Welcome back Yardbirds! The '06/'07 season is in sight. While everyone has been fishing, playing golf, having babies and getting married, the Yardbird management has been hard at work to secure new properties and assemble a first rate syndicate of hunters/members.
The take on the upcoming season looks positive overall. Duck numbers are up as reported by US Fish & Wildlife Service. Notably pintail populations are +32% year over year. Most species' populations are reported well ahead of the long term average. That bodes well for hunting prospects and while it will be hard to top last year's season, early prospects are favorable:
We are currently updating the Yardbird website: www.yardbirdhunting.com. Please forward any all-star pictures from last year with a comment including location and names. To post your photos on the site, email pictures to jay@yardbirdhunting.com. Please, no spoony bouquets or shots of your dog mounting another. Passwords will be reassigned.
There have been some big changes and challenges with property assimilation this year. Frankly with rice acreage in Texas down by 50%, we have had to scramble to re-assemble properties for '06/'07. The other challenge has been the rising price of diesel which makes prep work and pumping costs increase. We have sought to mitigate the impact of both by trading some properties that were without rice for properties with rice acreage and renegotiating our contracts to include special provisions for more efficient fuel utilization. The process has been time consuming to say the least but we are very pleased with the resulting product and think it once again, will put us in a position to have another outstanding season.
Our membership has increased again this year despite turnover from natural attrition (kids and guys being transferred out-of-town with their jobs). We culled the ranks a bit as well from last year—those who were safety challenged bit the dust. All spots are currently spoken for on the various lease programs but we always have one or two last minute cancellations. According to our policy those spots may be filled only by persons recommended by an existing member and meet our criteria for successful members.
As in past years your package, regardless of your named property, will include periodic invitations to waterfowl hunt other properties AND 4-6 invitations to dove hunt at McAnelly's Cypress (290 property). This includes the Labor Day afternoon kick-off hunt. Details on this hunt will follow for this members-only event. (FYI: The waterfowl hunting invitations are more frequent for multiple lease holders.)
So it might seem crazy, but get out your checkbooks. If you haven't paid your deposit yet for your membership, please get that squared away. All deposits were due by July 15th. The balance on the various leases will be due on August 15th. The teal will be here soon! And the doves! We look forward to seeing you on opening day and to another bountiful season.
Best personal regards,
J. J. & B.Y.
