of what they have been even just 5 years ago. I think the management of the Reelfoot refuges is what has hurt hunting in West TN as much as anything. Back in 2015/16 the January numbers were 150,000-263,000 ducks alone. Now this year it's barely over 10,000. They have quit pumping and holding water like they use to. I don't think the effort is put in to the refuges like it use to be.
I also see most of the counts at a fraction of what they have been even just 5 years ago. I think the management of the Reelfoot refuges is what has hurt hunting in West TN as much as anything. Back in 2015/16 the January numbers were 150,000-263,000 ducks alone. Now this year it's barely over 10,000. They have quit pumping and holding water like they use to. I don't think the effort is put in to the refuges like it use to be.