Like most waterfowl hunters , you've probably wondered why duck numbers seem to fluctuate from year to year. In this video, Dr. Frank Rohwer, president and chief scientist at Delta Waterfowl , explains why events on the breeding grounds really drive annual duck populations. Click here for more Realtree waterfowl...
Now that I’ve covered my favorite memories about common dabbling and diving ducks in my previous two blogs, it seems appropriate to reminisce about sea ducks and, yes, even mergansers. I’ll never claim to know much about sea ducks, as I’ve only taken a few dozen. Mergies? I’ll plead guilty...
Last week, I reminisced about my favorite encounters with common puddle ducks. But seeing as I’m a big-water diver geek, I probably have more memories involving diving ducks . Here are my favorites. Greater Scaup As young hunters, my buddies and I would often look at the bluebills we had...
When duck hunters discuss certain species, the conversation inevitably turns to hunts for those ducks. It’s not enough to mention that you prefer mallards. Someone will say, “Remember when all those greenheads piled into the creek and we hit them just right?” That sentiment struck me recently as I pored...
Hunters love music that speaks to our way of life, and in this playlist we have compiled all the outdoor-related tunes you need. From Hank Williams Jr. to Luke Bryan, and Nate Hosie to Adam Sanders, this soundtrack puts hunting heritage in the spotlight. 1. We Live It Artist: Adam...
Snows and blues are in full spring migration mode , and the pros at Delta Waterfowl are monitoring hotspots across the country. Pack your white spreads and get out there. Click here for more Realtree waterfowl hunting content. And check us out on Facebook .
Eight dozen of the best bluebill decoys rigged with 5-foot lines and egg sinkers do little good in the deep, rough waters of the Great Lakes. Likewise, superb mallard blocks with 25-foot lines look ridiculous in a shallow South Dakota pothole. If you’re like me, you probably hunt various types...
Most duck hunters aren’t also professional athletes, but many of us share a trait with Major League ball players: We have distinct pre-game rituals and crazy superstitions. I’m not talking about four-leafed clovers and a fear of black cats. We have some seriously weird rites and traditional beliefs that we...
Duck and goose hunters often joke about “running it to the plug,” which means shooting until the gun is empty. We all do it now and then. The expression itself embraces the wild, carefree aura of the sport . But in practice, emptying your gun can have positive and negative...
Waterfowl hunting provides unmatched variety. A cornfield hunt might yield a mix of dark geese, light geese and mallards. One small prairie slough could produce a several-man limit comprised of 10 or more species. But sometimes, we encounter ducks that we don’t expect. In extreme examples, we might be shocked...
Duck hunters can find great opportunities on public land from coast to coast. But they can also experience crowded, frustrating and futile hunts in those spots. Standard approaches won’t always work on public ground. Success often hinges on the details that many hunters overlook or strategies they refuse to embrace...
Honkers can get under my skin any year, but this past season in particular, I encountered several flocks of geese that spiked my blood pressure and elicited creative vocabulary. But I managed to outmaneuver them in the end. Here’s a look the types of problem geese I encountered and how...
