Waterfowl Hunting(Page 2)

In-depth waterfowl hunting coverage on ducks and geese.

Latest in Waterfowl Hunting

A duck hunter shakes his fist at a sky full of ducks.

It Should’ve Been the Best Mallard Hunt of Our Lives. Instead, We Almost Died It Should’ve Been the Best Mallard Hunt of Our Lives. Instead, We Almost Died

By James D. Nunnally

Gear

The Best Duck Hunting Jackets of 2025 The Best Duck Hunting Jackets of 2025

By Alex Robinson

Author setting up the best duck decoys.

How to Decoy Ducks: Expert Tips and Tactics for Finishing Birds Close How to Decoy Ducks: Expert Tips and Tactics for Finishing Birds Close

By Alex Robinson, Joe Arterburn

A painting of a brown Chesapeake Bay Retrieve on a yellow background.

The Duck Dog Who Wouldn’t Quit, Even If It Killed Him The Duck Dog Who Wouldn’t Quit, Even If It Killed Him

A pair of mallards dabble bottoms-up in a pond.

What Do Ducks Eat? Here’s What Every Waterfowl Hunter Should Know What Do Ducks Eat? Here’s What Every Waterfowl Hunter Should Know

By Alice Jones Webb

Author holds tundra swan on a boat.

Why Hunt Swans? Among Other Reasons, It’s Wicked Fun Why Hunt Swans? Among Other Reasons, It’s Wicked Fun

By Ashley Thess

A successful morning of teal hunting.

How to Hunt Ducks How to Hunt Ducks

A close-up of a gray wolf in the woods.

Wisconsin Duck Hunter Shoots, Kills One of Five Gray Wolves That Surrounded His Blind Wisconsin Duck Hunter Shoots, Kills One of Five Gray Wolves That Surrounded His Blind

mallards flying in the blue sky

Where Are All the Ducks? Where Are All the Ducks?

By Natalie Krebs

Hunters in an old stone house they used as a goose blind.

The 8 Wildest Duck and Goose Blinds (That Actually Work) The 8 Wildest Duck and Goose Blinds (That Actually Work)

Early-Season Teal Hunting Tactics You’ve Never Tried (But Should)

Early-Season Teal Hunting Tactics You’ve Never Tried (But Should) Early-Season Teal Hunting Tactics You’ve Never Tried (But Should)

Mallards and pintails

Mallard Numbers Are Up This Year, Plus Duck Hunters Might See a 3-Pintail Limit Next Season Mallard Numbers Are Up This Year, Plus Duck Hunters Might See a 3-Pintail Limit Next Season

By Natalie Krebs

A bird that died of avian botulism.

Hundreds of Ducks Dead Amid Reports of Avian Flu and Botulism at Two Critical California Refuges Hundreds of Ducks Dead Amid Reports of Avian Flu and Botulism at Two Critical California Refuges

A chocolate Lab was beaten by his owner, a 15 year old.

3 Teens Arrested After Viral Video Surfaces of a Kid Abusing His Duck Dog 3 Teens Arrested After Viral Video Surfaces of a Kid Abusing His Duck Dog

By Natalie Krebs

The best hunting dogs include English setters.

The Best Hunting Dogs for Birds, Big and Small Game, and Tracking The Best Hunting Dogs for Birds, Big and Small Game, and Tracking

By Natalie Krebs, Brian Lynn

An anti-hunting activist in bright clothing stands on top of a vehicle at a public boat ramp in Australia.

During Australia’s Duck Season ‘Circus’ Anti-Hunting Activists Will Steal Your Birds, Paddle Through Your Decoys, and Film Your Kids During Australia’s Duck Season ‘Circus’ Anti-Hunting Activists Will Steal Your Birds, Paddle Through Your Decoys, and Film Your Kids

Story and Photos by Natalie Krebs

what distance to pattern a shotgun

Guns

What Distance Should Be Used to Pattern a Shotgun? (And Everything Else to Know About Patterning) What Distance Should Be Used to Pattern a Shotgun? (And Everything Else to Know About Patterning)

By Andrea Bogard

Mike Wec with his leucistic American black duck.

No, It’s Not a Game-Farm Mallard. DNA Test Confirms First-Ever Documented Leucistic Black Duck No, It’s Not a Game-Farm Mallard. DNA Test Confirms First-Ever Documented Leucistic Black Duck

By Natalie Krebs

Male mallard duck in flight sets record speed.

Migrating Mallard Clocked at 103 MPH, Breaking Recent Speed Record Migrating Mallard Clocked at 103 MPH, Breaking Recent Speed Record

Mallards resting on an NWR

Proposed Rule Could Curb Predator Control and Planting Grains for Waterfowl in Refuges. Hunting Orgs Now Wonder, Is USFWS Turning Against Duck Hunters? Proposed Rule Could Curb Predator Control and Planting Grains for Waterfowl in Refuges. Hunting Orgs Now Wonder, Is USFWS Turning Against Duck Hunters?

By Andrew McKean

A flock of Canada geese takes off from a snowy river bank.

A Stretch of the Yellowstone River Long-Closed to Waterfowl Hunting Might Reopen Soon. Some Hunters Aren’t Thrilled A Stretch of the Yellowstone River Long-Closed to Waterfowl Hunting Might Reopen Soon. Some Hunters Aren’t Thrilled

Rue Mapp scouts for ducks

Rue Mapp Is Learning to Hunt, But She’s Got a Bigger Mission Rue Mapp Is Learning to Hunt, But She’s Got a Bigger Mission

By Christine Peterson

The onX Effect: Digital Mapping Apps Have Changed the Way We Hunt. Now What Will They Do With All Our Data? The onX Effect: Digital Mapping Apps Have Changed the Way We Hunt. Now What Will They Do With All Our Data?

By Christine Peterson

Group of hunters posing in front of the best snow goose decoys.

Gear

The Best Snow Goose Decoys of 2025 The Best Snow Goose Decoys of 2025

Hunters line up for a duck blind lottery in darkness. Photo by Tom Fowlks

Can Hunting Survive in California? And If It Can’t, Who’s Going to Pay to Conserve the State’s Wildlife and Habitat? Can Hunting Survive in California? And If It Can’t, Who’s Going to Pay to Conserve the State’s Wildlife and Habitat?

Story by Christine Peterson, Photographs by Tom Fowlks

Three plucked birds sit on a table after a demonstration of how to pluck a duck.

How to Pluck a Duck How to Pluck a Duck

By Natalie Krebs

Dead snow geese with avian influenza are frozen into a lake.

The Story Behind the Snow Goose Mass Die-Off Video The Story Behind the Snow Goose Mass Die-Off Video

We tested the Spandau Arms S2.

Guns

Spandau Arms S2 Review: Field Testing a $500 Semi-Auto Duck Gun Spandau Arms S2 Review: Field Testing a $500 Semi-Auto Duck Gun

By Ashley Thess

Hand carved decoys

Photos: The Iconic Hand-Carved Decoys of the Illinois River Valley Photos: The Iconic Hand-Carved Decoys of the Illinois River Valley

A gigantic raft of mallards lit up by a spotlight in the flooded timber.

Watch: Hundreds of Mallards Swim Out of Flooded Timber, Swarming Hunters Watch: Hundreds of Mallards Swim Out of Flooded Timber, Swarming Hunters

A flock of Canada geese stand on a riverbank in North Dakota.

North Dakota Saw a Record Number of Canada Geese This Winter North Dakota Saw a Record Number of Canada Geese This Winter

the best duck loads

Guns

The Best Duck Loads, Range Tested and Reviewed The Best Duck Loads, Range Tested and Reviewed

By Alex Robinson

A mallard hen sitting inside a manmade duck nesting house.

Mallard Numbers Have Declined Nationally. New Hen House Bill Aims to Help Mallard Numbers Have Declined Nationally. New Hen House Bill Aims to Help

By Andrew McKean

the best chokes for duck hunting

Gear

The Best Chokes for Duck Hunting, Range Tested and Reviewed The Best Chokes for Duck Hunting, Range Tested and Reviewed

By Alex Robinson

sandhill crane decoys

Drive-By Shooter Cited for Firing Rifle into Decoy Spread Drive-By Shooter Cited for Firing Rifle into Decoy Spread

the best goose decoys

Gear

Best Goose Decoys of 2025 Best Goose Decoys of 2025

By Alex Robinson, Joe Genzel

The best duck calls for waterfowl hunting.

Gear

The Best Duck Calls of 2025 The Best Duck Calls of 2025

Hunter using one of the best goose calls.

Gear

The Best Goose Calls of 2025 The Best Goose Calls of 2025

By Joe Genzel, John Gordon

North Dakota duck brood survey

North Dakota Is Poised to Have Its Best Diver Duck Season in Decades. But Mallard Numbers Keep Declining North Dakota Is Poised to Have Its Best Diver Duck Season in Decades. But Mallard Numbers Keep Declining

atlantic flyway mallards feature

Good News for Duck Hunters: Mallard Limit in the Atlantic Flyway Returns to Four Good News for Duck Hunters: Mallard Limit in the Atlantic Flyway Returns to Four

duck hunter walks towards foreground decoys through ankle-deep water covered in red vegetation, sprawling trees behind

This Old-School Duck Slayer Is Opening New Hunting Opportunities Around the World for Americans This Old-School Duck Slayer Is Opening New Hunting Opportunities Around the World for Americans

By Alex Robinson

A jet sled for duck hunting

The Ultimate Walk-In Duck Hunting Gear I Can’t Live Without The Ultimate Walk-In Duck Hunting Gear I Can’t Live Without

Two hunters, man and woman, sit on a rock next to a limit of king ducks.

The Favorite Shotgun, Choke, and Ammo Combinations of 5 Diehard Duck Hunters (and One Outdoor Writer) The Favorite Shotgun, Choke, and Ammo Combinations of 5 Diehard Duck Hunters (and One Outdoor Writer)

Best Duck Loads: How to Pick the Right Shell for the Right Bird

Guns

Best Duck Loads: How to Pick the Right Shell for the Right Bird Best Duck Loads: How to Pick the Right Shell for the Right Bird

By John M. Taylor

A bird-bone flute instrument.

Hunters Were Making Duck-Bone Bird Calls 12,000 Years Ago Hunters Were Making Duck-Bone Bird Calls 12,000 Years Ago

utah swan hunting proposal 1

Some Hunters Target Trumpeter Swans. Utah Wants to Stop It Before All Swan Hunting Gets Shut Down Some Hunters Target Trumpeter Swans. Utah Wants to Stop It Before All Swan Hunting Gets Shut Down

By Andrew McKean

The buffering in TSS shot.

Guns

Tungsten Super Shot: An Inside Look at How the Deadliest Birdshot of All Time Is Made Tungsten Super Shot: An Inside Look at How the Deadliest Birdshot of All Time Is Made

By Nick Charney

A turkey hunter in Montana listens for gobbles.

Hunting License Sales Have Fallen Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels Hunting License Sales Have Fallen Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels

By Natalie Krebs

i own landowner ND pleads guilty

Landowner in “I Own the Fcking Land” Video Takes Plea Deal Landowner in “I Own the Fcking Land” Video Takes Plea Deal

Bird hunting restrictions in Manitoba

Manitoba Is About to Get Way Less Accessible for American Waterfowlers Manitoba Is About to Get Way Less Accessible for American Waterfowlers

farmer discs decoys

Watch an Arkansas Farmer Deliberately Disc a Spread of Snow Goose Decoys Watch an Arkansas Farmer Deliberately Disc a Spread of Snow Goose Decoys

Guns

Is Steel Shot Effective? Here’s What the Data Say After Decades of Testing Is Steel Shot Effective? Here’s What the Data Say After Decades of Testing

Indiana hunters tip kayaks

After Duck Hunters Flip Their Kayaks, Indiana Game Warden Recovers Shotguns with a Magnet After Duck Hunters Flip Their Kayaks, Indiana Game Warden Recovers Shotguns with a Magnet

Duck hunter wearing Sitka Hudson jacket in icy bay.

Gear

Sitka Hudson Jacket: A Hardcore Shell for Waterfowl Hunters Sitka Hudson Jacket: A Hardcore Shell for Waterfowl Hunters

By Ashley Thess

photo of hunters with car, hunter walking in marsh

The Golden Age of Jump-Shooting Ducks on the Prairie The Golden Age of Jump-Shooting Ducks on the Prairie

The Benelli M1 Super 90 was one of the best shotguns ever built.

Canada’s Semi-Automatic Firearm Ban Would Include Many Common Hunting Rifles and Shotguns Canada’s Semi-Automatic Firearm Ban Would Include Many Common Hunting Rifles and Shotguns

The Benelli SBE 3 28 gauge is one of the best duck hunting shotguns.

Guns

28 Gauge Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 Review 28 Gauge Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 Review

By Alex Robinson

These are the best duck calls for beginners.

Gear

Best Duck Calls for Beginners Best Duck Calls for Beginners

By Alex Robinson

snow geese avian flu

We’re Experiencing the Deadliest Bird Flu Outbreak in History. Here’s What All Bird Hunters Need to Know We’re Experiencing the Deadliest Bird Flu Outbreak in History. Here’s What All Bird Hunters Need to Know

By Alex Robinson

pintail ducks flying

Dusty Brown Sacrificed It All for a Duck Season That Never Ends Dusty Brown Sacrificed It All for a Duck Season That Never Ends

A magazine spread featuring an illustration of a duck and a US naval destroyer.

Hunting Ducks from a U.S. Naval Destroyer During the Korean War Hunting Ducks from a U.S. Naval Destroyer During the Korean War

By D.J. Carrison

duck hunting kayak

Duck Hunting from a Kayak, Tips and Tactics Duck Hunting from a Kayak, Tips and Tactics

By Alex Robinson

A landowner and duck hunter got in a fight over trespassing in North Dakota.

The Landowner and One Hunter From the Viral “I Own the Fcking Land” Video Are Charged with Misdemeanors The Landowner and One Hunter From the Viral “I Own the Fcking Land” Video Are Charged with Misdemeanors

hunting permission

How to Get Permission to Hunt Ducks and Geese (Without Pissing Off the Locals) How to Get Permission to Hunt Ducks and Geese (Without Pissing Off the Locals)

By Alex Robinson, Dac Collins