A changing of the guard

Unless you’re an election/political buff, you’re probably feeling some relief today. The election is over. The ads are done. We know who will represent us for the next two, four, or six years.
We here are the Minnesota Waterfowl Association watch the elections closely. While we’re concerned about national matters – the Farm Bill, for example – we’re especially focused on our own state. After all, those legislators are the ones with whom we work most commonly.
We don’t take political sides, of course, but we do weigh in on monetary and policy matters that affect waterfowl and wetlands conservation. If it’s good for ducks and good for conservation, it doesn’t matter to us whether it’s a Democrat or Republican leading the charge.
For those of us in the waterfowl community, one of the most noticeable changes will be to the heads of the environment and natural resources committees in both the House and Senate. While both former chairmen – Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, and Rep. Denny McNamara, R-Hastings – won their races, the fact that their parties are now in the minority means they won’t be the bosses anymore.
I’d hate to predict who will be heading those committees in the next session, which begins in January, so I won’t make that prediction. But suffice it to say, the Minnesota Waterfowl Association will be watching just as closely and working just as hard as we ever have to weigh in on and shape the decisions that come out of St. Paul.
Here’s hoping everyone can come together and do the right things by conservation.
Ducks, ducks, ducks
My guess is that if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re also a deer hunter. So the question is: As you sat in  your stand on deer opener and beyond, did you see a bunch of ducks?
I’ve received a lot of reports that indicated as much. One guy saw so many ducks on opening morning that he contemplated hunting them instead of deer on Sunday morning. (No word on his decision.)