"Severe drought occurred across much of the north-central U.S. and prairie Canada -- much of the core pintail breeding area," said Ducks Unlimited's chief biologist Dale Humburg. "The poor habitat conditions likely will lead to limited pintail production and recruitment into the fall flight."

American widgeon numbers, at 2.5 million, remained similar to 2007 levels and the long term. Although blue-winged teal populations did not change significantly from 2007, they remain well over the long-term average (45 percent over long-term averages).

"Pintails and scaup continue to be well below their long-term averages and remain a significant concern," Humburg said. "Habitat changes are believed to be the primary causes of decline for both these species. DU and partners continue targeted research programs on scaup and pintails that we hope will improve our understanding of the conservation actions that will help these species recover."

Humburg added habitat is the core factor driving the health of duck populations and the size of the fall flight. Habitat also is a key for waterfowl in migration and for hunters. This year, spring and early summer flooding in the Midwest and South, drought in the prairies and extremely dry conditions in parts of the west coast, could affect migration and hunting habitat.

The worst news for ducks and DU in Tennessee came this summer as well. DU said while duck season was still months away, Tennessee's waterfowl were under siege by way of budget cuts to the state's waterfowl programs. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission met June 18, cutting its 2008-09 budget by $4.5 million. Of that, $500,000 came from Wildlife Division programs, half of which was waterfowl related.

"It's not too late to change this. We urge Tennessee sportsmen to contact their commissioners and ask them to reinstate funding for Tennessee's waterfowl programs," said Ross Melinchuk, Director of Public Policy for DU's Southern Regional Office. Among the cuts is $154,000 for Ducks Unlimited's habitat conservation activities on the Canadian breeding grounds where two-thirds of Tennessee's waterfowl originate.

"That's the most significant aspect of this in my opinion," said Ron Fox, Assistant Executive Director of TWRA. "The money that we were spending through DU's Canadian program was being placed at the only spot that we could affect habitat that contributes waterfowl to Tennessee. A Ducks Unlimited cut is something that, if it affects their ability to deliver programs on breeding grounds, the impact will be long term. It might not be something you see the first year, but it will eventually affect waterfowl migrating through Tennessee."

Melinchuk said the cut would affect Ducks Unlimited's ability to deliver programs on the breeding grounds. "Ducks Unlimited matched that $154,000 more than five times with grants and contributions from other partners -- we do it every year. Loss of TWRA's very generous contribution equates into an $820,000 cut in on-the-ground conservation this year alone. Again, this is work that would have been done on the breeding grounds where Tennessee's ducks come from, so unfortunately, waterfowl and waterfowl hunters in Tennessee will be affected."

Ducks Unlimited is asking Tennessee sportsmen to contact TWRA commissioners to voice their opinion about this issue if changes weren't brought about at the final budget-setting meeting held in August.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
Waterfowl guide Garry Mason has spent his share of time hunting ducks in West Tennessee -- more than three decades. He's also the Northwest Tourism Director for the state. To say he knows West Tennessee and its waterfowl areas is way beyond an understatement.

Mason has seen the good, the bad and the ugly of duck hunting over the years, but the one thing he always takes away from the sport is the time in the duck blind and field. It's invaluable and a part of transitioning from a duck-hunting novice to a veteran.