By Bruce Urben, President
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s February, 2021 Newsletter edition.
Pictured left to right on our 2021 SEMO hunt, my sons, Bryan & Eric, myself and Bruce Ross
In late December or early January my sons and I head into Missouri to continue to scratch the itch for a little more duck hunting. It’s been a month and a half since our Wisconsin season closed, so we are ready for another waterfowling adventure. We have been hunting with Shane Garner at SEMO Outfitters for six years and I can’t remember a visit when we didn’t bring back great memories, see hordes of ducks and even learned a little about resource management. Shane is a second generation grain farmer in Southeast Missouri but his passion and love is waterfowling. Once his vast expanse of fields are harvested each year, he puts on his guide hat and the season-long grind begins.
Shane is a steward of the land he owns, and he manages all of his crop land for waterfowl. Each year it seems he adds another property to his farm that can be farmed and managed for waterfowl. Spring planting, crop rotation, water control and harvest are all done with an eye toward helping the migrating waterfowl make a successful journey south and replenish the flocks. It is apparent that his commitment to his land and his habitat improvement projects are successful. As he says, “build it and they will come!”.
Wisconsin Waterfowl Association was founded on the principle of sound land management and habitat improvement for all wetland species, fowl and fauna. WWA is a leader in small wetland improvement projects on private property in Wisconsin. Biologists tell us that the majority of our mallards harvested in Wisconsin are hatched and raised right here in the Badger State. While our habitat improvement projects will certainly increase spring nesting success, provide resting and food sources, they can also serve as a means to enjoy a fall harvest or two.
One of the winter construction projects WWA completed in February 2020 adds invaluable waterfowl habitat to the state’s breeding populations.
Winter is usually the most active time for on the ground habitat work here in Wisconsin. The frozen landscape allows access, and contractors are usually a little more available this time of year. This year our hard freeze up is late in coming, which allows us time to follow up on new projects flowing into the WWA pipeline. I would encourage you to consider a wetland improvement project on your property, maybe a scrape, tile removal for the wet field that’s usually un-plantable, or development of impoundments to support both agriculture and wetland management.
Take a look at our website’s Habitat Restoration pages and consider submitting a project application for your property. Many projects are eligible for various grants that are available based on the specific needs of your project. We have a top notch biologist that can help with the maze of permits and contracting to see your project to fruition.
And… who knows, you may be saying the same thing that Shane does in Missouri: build it and they will come!