06/24/2024
1H 47M

EP 485. Habitat Management: Emergent Marsh Wetlands Magic (Part 2)

Now among the scarcest waterfowl habitat in the delta, it was emergent wetland-type habitats that sustained overwintering migratory in their heavily forested, ancestral Deep South wintering grounds. What exactly are emergent wetlands, and why are they so desirable when managing for duck habitat? Building on our previous discussion (EP 483.), wildlife biologist Kevin Nelms deftly slogs mid-thigh deep into this swampy topic, explaining emergent marsh productivity relative to other habitat types, important need-to-know water depths and timing, hemi-marsh concepts, plant communities, hands-off benefits, type invertebrates and their critical importance to both ducks and habitat managers. Under the right conditions, it's almost as easy as just putting your boards in and walking away, and after hearing this conversation it's possibly something worth considering.

As USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Wildlife Biologist in the Mississippi Delta, Nelms has spent decades designing and developing numerous private-lands waterfowl impoundments. He’s worked extensively with private landowners throughout the region, improving desirable waterfowl habitat conditions, enhancing duck utilization, even putting together a handbook that's considered a must-have staple for waterfowl habitat management (see related links below for your own PDF copy). Contact Kevin Nelms at kevin.nelms@USDA.gov.

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Related Links:

Wetlands Management for Waterfowl Handbook (PDF)

Managing Moist-Soil Impoundments (YouTube)

Other Need-to-Hear Habitat Episodes:

EP 125. Wetland Management for Waterfowl Habitat 1/3
EP 127. Wetland Management for Waterfowl 2/3
EP 129. Wetland Management for Waterfowl 3/3
EP 175. Wetlands Management for Waterfowl: Fall Considerations
EP 235. Waterfowl Habitat Management: Producing Desirable Moist-soil Vegetation
EP 237. Waterfowl Habitat Management: Controlling Problem Plants
EP 245. Waterfowl Habitat Management: Planting Agricultural Hot Crops
EP 254. Waterfowl Habitat Management: Good Intentions, Bad Ideas, Mismanagement
EP 483. Waterfowl Habitat Management: Rethinking "Seed Mentality"

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EP 485. Long Point Ontario Diver Hunting

Mallards may be the so-called rockstars of the duck hunting universe, but not if you were born and raised on Long Point, Ontario, where massive diver rafts on Lake Erie form ravenous swarms that strafe your ice-encased layout rigs when the weather's just right. And especially not if you're a third-generation diver hunter and boat builder like Jayden Bankes, who excitedly describes bluebills, redheads, and king cans starved for lush wild celery beds so thick they bog outboards! Jayden takes us deep into his north-of-the-border duck hunting world, telling fascinating stories about the men, the ducks, the traditions and the legendary boats that forever shaped his big water world view. We should all be so lucky!