It was recently announced that the pintail limit in all US flyways will be reduced to one pintail per hunter per day starting the 2017-2018 season.
Pintails are arguably some of the most unique, identifiable, and sought-after ducks around. Recognizable on the wing by their long tail and elegant long neck, nearly every waterfowler has one or strives to have one on their wall. They are also considered to be one of the more challenging to call into decoys.
The Pacific Flyway, for the lucky ones that get to hunt it, has one of the longest seasons and most generous bag limit in the US (seven).
This upcoming season, however, everyone, including the Pacific Flyway, will have to deck out their strap with one less pintail.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service, using hunter harvest estimates, 2016 spring breeding information and other data have dropped the daily limit of pintails from two per hunter daily to one per hunter daily.
According to Delta Waterfowl, the US Fish and Wildlife service stated that this is the fifth straight survey of declining numbers. Pintails were reportedly down 14% from 2015 and down 34% from a long-term average.
It's not all doom and gloom in the waterfowl community, though. Some exciting news on the eastern flyway areas is the increase of the black duck, another highly sought after trophy, limit to two ducks per day.
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About the Author: Dominic Aiello is an avid hunter, angler, and wildlife policy expert. He is the President of the Oregon Outdoor Council, Cabela's Prostaff, and Outdoor Writer. Follow his adventures on Instagram @daiello91 or Twitter @HunterInformant.
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