Many of my barrel-melting duck hunts of the past four decades have revealed a few great truths about the sport. But I must admit: several stinkers actually hammered home tough lessons better than the best days ever could. Let’s examine four memorable, dreadful duck hunts and what they taught me...
Has it been a good year for duck production? Delta Waterfowl ’s Matt Chouinard and Dr. Frank Rohwer analyze current breeding-duck habitat conditions. Click here for more Realtree waterfowl hunting content. And check us out on Facebook .
Modern waterfowlers know far more about ducks, hunting and habitat than our grandfathers did. And that makes you wonder why we continue to perpetuate myths and outright falsehoods. Some of these old rules make for good blind discussions . Others need to die. 1. Cloudy Days are Ducky Days Overcast...
In a blog this past month, I whined about aggravating diving ducks . But why save all the vitriol for big water when puddle ducks can also incite fits of rage? Consider these, some or all of which will likely visit a slough or flooded woods near you this fall...
In a year filled with bad news, North Dakota has given waterfowlers reason for optimism. The state’s 2020 spring survey showed a breeding duck population of almost 4 million birds, an increase of 18 percent from 2019. “Conditions that we have seen since 1994 seem to be the new normal,...
Dr. Frank Rohwer describes groundbreaking Delta Waterfowl research aimed at boosting mallard populations in the Atlantic Flyway. Click here for more Realtree waterfowl content. And check us out on Facebook .
Your duck boat has been in storage for months, and now that spring turkey season is finished, the cold reality of the off-season is finally sinking in. Don’t despair, though. You can actually use the months between duck campaigns to become a better hunter. Here’s how to make the off-season...
If you're like most duck hunters , you love seeing pintails in the fall flight but are tired of only being able to shoot one. In this video, Delta Waterfowl proposes an innovative solution. Click here for more Realtree waterfowl hunting content. And check us out on Facebook .
Sometimes, hunting all day is the only way to eke out full straps of ducks, and those ordeals can test your resolve and mettle. Careful preparation and a solid mindset can help you succeed during daybreak-to-sunset “grinder” hunts. Let’s examine three critical considerations to pull off sunup-to-sundown sits. Pick Your...
Most waterfowling is straightforward. After mallards in green timber? Set up at a likely hole, and work that call. Honkers in cut corn? Set the layout blinds and full-bodies before dawn. Divers on big water? Launch in the dark, and have a layout spread ready at first light. But areas...
Diehard big-water hunters know that diver hunting can be just as rewarding — and frustrating — as chasing greenheads and honkers . Consider these birds, which will probably visit a lake or river near you this fall. 1. Offshore Bluebills Every diver guy has seen this: Distant bluebills suddenly gain...
Duck hunters face plenty of logistical and equipment considerations, but few things rival the importance of snacks in the blind, pit or timber . It’s not easy staying focused when your stomach growls and you’ve been up since 3 a.m. Fortunately, quality grub can keep you in the game. We...
