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Weather, Water Boost Hunting Success

December 22, 2022   |  From Flyway Reports

With 2023 right around the corner, waterfowl seasons are closing in the northern parts of the Mississippi Flyway. In the core wintering areas in the middle and southern parts of the great highway in the sky, seasons are just hitting their stride. Late December and January are prime time for...

Hot and Cold: Central Flyway Action Mixed

December 22, 2022   |  From Flyway Reports

For many waterfowlers in the Central Flyway, especially in the upper states, the season was almost finished before it began. Low duck numbers and drought conditions at the start of the season were quickly followed by cold temperatures and freeze-up on the few wetlands that had water. Hunters who didn’t...

The Ultimate Duck Boat: What the Pros Prefer

December 22, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

Duck boats vary almost as much as duck hunting situations, ranging from light shallow-draft rigs that can jump a beaver dam to hulking vessels that appear ready to cruise through icebergs at sea. Obviously, one style or type of boat does not fit every situation. But if you’ve spent enough...

Season Splits: Do They Help Duck Hunters?

December 15, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

Starting a good argument among duck hunters doesn’t require much. Just mention a hot-button topic, stir the pot with a loaded comment, and then enjoy the show. And if you really want to see fireworks, spark a debate about duck season splits. Using splits — that is, separating duck season...

How to Hunt Giant Canecutter Rabbits

December 8, 2022   |  From Articles

"Hunting swamp rabbits is the most challenging small-game hunting there is. Hunting cottontails is kid stuff compared to this.” My longtime hunting companion, Jim Spencer, of Calico Rock, Arkansas, uttered those words during a hunt in the eastern Arkansas river bottoms. We had just seen one of the big swamp...

Mud, MAX-7, and Louisiana Mayhem

December 8, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

I’d been warned about the mud. Still, as I hopped on the back of a four-wheeler, felt those big tires churn into the greasy road, and watched my soil-splattered rental car disappear into the night, I thought I might have underestimated the situation. But with duck camp ahead, I figured...

The Mid-Gun-Season Blues: When Times Get Tough

December 7, 2022   |  Brow Tines and Backstrap

After the barrage of cannon fire you heard opening week, do any big bucks still roam the timber? You start to wonder. But remember, an old hip-swaying, big-racked whitetail is the ultimate survivor. Hunting one is never easy, especially during the middle of gun season. But hang in there, and...

10 Colossal Duck Hunting Screw-Ups

December 7, 2022   |  From Articles

An old saying holds that life is tough, but it’s tougher if you’re stupid. Duck hunters might interpret that to mean waterfowling is inherently difficult, but becomes much tougher if you make silly mistakes. Think about it. Waterfowlers already deal with multiple variables such as weather, other hunters, and the...

Reasons Why Late-Season Deer Hunting Sucks … and Why It’s Great, Too

December 6, 2022   |  From Articles

The big buck ambled through the snow-laden hayfield 180 degrees behind me. I was sitting on the ground overlooking a river bottom that wraps around the field edge with my muzzleloader on my lap when I craned left and saw tines. Unfortunately, several deer were between me and the bruiser...

Our 20 Best Tips for Hunting Diving Ducks

December 1, 2022   |  From Articles

Diving ducks have an allure for a unique cadre of waterfowlers. Just check out the number of big duck boats across the country and the crush of black-and-white decoys in catalogs. Although divers might not receive the respect given to mallards and pintails, they can be tough to hunt. Moreover,...

How to Find Ducks in Dry Fields

December 1, 2022   |  The Duck Blog

Most field hunting articles start with a brief thought about putting in windshield time to find ducks and then delve deeply into setup tactics, decoy placement, and concealment concerns. That’s almost comical, because sometimes the toughest element of a field hunt is locating birds and obtaining permission. Sure, driving along...

20 Weird and Funny Treestand Names and Their Stories

November 30, 2022   |  Brow Tines and Backstrap

Hunters who share access and hunt together tend to name treestands and blinds. It’s fun and necessary, especially when trying to identify where someone is going for the day. So, if you’re slapping a handle on a spot, why not make it creative, funny or even weird? Here are 20...

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