Bird Hunting Advice

Sitting in a late-October duck blind on Pool 9 of the Upper Mississippi River, it was difficult for me to fathom that in 2 months I'd be in the bayou doing the same thing. Louisiana in winter. That thought alone was enough to quell my spite for the oncoming Minnesota madness. Southern waterfowl instead of numbing Northern blizzards? Sign me up.

Putting a hunting dog afield while it’s still wet behind the ears is beset with trials and tribulations.

Each spring millions of light geese tornado their way from their resting grounds in the South to their nesting grounds in the North. For hunters, it can be a wing-shooting frenzy.

The vastness of the South Dakota grasslands makes finding its feathered occupants a daunting task. This is compounded later in the season, when sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens are scattered and flighty. 

With minimal time to pre-scout, learn how to maximize your opportunities when chasing waterfowl on the weekend.

Edmonton, Alberta has long been renowned as a duck and goose hunter’s paradise. For those of us raised in the states, too often familiar with playing the waiting game in small farm fields, marshes and flooded timber; the stark difference just in the number of birds seen makes this Canadian trip a rare experience indeed. 

How to fine-tune your public land waterfowl plan.

Goldeneyes (also known as whistlers, for the whistling sound their primaries make as they rocket overhead) are sporting enough for just about anybody.

Conventional wisdom about duck hunting can put you at a disadvantage.

Respect the ringneck’s big game-quality defenses with a low-impact approach that really puts roosters in the game bag.