---
title: "2010: DU Waterfowl Forecast"
description: "Waterfowl hunters can begin to rejoice as the season draws near. Not only has the countdown to setting decoys, calling, shooting and working dogs in real-life conditions begun, the ****Ducks Unlimited 2010 waterfowl forecast is favorable with most duck species at or above their long-term average. That means liberal bag limits and season dates!"
date: "2010-10-01"
modified: "2010-10-01"
authors:
  - name: "Brian Lynn"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/brian-lynn/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/gun-dogs/2010/09/2010-du-waterfowl-forecast/"
categories:
  - "Hunting"
  - "Hunting Dogs"
  - "Waterfowl Hunting"
---

# 2010: DU Waterfowl Forecast

![](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/OHAT7N6RJ7QBJWV4TNBIXBIRVM.jpg>)

Waterfowl hunters can begin to rejoice as the season draws near. Not only has the countdown to setting decoys, calling, shooting and working dogs in real-life conditions begun, the \*\*\*\*[**Ducks Unlimited 2010 waterfowl forecast**](<https://www.ducks.org/DU_Magazine/SeptOct2010/5097/2010WaterfowlForecast.html?poe=SeptOct10Mag/>) is favorable with most duck species at or above their long-term average. That means liberal bag limits and season dates!

Every waterfowler knows that nesting habitat dictates population cycles and that poor conditions mean a low-point in that cycle. This year, however, pond counts (the unit of measure for wetland abundance on the prairie nesting grounds) were 34-percent above the long-term average and nearly all duck species were similar to last year's populations. Check out some of the highlights from the DU forecast:

- This year's **mallard** population of 8.4 million birds was almost unchanged from 2009 and near a 10-year high.
- **Pintails** had a population of 3.5 million birds--the largest estimate for this species since 1997 and near a 30-year high.
- Record numbers of **green-winged teal** and **redheads** were surveyed this spring on major waterfowl breeding areas.
- **Gadwalls** and **shovelers** also remained at high population levels, and **canvasbacks** and **American wigeon** held near their long-term averages.
- This year's **scaup** population of 4.2 million birds was also unchanged from 2009 levels but significantly higher than their all-time low of 3.2 million birds in 2006.

For more on waterfowl seasons, populations and harvests, visit [https://flyways.us/](<https://flyways.us/>) --a collaborative venture by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Migratory Bird Management, the flyway councils, and state wildlife agencies.

## Author
Brian Lynn is a Washington State resident who has covered conservation, sporting dogs, and animal-rights issues for more than 20 years for Outdoor Life, ESPNOutdoors, and many other outlets. In his current role as the vice president of marketing and communications at the [Sportsmen’s Alliance](<https://www.sportsmensalliance.org/>), he fights daily on the frontlines in the battle to protect hunting, fishing, and trapping from attacks by the animal-rights movement.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/sportsmensall/>)