I agree with paff TOTALLY. I hunt in Manitoba twice each year too. My experiences this year were the same as paff – and I also had a great time. I usually hunt western MN in Pope County every weekend (plus some) for waterfowl. We have some great marsh/puddle duck spots and big water diver spots, but this year our group just did not see the numbers we are accustomed to. I only hunted 3 times (mornings only) in MN this year. I shot “0” birds. As a matter of fact, I never even fired a shell at a duck in MN this year. In 25 years, that’s a first for me!! I’ll admit, I did not work for them either though. I knew the birds were not there and I just did not want to make that great of an effort. In most cases, I just wanted to be “out with the dog.” ….I also went bowhunting instead.
I think Mother Nature had a lot to do with our problem this year though. Our weather just did not cooperate to push the birds together and through. Heck,… even deer hunting seemed sort-of screwed-up (swatting skeeters in late October?). Either way, in my humble opinion, I think this is a much larger problem. I think all the government regulators (in the US, Canada and Mexico) need to step up to the plate and resolve this issue “globally.” If one reads the posts/comments from waterfowl hunters from all over the continent, the waterfowl problems seem to be getting worse all around. Everyone is complaining in one way or another. The MN DNR can and should resolve its problem here, but all states/governments need to work better together – and for the birds – not for the politics or the money or for season lengths or daily bag limits – for the birds!! Whatever they are doing – or not doing – it’s just not good enough! They don’t need $$ or DU, or Delta or me or anyone else,…. they just need to do their job better – for the birds. Most ethical hunters already support private waterfowl organizaions in many ways. It’s the government regulators that need to start doing right. It’s not just the wildlife managers either. It starts with land planning/development, environmental/pollution problems, etc. It’s going to take a totally new mind-set in terms of wildlife conservation and human cohabitation,….. And it will take more than just “hunters” to fix the problem. OK,… I know I’m rambling…. so I’m DONE. Off my soap box.
On another note,…. I have “hundreds” and “hundres” of curley-tail mallards flying around my house this week. …..THEY’RE HERE !!!!!
Splitshot
, we should have limited out, but didn’t. Most all ducks we seen were Mallards with a few black ducks and cans. There were also quite a few pintails around. Today was one of the best this whole season. What was really nice is there were very few people out (6 vehicles in the lot) 
