Apr 23, 2026
Most folks think they're managing for ducks. Kevin Nelms says: maybe they're not. Disking too early, spraying the wrong plants, chasing "clean fields"--it all adds up to less duck food. In this 11th installment of an ongoing Waterfowl Habitat Management series (see links below), Nelms breaks down what actually matters: timing, plant ecology, and understanding the system instead of fighting it. Cutting straight to the point, other topics include why broadleaf plants matter, how herbicides get misused, why to read labels, water pH, how water management mistakes undo everything, costly mistakes, sanctuary versus habitat, pressure over food, and much more. Bottom line: manage for ducks, not dirt.
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Related Links:
Wetland-Management-for-Waterfowl 2001.pdf
Managing Moist-Soil Impoundments (YouTube)
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Other Need-to-Hear Waterfowl Habitat Management Episodes in this ongoing series:
- 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
- EP 599: Waterfowl Habitat Moist Soil Mgmt: "Putting It All Together"
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