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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How to Ruin a New Duck Hunting Spot in 4 Easy Steps

November 4, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

Nothing gets a duck hunter’s heart pumping like finding a new spot loaded with birds. Unfortunately, nothing sends a duck hunter into a spiraling vortex of despair like swiftly burning out a new area and turning it into a wasteland of empty skies and broken dreams. Don’t think it can...

The Best States to Hunt Mallards, Canvasbacks, Pintails, Black Ducks, and Bluebills

October 29, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

Duck hunting offers great variety, yet many waterfowl nuts admittedly favor certain species — typically birds that look great, make excellent table fare and are more difficult to hunt. Most of those top-tier ducks inhabit at least portions of several flyways , but they’re usually more prevalent in specific spots...

How to Take Better Duck Hunting Photos

October 21, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

Waterfowl hunting seems tailor-made for photography opportunities, with its stunning settings, vibrant birds and expressive retrievers. So why do our photo albums and social media accounts become endless strings of rushed, poorly composed images displaying piles of wet birds in a pickup bed, sometimes surrounded by leering goofballs who didn’t...

Hot to Not Duck Hunting After Opening Day

October 14, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

Northern hunters loathe it. Dixie waterfowlers dread it. Yet none can avoid the post-opener doldrums. Whether you’re pursuing local early-season ducks in production states or the first migrants during early splits in the South, there’s usually a drop-off in action and duck numbers right after opening weekend. Basically, hunters blow...

2021 Pacific Flyway Duck Hunting Forecast

October 7, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

Our final Duck Hunting Nation roundup focuses on the Pacific Flyway, which features some of waterfowling’s bucket-list hunting spots . We’ve updated each state’s page with license costs, links to current regulations, and other vital information. Alaska The Last Frontier is a premier waterfowl hunting state, and its Duck Hunting...

2021 Atlantic Flyway Duck Hunting Forecast

September 30, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

Our third Duck Hunting Nation roundup centers on the Atlantic Flyway. From Eastern Shore honkers to mottled ducks in Florida, the region offers perhaps unmatched variety for waterfowlers . Despite recent challenges, the flyway continues to produce solid hunting opportunities. We’ve updated each state’s page with license costs, links to...

2021 Central Flyway Duck Hunting Forecast

September 23, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

Our second Duck Hunting Nation roundup covers the broad vistas of the Central Flyway. From huge flocks of mallards and geese whirling over heartland grain fields to endless lines of redheads and pintails near the Gulf, this flyway offers unlimited potential. We’ve updated each state’s page with license costs, links...

2021 Mississippi Flyway Duck Hunting Forecast

September 16, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

Our first 2021 Duck Hunting Nation roundup covers the waterfowl-rich Mississippi Flyway. Stretching from the dark waters of Lake Superior through the famed Mississippi Delta and points south, this tradition-rich flyway features some of the country’s best duck and goose hunting opportunities. We’ve updated each state’s page with license costs,...

The Early-Season Goose Shuffle (and Backup Plans)

September 9, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

Geese have a wry sense of humor. Don’t believe me? What else explains the preseason switcheroo? After monitoring local Canada geese locked into consistent patterns for weeks during late summer, many waterfowlers view opening day as a potential slam-dunk. Then those seemingly predictable neighborhood honkers might switch routines and locations...

Podcast: The Impact of Spinning-Wing Decoys Part 2: Brian Lovett

September 8, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

Last week, we kicked off our five-part Outpost podcast series on spinning-wing duck decoys by interviewing Terry Denmon , president of Mojo Outdoors and one of the key figures behind the first commercially successful spinning-wing duck decoy. Few hunting products have been more successful, influential — and controversial — than...

Prairie Drought Leads to Reduced Fall Duck Flight

September 2, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

After years of mostly good news, waterfowlers now face a tough reality: Poor breeding conditions in the drought-stricken prairie pothole region have led to decreased duck production, likely resulting in a smaller fall flight than hunters have seen in years. “This is a unique year in that the prairie pothole...

Podcast: The Impact of Spinning-Wing Decoys, Part 1: Terry Denmon

August 30, 2021   |  The Duck Blog

Few modern hunting products have had a bigger impact on the contingent of hunters using them than spinning-wing duck decoys. Trail cameras and deer hunters might be the only product that compares. The spinning-wing decoy concept originated in California, but the Mojo Mallard, the first commercially successful spinner, debuted in...

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