WEST GULF COASTAL PLAIN

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WEST GULF COASTAL PLAIN
Waterfowl Working Group
Randy Wilson, LMVJV Office Chad Manlove, DU
Southern Regional Office Andrew James, AGFC Rich
Johnson, AGFC Tom Edwards, USFWS Arkansas Alan
Stacey, ODWC Jim Neal, USFWS Texas Scott
Durham, LDWF Pat Stinson, USFWS
Mississippi Kevin Kraai, TPWD Bill Bartush, DU
East Texas
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Conserving, Restoring, and Maintaining WGCP
Capacity
to Winter Mid-Continent Waterfowl
Populations
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Identify Species of Concern (Wintering)
American Black Duck
American Wigeon
Mallard
Gadwall
Green-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
???
Northern Shoveler
Wood Duck
Mottled Duck
Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Scaup
(greater and lesser) Bufflehead
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Identify Species of Concern (Breeding)
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Mottled Duck
Hooded Merganser
???
Wood Duck
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Conserving, Restoring, and Maintaining WGCP
Capacity
to Winter Mid-Continent Waterfowl
Populations
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Establish Population Targets
Step 1. Winter Distribution of Ducks Among States
Mid-Winter Inventory Data January 1970-79
Step 2. Winter Distribution of Ducks Within States
Harvest Data January 1970-79
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Establish Population Targets
Target

P

P

Goal
state
WGCPstate
continental
state

0.85 (winter mortality rate)
Dabblers
Wood
State
Divers
Ducks
Total
Arkansas
131,050
313,871
444,921
Louisiana
457,530
1,300,583
1,758,113
31,560
138,544
170,104
Oklahoma
Texas
188,000
778,393
966,393
Total
808,140
2,531,391
3,339,531
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Conserving, Restoring, and Maintaining WGCP
Capacity
to Winter Mid-Continent Waterfowl
Populations
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Conserving, Restoring, and Maintaining WGCP
Capacity
to Winter Mid-Continent Waterfowl
Populations
Identify Species of Concern
Establish Population Targets
Biological
Foundation
Discern Limiting Factors Biological Model
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Biological Model
Assume all ducks are Mallard-sized
Assume that ducks stay for 110-day wintering
period
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Conserving, Restoring, and Maintaining WGCP
Capacity
to Winter Mid-Continent Waterfowl
Populations
Identify Species of Concern
Establish Population Targets
Biological
Foundation
Discern Limiting Factors Biological Model
Establish Objectives to Counter Limiting Factors
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Establish Objectives to Counter Limiting Factor
Habitat Objectives in Duck-Use Days
Habitat Objectives
110

Target


winter days
state
Dabblers
Wood
State
Divers
Ducks
Total
Arkansas
14,415,500
34,525,804
48,941,304
Louisiana
50,328,300
143,064,069
193,392,370
Oklahoma
3,471,600
15,239,751
18,711,351
Texas
20,680,000
85,623,268
106,303,268
Total
88,896,300
278,452,892
367,348,293
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Habitat Inventory
Important Habitat Types in the WGCP Bottomland
Hardwoods Moist Soil Wetlands Agricultural
Crops Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
What are the current management capabilities
on Public Lands? Private Lands?
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Habitat Inventory
How much naturally flooded habitat can be
expected in a given year?
How many acres of open aquatic habitat are
available? Ponds (small, medium,
large) Lakes Reservoirs
Current research? Waterfowl Use of stock
ponds Foraging Behavior Food Availability
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