"The 14 percent increase in breeding numbers for the 10 surveyed species is consistent with what Ducks Unlimited's field biologists have observed across the U.S. and Canadian breeding grounds this spring," said Ducks Unlimited's Executive Vice-President Don Young. "Excellent brood-rearing habitat is present in many areas and brood survival is expected to be above average."

One of the most important elements in duck-breeding success is the amount of water present on the prairie breeding grounds. When the survey was conducted in May, total pond counts for the United States and Canada combined showed 7 million ponds, a 15 percent increase from last year's estimate, and 44 percent higher than the long-term average.

The mallard number is 10 percent higher than last year. An estimated 8 million mallards are on the prairies this spring, compared with last year's estimate of 7.3 million birds. Mallard numbers are 7 percent above the long-term average.

"The increase in mallard populations continues to keep them at levels near the North American Waterfowl Management Plan goal," said DU's Director of Conservation Operations Dr. Scott Yaich. The most positive news coming out of this year's survey is that redheads, canvasbacks and northern shovelers are at record highs, and increases were also seen in two of three species of concern. Nine of the 10 surveyed species increased this year.

Do some scouting, keep your fingers crossed for cold weather to the north, and maybe some of them will get within shotgun range on your next Tennessee duck hunt.

Find more about Tennessee fishing and hunting at: TennesseeSportsmanMag.com