Dark forms whirled overhead as I glanced nervously at my phone, wishing legal shooting light would arrive just a little sooner over the North Platte River. Soon, the familiar rituals of another duck hunt would consume me. Yet this day was different. I was carrying a Benelli Super Black Eagle,...
The ammunition shortage of 2020 and early 2021 has had a massive impact on shooting and hunting. As early as last June, shelves were becoming bare of popular cartridges like the .223 and 9mm. By October, when most gun hunters started prepping for deer season, it was difficult if not...
Late-season duck hunting brings many challenges, including calling. Some days, it seems like birds have heard — and ignore — every sound you can utter. Don’t despair. Even the pros have days when ducks shun their best routines. But they adapt their approach to find notes that bring birds sure-kill...
Disappearing into the environment greatly increases your chances of waterfowling success, whether you’re crouched in tall cattails or snug against a broad tupelo gum tree. But when you add several other hunters to the equation — perhaps folks who can’t sit still or want to stare at passing birds —...
In a perfect world, every waterfowler would be on the X daily, waiting for birds at a hot feed or midmorning loafing area. Then, afternoon scouting would reveal another hotspot for the next day. That, of course, is fantasy. Despite our best scouting efforts , we’re not always on the...
Late muzzleloader hunts are the last hurrah in a lot of whitetail country, and they can be a great opportunity to kill a good buck. Big deer powerhouses like Iowa and Ohio offer seasons into January. But you have to make the shot when it happens, and muzzleloaders don’t always...
Mallards captivate and mystify hunters across the country, and filling straps with plump greenheads remains one of waterfowling’s top achievements. That’s partly because wary, unpredictable mallards can be tough to hunt. If you want to bag more greenheads this year, try these tips. 1) Like many ducks, mallards love fresh...
Uncooperative ducks get on your nerves every season, but they’re especially vexing during tough years. From flaring to almost disappearing at times, their mocking behavior makes you shake your head. Hopefully, you’re not having a difficult season . But if you are, you’ve probably met these annoying birds. And if...
Soapbox alert: Lovett is going to discuss duck hunting safety again. Yawn, right? Yet every season, we’re reminded in tragic fashion that those basic lessons don’t always sink in. And they must, because waterfowling can sometimes be risky business , even for experienced hunters. So in the hopes of sparing...
Modern duck and goose decoys look incredibly realistic when new and pristine, but they can get dirty or marred with use, reducing their effectiveness. You can’t clean them in the marsh or pit with a garden hose and soapy water , so you must resort to quick fixes to make...
The best holiday gifts are those that blend right in under the tree, thanks of course to a perfect camouflage pattern. This year we’ve pooled our resources to come up with a wish list of gear that’s sure to please the hunter on your list. And if you want to...
Here’s an inconvenient truth: Mallards — a duck comfortable on sheet water, in creeks and marshes, or even feeding in ag fields — love big water. They roost on huge lakes and rivers, and loaf and feed at sprawling sloughs. And all that water can make hunting tough, especially considering...
