Influence Of Food Availability

Food availability, or the lack thereof, is one of the key factors in determining how many ducks and geese can be supported in an area and how long waterfowl will stay in the area. It is one of the critical components for season long success. Areas devoid of ample food sources will hold fewer ducks and geese and these areas will hold these birds for only a short period of time.

In addition, food sources will have a major impact on the areas capacity to hold birds and the length of time waterfowl will stay. An area that provides early season food sources and then as the season extends makes available to waterfowl, a source of food that meets their higher energy requirements and needs, will generally hold the greatest amount of ducks and geese.

An Example Of The Influence

One of our favorite public waterfowl hunting spots does an excellent job of managing the wildlife management area. The refuge that has been established has a wide variety of food sources available to the waterfowl that use it. From early season favorites such as smartweed, duckweed, millet and other small seeded aquatic plants to higher energy food sources such as corn, soybeans, and grain sorghum the ducks and geese are given adequate food sources to hold them from the beginning of season until the end. The area also has numerous food plots containing many of food sources listed above. As the food sources in the wildlife management area are depleted, the surrounding agriculture region takes over and supports the many ducks and geese that the area holds. In an area that is not considered part of the major migration route, this area consistently holds thousands of ducks and geese from the beginning of season up until the very end.

How To Take Advantage Of The Influence

There are two important aspects of taking maximum advantage of this influence. First, and perhaps most obvious, is to hunt those areas that provide waterfowl with food necessary to meet their energy requirements. This is a critical factor for early season success. You can enjoy great early season success on puddle ducks by keying in exclusively on those areas that provide aquatic food sources such as smartweed, millet and other small seeded plants that are native to the area you hunt. For geese, keying in on alfalfa and hay fields, short green grass, or young winter wheat can produce outstanding success. Second, you need to understand how increases in energy requirements will have a dramatic effect on a duck or gooses food choice. You may, for example, have great success early in the season hunting a patch of smartweed but as the season progresses and the energy requirements change, you'll need to locate new areas that provide higher sources of energy.

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