Running the How manages its nationally significant (but often unrecognized) waterfowl populations. BY DAVE BOOKS Arriving before dawn, my hunting partner and Duck Factory I tossed out two dozen mallard decoys and settled into the cattails surrounding a small north-central Montana pothole, while two excited Labradors explored the muddy, shallow shoreline. Ducks had left the pond in a flurry of quacks when we’d walked up. Now, 20 minutes later, we could hear the whistle of wings in the darkness overhead—a good omen. Time stands still while you’re waiting for legal shooting time on opening day of duck season. As I watched the sky gradually lighten in the east, I thought about other duck hunting dawns I’d witnessed across Montana, from Swan Lake in the northwest to Medicine Lake in the far northeast. Though my partner and I had this little pond to ourselves this morning, I knew that legions of like-minded hunters were opening the sea - son at Ninepipe and Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuges west of the Continental Divide, Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area along the Rocky Mountain Front, and Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge near Malta. Others were hunkered down along countless reservoirs, river sloughs, and potholes all the way to the North Dakota line. There’s no question that Montana is a great state for duck hunting. Waterfowlers from across the country make a pilgrimage

HERE THEY COME As dawn approaches, and with it incoming mallards, a hunter quickly sets a decoy spread to lure birds into shotgun range. ﬔough Montana produces more

E ducks than almost any other state in the nation, it lacks the rich waterfowling lore and C R E I P

culture found in places like Arkansas, , and Massachusetts. N E B

18 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2015 FWP.MT.GOV/MTOUTDOORS MONTANA OUTDOORS 19 waterfowlers helped ban market hunting, and associated habitats. Within each joint Program, enacted by the state legislature in passed laws to regulate duck harvest, and venture, agencies, organizations, corpora - 1985 and administered by FWP, provides one formed conservation groups like Ducks tions, tribes, and individuals cooperatively important source of those matching funds Unlimited (DU), a nonprofit organization conserve habitat for priority bird species and (see sidebar on page 22 for details). WHERE DUCKS GET MADE dedicated to providing habitat for water - other wildlife. Montana is part of three joint “These programs put dollars on the ﬔe Prairie Pothole Region accounts fowl. Bob Sanders, manager of DU’s conser - ventures: Prairie Pothole, Intermountain ground and ducks in the air for the benefit of for most of the nation’s waterfowl Breeding duck pairs vation programs in Montana, says that West, and Northern Great Plains. While the all Montanans,” says Sanders. Partnerships production. In the Lower 48, Mon- per square mile tana is the number three duck >100 hunters have always paid most of the nation’s conservation work targets waterfowl, it also often include DU, FWP, The Nature Conser - producer. In addition to prairie 80-100 waterfowl management costs by purchasing creates great living and breeding habitat for vancy, the Natural Resources Conservation potholes, Montana contains duck- 60-80 hunting licenses, paying excise taxes on guns shorebirds, prairie songbirds, and other Service, the USFWS, and private landown - producing potholes in areas west 40-60 and ammunition, and supporting conserva - grassland and wetland species. ers. “Ranchers are our most important ally in of the Continental Divide, like these 20-40 tion groups like DU. “Hunters pushed hard a lot of these efforts,” says Sanders. “Several (le) in the Blackfoot River Valley 10-20 MAP PRODUCED IN APRIL 2012 BY THE U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE near Ovando. 0-10 SERVICE AND THE PRAIRIE POTHOLE JOINT VENTURE for passage of a federal duck stamp back in MORE FEDERAL MONEY excellent public programs pay them to the Dust Bowl days, and Montana’s annual Though joint venture projects were able to conserve grasslands and improve livestock share of that revenue—about $800,000 in use some federal duck stamp revenue, they operations in ways that benefit wetland here each fall in pickups and SUVs packed tana and the Dakotas combined actually pro - receded, they left behind shallow depres - recent years—funds a lot of wetland conser - required additional money for acquiring wildlife.” with decoys, camping gear, and retrievers duce more ducks than all of prairie Canada.” sions that became wetlands rich in aquatic vation work,” he says. easements, identifying critical habitat, and Other than weather, the most important steaming up the windows. Montana is also life. Known as North America’s “duck fac - Established by Congress in 1934, the helping landowners restore and protect factor affecting duck production is the federal one of the nation’s most fertile waterfowl BOTH WATER AND GRASS tory,” the region supports as many as 30 mil - federal duck stamp, officially known as the private wetlands and grass lands. So in 1989, Farm Bill and its conservation provisions. The factories, ranking third in duck production in Such a prodigious output of waterfowl lion breeding ducks when favorable water Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Congress passed another act that provides latest Farm Bill, passed in 2014, disappointed the Lower 48, trailing only the Dakotas. seems odd for a state known for its dry cli - conditions prevail, as in the early 2010s. Stamp, has provided more than $750 million matching grants to organizations and indi - many conservationists because it lowered by Yet mention “Montana” to hunters out - mate and periodic droughts. “It’s because Just as important as water—where ducks for wetland habitat nationwide over the years. viduals who cooperate on wetland conserva - 15 percent the amount of CRP acreage na - side of, or even within this state, and rela - we have wetlands and we have grass, and feed and avoid predators—is nearby grass Just as important as the money was formation tion projects that conserve wildlife habitat, tionwide that Congress would fund. Fortu - tively few would conjure the image of drake both are blessings for waterfowl,” explains for nesting. That’s why the Conservation Re - of a new model for waterfowl conservation purify water, prevent erosion, and lessen nately for wildlife, the new bill requires mallards streaming across the sky or pot - Hansen. He says that while the rest of the serve Program has been critical for water - embodied in an act of Congress that created flood damage. landowners to use good conservation prac - holes packed with feeding teal. has lost about half of its origi - fowl and other wildlife. Enacted in 1985, the the North American Waterfowl Management These federal funds are often tripled or tices if they hope to qualify for federal crop in - Why is a state that produces so many nal wetlands, as well as more than 90 per - Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) pays Plan (NAWMP) in 1986. The plan came in even quadrupled with matches by local part - surance. Landowners who drain wetlands or ducks not considered a “duck state,” com - cent of its native prairie, Montana has landowners to plant vegetation, primarily response to alarming declines in the continen - ners. In Montana, more than $22 million in till virgin prairie put their insurance eligibility plete with a long, rich waterfowling culture, managed to keep a large share of both. grasses, on environmentally sensitive land. tal duck population, caused by habitat loss. federal funds has been matched with an addi - at risk. The new Farm Bill also provides some According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife A key provision of the NAWMP was tional $100 million in partner contributions funding to the states for developing or Service (USFWS), during the years creation of several “joint ventures” through - to protect nearly 320,000 acres of wildlife strengthening public access programs like when CRP enrollment by landown - out North America to conserve wetlands habitat. Montana’s Migratory Bird Wetland FWP’s Open Fields. Here in Montana, cattle need water ers was highest, the additional grass - and they need grass, and so do ducks.” lands in Montana and the Dakotas added two million ducks per year to the fall migration. like, say, Minnesota or Arkansas or even Because the soil here is less fertile and rain - Unfortunately, economic conditions have northern ? “Chalk it up to an fall less abundant than in states farther east, changed to the detriment of wetlands and embarrassment of riches,” explains Jim Montana farmers have less incentive to grasslands. High prices for corn, especially, Hansen, FWP waterfowl biologist in drain their wetlands and convert the land convinced many farmers to plow up their Billings. “We have so many other wildlife to crops—although that definitely occurs. CRP grasslands. “In the last eight years we’ve species and hunting opportunities—elk, an - “States like Iowa have lost most of their lost a million and a half acres of CRP across telope, deer, upland birds, and trophy big duck-producing areas to wetland drainage,” Montana’s portion of the Prairie Pothole

game species like bighorn sheep, mountain says Hansen. “Here in Montana, where we Region alone,” Hansen says. “Duck numbers S E N O J goats, and moose—that waterfowl tend to have a thriving cattle industry, we’ve kept are still strong, thanks to a series of wet years, . M

D L A

get lost in the crowd. more of our wetlands. Cattle need water and but we’ll need to work even harder to keep N O D

; S

“I suspect that few Montanans—except they need grass, and so do ducks.” our remaining grasslands from being plowed E N O J

PERFECT MIX Ducks need both grass, for .

our dedicated corps of duck hunters—realize It is also Montana’s good fortune that the under and converted to crops.” M

D

L nesting, and water, for feeding and avoiding A N

how important we are in the overall waterfowl northeastern and north-central portions of O

D predators. Ideal precipitation conditions in

; G N picture,” Hansen adds. “In some years, Mon - the state fall within the Prairie Pothole I the early 2010s created record fall flights. IT HAPPENED BEFORE B M A L Region, a vast glaciated area stretching south For that to occur, duck advocates will need But the rapid loss of CRP grasslands spells N H O J

: trouble for ducks—and duck hunters—in Dave Books of Helena writes regularly for from the Canadian provinces through the to redouble efforts and work even more T H G I coming years. R

Ducks Unlimited magazine and was editor Dakotas and east to parts of Minnesota and cooperatively and strategically. There’s O T

T F E of Montana Outdoors for 24 years. Iowa. When glaciers from the last ice age plenty of precedent. In the early 20th century, L

20 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2015 FWP.MT.GOV/MTOUTDOORS MONTANA OUTDOORS 21 HARVEST HOW MANY? but the hunters haven’t. That’s a Conserving and restoring habitat big concern.” to grow ducks is half of waterfowl Hansen says federal duck management. The other half is stamp sales in Montana peaked regulating hunter harvest. in the late 1950s at close to Hunters can kill a certain per - 37,000, then dropped to a low of centage of ducks in a population about 13,000 during the without affecting its size down drought of the early 1990s. Over TEAL, WE MEET AGAIN the road. This “harvestable sur - the past decade—good years for Puddle ducks (dabblers) plus” replaces natural mortality, both water and ducks—federal such as blue-winged teal are such as from predation and stamp sales have stabilized at the main beneficiaries of disease, that would otherwise about 20,000. Montana’s wetland and reduce the population by Duck lovers hope that clinics, grassland conservation. roughly the same amount. Biol - along with Montana’s special ogists figure out how many HOMECOMING A drake mallard drops youth waterfowl hunt on the ducks hunters can shoot each fall into a Montana marsh. Each year weekend before the general sea - Montana receives roughly $1 million Montana’s “stamp” is gone, but benefits to ducks remain by looking at spring breeding son opener, will help build a in state and federal duck stamp funds To hunt waterfowl in Montana, you need a goal is to stem the loss of wetlands and create numbers, habitat conditions, used to purchase wetlands and conser - stronger waterfowling tradition basic hunting license and two special migra - a net gain in water quality and quantity across and the previous year’s harvest. vation easements that benefit waterfowl in Montana. “We’ve always had tory game bird licenses. One is the federal the landscape.” For the purposes of setting and other wetland wildlife. dedicated duck hunters, but Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation The council’s five members represent seasons and limits, the United we’ve never had the mystique of Stamp (duck stamp), which you can buy at any migratory game bird hunters, wildlife watch - States and Canada are divided duck hunting meccas like post office and some sporting goods stores ers, and the agricultural industry. Council into four “flyways” (Atlantic, Mississippi, states and provinces,” says Jim Hansen, mention waterfowl conservation. Maryland with its Chesapeake Bay, the and FWP offices. The other is the state migra - member Henry Gordon, a Chinook-area Central, and Pacific), each with a flyway Montana’s representative on the Central Hansen says such clinics are vital to stem - Dakotas with their thousands of potholes, or tory bird license, available wherever you rancher, maintains that family cattle ranches council composed of federal and state rep - Flyway’s waterfowl technical committee. ming the decline in hunter numbers. During Arkansas with its national duck calling purchase your Montana hunting license. are vital to maintaining Montana’s wetlands When conditions improve, he adds, such as the drought of the 2000s, fewer Montanans championship,” says Hansen. “Fortunately, Federal duck stamp dollars are used to ac - and wildlife. “I’m a firm believer in preserving during recent wet years, the federal frame - went duck hunting. “We expected that,” Montana has a large chunk of North quire wetlands within the National Wildlife native grass and putting money into wetland work allows for increased season length Hansen says. “But in recent years, even with America’s duck factory. As long as we can Refuge System or buy conservation ease - improvements for the benefit of both water - The ducks and bag limits. record duck populations, we haven’t seen as conserve that, we’ll always have ducks in ments on private wetlands or grasslands. State fowl and cattle,” he says. have returned much of a participation rebound as in the this state, and that gives me hope for the migratory bird license dollars are used by Wightman points to several accomplish - NO CHILD LEFT UNCAMOED past. The ducks have returned to the marsh, future of the sport.” FWP to protect, conserve, and create wet - ments of the Migratory Bird Wetland Program to the marsh, but the It’s a warm morning in early August, but lands. Montana’s share of federal duck stamp over the past three decades: judging by all the decoys, dogs, shotguns, revenue has been about $800,000 in recent  restored, enhanced, or created 633 hunters haven’t. That’s and other hunting gear on display at years, while the state migratory bird license wetlands encompassing 5,162 acres; a big concern.” Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area, generates about $270,000 annually.  enhanced 9,807 acres of grasslands near it could be opening day of duck season. The Recognizing that Montana had lost one-third wetlands; and event is a youth waterfowl and upland bird of its original wetlands to drainage, the 1985  permanently protected 3,700 acres of resentatives. Montana falls within two hunting clinic, sponsored by FWP and the Montana Legislature authorized FWP to sell a previously unprotected wetlands and grass - flyways, Central and Pacific. (The dividing USFWS with help from the Golden Triangle migratory bird hunting stamp, or license, to lands. line runs down the state’s middle, from Sporting Dog Club and the Great Falls help fund wetland conservation. Though the “Our emphasis has shifted in recent years about Havre to West Yellowstone.) Advised chapter of DU. Before the day is over, actual stamp and accompanying art contest from projects that create wetlands to ones that by technical committees that evaluate the boys and girls here will learn how to

waterfowl population and hunter harvest N identify ducks, estimate shooting distance,

were discontinued in 2004, the license provi - protect and restore wetlands. This allows us to A Y R B

data, the councils recommend hunting R set decoys, call ducks, and handle retriev -

sion remains intact. Revenue from sale of these improve waterfowl breeding habitat over larger E V N E

seasons and bag limits to the USFWS, which D ing dogs.

li censes supports FWP’s Migratory Bird Wet - landscapes in Montana,” Wightman says. “We ; S E N

in turn establishes a regulatory framework O The kids here today represent the future J land Program, which is overseen by the citizen- often partner with the USFWS as well as private . M

D

for each flyway. States can impose reg- L of Montana’s waterfowl hunting—not to based Wetland Protection Advisory Council. groups like Ducks Unlimited, The Nature A N O D

ulations more restrictive than the federal ;

“While waterfowl production is the main Conservancy, and Pheasants Forever.” R E G A

framework, but not more liberal. L thrust, the program benefits all wetland- Wightman says that Montana’s Migratory H BETTER THAN XBOX? A young hunter-to-be C S N

“Federal frameworks dictate shorter E watches ducks approach a blind as his dad dependent species and provides critical Bird Wetland Program also increases hunting L H E O calls the birds closer. Despite record duck seasons and smaller bag limits when duck E ecosystem functions like water purification, opportunities whenever possible. “If there’s a V E T S

numbers in recent years, hunter numbers :

numbers decline or breeding conditions T flood control, and groundwater recharge,” proposed easement that appears to have hunt - H G I have not rebounded as in the past. Kids R

deteriorate, like during the early 1990s O T says Catherine Wightman, an FWP wildlife ing potential, we negotiate with the landowner

T provide waterfowling’s hope for the future. F E biologist who coordinates the program. “The to provide access,” she says. n drought that struck major duck-producing L

22 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2015 FWP.MT.GOV/MTOUTDOORS MONTANA OUTDOORS 23