In 2015, there were 49.5 million birds. This is similar to last year's estimate of 49.

million, but is also 43% higher than the long-term average. Waterfowl are one of the most

diverse animals in the entire world. Everyone usually associates hunting with a decrease of the

population, but hunters actually do many things to keep the population up. While that is true, the

population does decrease, for the hunting season, hunting actually is one of the best ways to

contribute to conservation. In 1937, hunters requested an 11% tax on guns, ammo, bows and

arrows to help fund conservation. That tax, so far, has raised more than $8 billion for wildlife

conservation. Overall, not only do hunters provide for conservation, and for their families, but

hunting is a healthy way to connect with nature as well.

Ducks are the most amazing creatures in the world. Ducks and geese can be found in

almost anywhere where water is, and they inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The ducks

that belong to North America are some of the greatest in the world. Waterfowl live in many

different climates and habitats. From the High Arctic, to the tropics and from the ocean to the

desert, ducks and geese are able to adapt to almost all surroundings. All of North America's

waterfowl are able to dive, but the long-tailed duck can dive the deepest of all. Ducks and Geese

can also vary in size. The smallest of North America's waterfowl is a female green-winged teal

which can weigh as little as six ounces, while the smallest goose overall is the cackling Canada

goose weighing as little as three pounds. The largest waterfowl is the trumpeter swan which can

weigh thirty-five pounds and more, and the largest duck is the common eider which is roughly

six pounds. Most fly at speeds of forty to sixty miles per hour. Migrating mallards are actually

capable of traveling 800 miles in an eight hour flight. Wood ducks are one of the only waterfowl

to raise two broods, which is why making wood duck boxes are very beneficial to this species of

ducks. The breeding duck estimate for all ducks has been above 45 million each year since 2011,
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and the 2015 estimate of 49.52 million is the highest on record ( "Amazing Waterfowl Facts").

Actually, the breeding duck survey, which is conducted every year, estimated about 11.64 million

mallards in 2015, which is the highest ever. One of the most interesting facts about Ducks is

actually their vision. Their eyes, being located on either side of their head, have a field of vision

of almost 340 degrees, thus meaning they are essentially able to see everything above, below,

and behind them at all times.

To track migration of ducks, National Wildlife biologists put a metal band around the leg

of ducks and geese. A more common name for this is jewelry, and these bands are a prize for

duck hunters worldwide. If a hunter shoots a bird with a band on it and they report the code, they

are able to see when and where the duck was originally banded. Even though the bands are

treated like a trophy in the hunting world, they actually play a vital role in conservation. In North

America the mallard is the most banded, while the black ducks, and pintails follow close by.

Canada geese are by far the most banded geese of all. Snow geese are in second followed by

white-fronted geese, black brants, Rosss geese and Atlantic brants ("Duck Band Facts That

Might Surprise You").

Many seem to think that hunting is wrong, and harming the population and ecosystems,

but that is simply false. Hunting is indeed conservation. Hunting is a wildlife management tool,

and it helps balance wildlife populations with what the land can support, limits crop damage and

curtails disease outbreaks. In the early 1900s very few ducks remained, the population was

severely damaged, but today there are more than 44 million ducks to date ("How Hunting Saves

Animals"). Hunting funds conservation and the economy by providing an average of $38 billion

dollars a year in retail. The taxes on guns, ammo, bows and arrows provides millions of dollars a

year solely to conservation. Actually, the research, habitats, and wildlife law enforcement work is
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all paid for by hunters. Before, overhunting had seriously damage the populations of many

waterfowl like: Canvasbacks, Mallards, Scaup, goldeneye, Ring-necked Ducks,, American

Wigeon, Gadwall, three species of teal, Canada Snow Geese, Redheads, Wood Ducks, and

Northern Pintail. To get these numbers back up they started the federal Duck Stamp Act, which

was to ensure that hunters were going to contribute in the long run to conservation. This act put a

halt to most unrestricted hunting. To date Duck Stamps have given money to fund the purchase

of around 6.5 million acres of waterfowl habitat in North America ("Buy Duck Stamps").

Ducks Unlimited is the proud world leader's in wetland and waterfowl conservation.

Today they have conserved more than 13 million acres and counting. DU supporters have raised

nearly $3.5 billion for conservation since 1937. "With wetlands losses increasing by 140% in

recent years, this campaign, with your help, will conserve and protect threatened waterfowl

habitat throughout North America," ("Conserving Wetlands & Waterfowl"). Ducks unlimited is

the world's largest nonprofit waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization. This

organization is not only located in the United States, but also in Mexico, Canada, Australia, New

Zealand, and Europe. DU projects provided nesting, brood-rearing, staging, migration, and

wintering habitat. DU conserves by restoring grasslands, forests, watersheds, working with

landowners and partners, acquiring land, conservation easements, management agreements, and

geographic information systems(Conservation FAQs). There is scientific evidence proving that

DU's efforts are truly making a difference in the waterfowl world. They have increased the

annual production of waterfowl and provide resources that increase the ducks survival and

reproduction. Dramatic increases in almost all species of ducks and geese can be traced back to

Ducks Unlimited's effort in making a difference. Since the funds are limited, of course DU

cannot fix all the problems in the wetlands and waterfowl, but they continue to make an effort to
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fix many key places in North America. They pick their conservation projects very carefully

because of this, while making sure to use every last dollar they have efficiently. Even though

much has already been done already to address the problems in the wetlands and waterfowl,

there is still much to learn and contribute.

The essential question now is what else can we do to help ensure that waterfowl will

prosper for a very long time? Simply by hunting you can help conservation like mentioned

before. Another activity that I personally have participated in is by building wood duck boxes. A

wood duck box can be compared to a bird house, the waterfowl build their nests inside and raise

their young. Wood duck boxes provide the waterfowl a safe place away from predators to take

care of their ducklings. Another way is to report when you kill a duck that is banded. By

reporting a banded duck, scientists are able to keep track of the migration of the ducks, making

sure everything's running smoothly and that the ducks are migrating. It also aides in keeping

track of the population. Buying the Federal Duck Stamps is one of the simplest ways anyone can

contribute to waterfowl conservation. Since they are required for hunters to buy who are 16 years

or older, they generally generate a lot of money towards conservation just by a simple act ( "Buy

Duck Stamps").

Overall hunting is conservation, and the population of not only waterfowl, but all animals

depend on hunters and everything they do to continue on living in safe, controlled environments.

Waterfowl is one of the most amazing and diverse species in the world, and I myself am a proud

hunter of them. I will continue to contribute and do my part to keep this species alive and well,

and contribute to conservation for the rest of my life. To me hunting is not only a sport but one of

my passions that I will carry on for the rest of my life and hopefully pass down to my children

and so on. Personally, I feel hunting is one of, if not the best way to not only get yourself
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involved with nature, but also influence others to get involved and start to learn and care more

about the world around us. It is simply the best way to inspire a new generation of

conservationist.

Duck Conservation and Hunting

Works Cited
"2015 Population Estimates." 2015 Population Estimates | Flyways.us. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov.

2016.

"Amazing Waterfowl Facts." Amazing Waterfowl Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
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"Buy Duck Stamps." U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - Migratory Bird Program | Conserving

America's Birds. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.

"Conservation FAQs." Conservation FAQs. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.

"Conserving Wetlands & Waterfowl." Conserving Wetlands & Waterfowl. N.p., n.d. Web. 15

Nov. 2016.

"Duck Band Facts That Might Surprise You." Grand View Outdoors. N.p., 2015. Web. 15 Nov.

2016.

Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk. "25 Reasons Why Hunting Is Conservation." 25 Reasons

Why Hunting Is Conservation. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.

"How Hunting Saves Animals." Hoover Institution. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.

"News." Delta Waterfowl : News : Delta News. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.

"The Power of Partnerships." World Leader in Wetlands and Waterfowl Conservation. N.p., n.d.

Web. 15 Nov. 2016.