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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Duck Decisions Revisited: What Worked, What Didn’t

January 27, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

As duck season fades, it becomes easier to reflect on decisions you faced afield and realize how they made or broke a hunt. Sometimes, choices that seemed tough during the fog of battle look much clearer in hindsight. And typically, you’ll smile at your victories but cringe again at the...

How to be a Good Duck Hunting Mentor

January 20, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

Waterfowling scribes harp a lot about introducing newcomers to the sport, but we often forget to mention that there’s no instruction manual for being a good mentor. Some might say that’s silly, as the main responsibility of any mentor is simply offering someone a chance. True, but a good teacher...

5 Decoy Spreads for Late-Season Free-Lance Hunting

January 13, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

Free-lancing during the late season might be the apex of American waterfowling . With a pair of binoculars, a tank of gas and a few decoys in your truck bed, the possibilities seem endless. But that spawns a potential dilemma. You never know what you’ll find when scouting the prairies...

Turn Your Ho-Hum Duck Season Around Now

January 6, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

Some years, duck season seems to flow seamlessly. Everything works, familiar spots produce and new adventures abound. Other seasons, however, seem doomed from the start, as the weather warms, flights stall, honey holes dry up, birds get stale and light straps become the norm. Sound familiar? Don’t panic. Even if...

A Duck Hunter’s New Year’s Wish List

December 28, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

Duck season rolls on in many parts of the country, but the advent of a new year makes folks pause and reflect a bit. Everyone wishes for standard stuff, of course, but waterfowlers often have a specialized list. I’m no different, so here’s a rundown of my hopes for another...

Top Finishing Calls to Put Ducks in the Decoys

December 22, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

Around a campfire years ago, I chuckled as a well-known turkey hunter talked about his former boss. “He sure could make ’em gobble,” the guy said, pausing for effect. “And he didn’t have a clue about what to do with them after that.” That sometimes holds true for duck callers...

Do Boat Motors Spook Ducks?

December 16, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

You’re probably old-school if you don’t run a mud motor in shallow water or a big outboard on open water nowadays. The appeal is obvious: Such motors are efficient and effective, and they carry a significant cool factor. Further, motors let you go farther and faster while staying safe. Yet...

4 Reasons You’re Not Killing Mallards in Dry Fields

December 9, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

Some days, shooting mallards in harvested ag fields seems so easy: Locate ducks, set up where they want to land, and start shooting. But many other days, dry-field hunts take left turns. Birds don’t show up. Flocks flare or won’t commit. Shooters can’t capitalize on opportunities. And those problems can...

Have Duck Hunting Ethics Truly Declined?

December 2, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

An old saying maintains that no one hates a duck hunter like another duck hunter, and that probably holds more weight nowadays. Many waterfowlers maintain that bad behavior by other folks is ruining the sport, and they blame television, YouTube, marketing, social media or a general moral decline for the...

How to Beat a Shooting Slump

November 24, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

The drake gadwall hung in the stiff southeast wind, seemingly motionless at 25 yards as its primaries clawed for air to aid an unlikely escape. Meanwhile, I swung my barrel easily through the target and slapped the trigger, confident in the outcome. But a funny thing happened on the way...

Favorite Chokes and Loads of the Duck Pros

November 18, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

Duck hunters debate many topics, but when it comes to shooting, arguments about the best chokes and loads probably top the list. One guy likes light, fast loads. Another prefers big payloads of large shot. Your buddy shoots an improved-cylinder choke, but you go with a long-range constriction. Who’s right?...

Answered: 5 Questions About Hunting Diving Ducks

November 11, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

You want to run lines with multiple decoys for easier, more efficient storage, deployment and pickup. Will those attract divers as well as single-rigged blocks? Multiple-decoy lines let you set large spreads quickly and efficiently, but they can lose some effectiveness during calm conditions or when ducks have endured heavy...

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