Safety is the lowest common denominator in any decision regarding the purchase of a new duck boat. A great little boat isn't much good if it puts you at risk on the water. But, this doesn't mean you need the biggest boat you can afford. Just match the appropriate boat to the kind of hunting you do... more »
When learning to call ducks, much effort is centered on the quality and volume of the sound you can make. Learning to use a duck call is fun and challenging, but does little to put birds in the bag. Quality calling is important. You must sound like a duck. But, how and when you call makes the biggest impact on your success.... more »
Big changes and lessons won't always make you a better goose hunter. A positive attitude and a willingness to work hard, observe, and learn can accelerate your goose-hunting success, but two attributes of consistently successful goose hunters stand out. The first is an ability to cheerfully abide... more »
When stake blinds, boat blinds, and layouts fail, the old sneak boat will prevail." Although Don Millar's rhyme might oversimplify one of the most effective methods to shoot late-season divers, it shouldn't be disregarded. Sneak-boat shooting works, even when ducks are wise to most other blinds... more »
The first step was to walk down the field in the direction the geese were approaching from and check our set-up from their view. Using the truck's headlights and our flashlights, we had placed the decoys when only a hint of blue brushed the eastern horizon. Now in full daylight, it was obvious that... more »
A small flight of mallards crossed the tree-line, etched darkly against the rosy fingers of dawn. Their flight path reflected the meandering channel of an old creekbed, dipping and circling warily, then suddenly powering down on tightly cupped wings into a stand of poplar across a small ridge... more »
With the cry of "Incoming ducks" from my partner still echoing around me, I shucked the No. T steel-shot shells out of my autoloader and shovelled in No. 5 tungsten-iron. Squinting over the rim of the blind, I couldn't find the birds. "Look over to the left past the trees," directed my companion... more »
