The Duck Blog

Realtree waterfowl editor Brian Lovett has been an obsessive duck and goose hunter for more than 30 years, chasing his passion on the Dakota prairies and the marshes and open water of his home state of Wisconsin. He's been a writer and editor in the outdoors industry since 1991.

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Spring Duck Numbers Down, But Optimism Reigns

August 25, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

North America’s spring 2022 breeding duck population was down slightly from previous years, but biologists say hunters should still see a solid fall flight. The survey estimated total spring breeding duck numbers at about 34.2 million, which is 4 percent lower than the long-term average and 12 percent lower than...

Hunters Flock to First Delta Waterfowl Expo

August 11, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

Eager for the season and excited about new initiatives and introductions, waterfowlers jammed the aisles at Delta Waterfowl’s first-ever Duck Hunters Expo. The event, held July 29 through 31 in Little Rock, Arkansas, featured waterfowling personalities, carving demonstrations, how-to seminars, a world-class calling contest, and loads of new duck hunting...

No Ducks from Canada? Bird Flu Sparks Import Ban

July 20, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

American waterfowl hunters heading to Canada this fall might face another virus concern, but not from the virus they expected. Because of a large-scale outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza — commonly called the bird flu — hunters are currently not allowed to import meat from game birds taken in...

North Dakota Duck Numbers, Water Index Increase

June 23, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

Duck season might be months away, but thanks to Mother Nature, early indications are looking up. North Dakota’s annual May water index, conducted by the state’s Game and Fish Department, showed a 616% increase from 2021, which represents the second-wettest year in the history of the effort. Further, the state’s...

How to Scout for Ducks in Spring

May 26, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

Critical observers maintain that it’s fairly pointless to scout for ducks in spring. After all, seeing wood ducks zip through flooded timber or watching a raft of cans on a lake never guarantees those areas might produce during fall and winter. However, spring provides good opportunities for duck hunters to...

Avian Flu Sweeping Through Migratory Bird Populations

April 28, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

A new form of avian flu continues to spread rapidly among North American bird populations, especially many species of migratory waterfowl , prompting media headlines and creating concern among duck hunters and other observers. “This strain (of avian influenza) really seems to be devastating for wild birds, especially waterfowl and...

Alert System Unites Duck Hunters Against Threats

March 29, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

The collective voice of duck hunters just became louder and more effective, thanks to a new interactive advocacy system from Delta Waterfowl. The group recently unveiled the Duck Hunters Action Alert System , a state-of-the-art grass-roots program designed for Delta members and North American waterfowlers. The platform lets users call,...

5 Ducks That Probably Really Ticked You Off This Season

March 3, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

Depending on where and how you hunt, you probably experience several types of ducks that frustrate you year after year. Some birds don’t read the playbook and — gasp — adopt annoying behaviors that keep them alive and make you pull your hair out. I feel your pain. In fact,...

The 10 Best States for Snow Goose Hunting

February 23, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

Even if you didn’t know much about spring snow goose hunting , fields covered with white decoys and parking lots jammed with muddy trailers would reveal hotspots across the country. And for good reason: Depending on the weather and hatch, many areas typically produce year after year. Now and then,...

E-Caller Strategies for Spring Snow Geese

February 17, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

When the federal government mandated the Light Goose Conservation Order in the late 1990s, hunters became giddy at the prospect of new opportunities, including being able to use electronic calling devices. Nowadays, e-callers are standard equipment for serious snow goose geeks . But unless you’re intimately familiar with how to...

Snow Goose Guns of the Pros

February 10, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

Spring snow goose hunting demands specialized gear, and that’s especially true with shotguns. Hunters often enjoy high-volume shooting in miserable conditions during spring, so guns must be consistently reliable. Further, with no restrictions on the number of shells a gun can hold, many shooters beef up their magazine capacity, hoping...

Snow Goose Hunting Outlook for Spring 2022

February 3, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

With duck season in the rearview mirror, most waterfowlers have switched their focus to light geese and wonder what to expect this spring. The answer isn’t clear — thanks, COVID — but some reports offer glimmers of hope for the 2022 season. Hunting success during the spring conservation order season...

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