Few things in the great outdoors trump the tradition of duck hunting. From the icy sloughs of Montana to the flooded fields and timber of the South, this country is rich in duck hunting lore. As the popularity of hunting these migratory fowl grows, more and more land managers are beginning to tailor their properties to attract and hold migrating ducks. BioLogic’s Neill Haas offers some great advice for those looking to boost their property’s duck appeal, but are constantly battling beavers.
“If you want to control the water flow on and off your flooded fields for ducks, you better control your beaver dams,” said Haas. “Lots of guys simply don’t get their fields planted because they can’t get the water off the fields to plant them. Before you’re ready to drain the water off your fields for planting, be sure to eliminate all your beaver dams. A lot of people think you have to blow them up, but if you keep a handle on them and keep them small, you can often dig them up. If they do get big and out of control you will need to hire a certified person to come in and blow them up. However, if you can get close enough, you can also uproot them with a backhoe. The same holds true once your crops are up and you want to flood the fields again. This process will be a nightmare and cost you some good days of duck hunting if you don’t have control of your beaver dams. The dams will typically start behind the area where you drain your fields, so if you pay attention, you can keep tabs on them.”
The Mossy Oak GameKeepers share the belief that being outdoors is about loving the land, its wildlife, and giving back more than you take. For more articles and information about managing land for wildlife, please visit farmingforwildlife.com.
