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Need a new duck hunting spot? Open a map. See those blue lines? They're rivers.
Gallery
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Late-Season Freeze
Find a pocket of open water and you’re in business. Sean Hammock of Big Sean's Outfitting, who hunts and guides the St. Joseph River in northern Indiana, widens the hole until the ice will support 50 to 100 rester and sleeper goose decoys. Ducks will also work the spread.
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Small Rivers and Big Creeks
You can still achieve good visibility with a small spread if you add a little motion. Tim Herald, host of "The Zone TV" on the Sportsman Channel, places his spread at the edge of a riffle and adds two spinning-wing decoys.
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Early- and Mid-Season
Before the freeze, visibility is key. Even if Field Hudnall, Avery pro staffer and founder of Field Proven Calls, is duck hunting, his favorite spread (see sidebar, above) consists of 90 to 120 floating and full-body geese plus a dozen ducks.
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Deep-Water Divers
Captain Bob Wetherald, pro staffer for Benelli and Final Approach, uses two gang-rigged lines of bluebill decoys to form his V-shaped spread. The “V” points toward the current. A sandbar is an ideal location.
“That it [deer-stalking] is a chase which throws all our other field-sports far in the back-ground, and, indeed, makes them appear wholly insignificant, no one, who has been initiated in it, will attempt to deny.” – William Scrope, The Art Of Deer-Stalking
On this week's #SundayGunday, we’re checking out the Burris Fullfield 3-12x42mm. While the Fullfield line encompasses a whole range of magnifications and objective lens sizes, this one appeals as an excellent balance of features for hunters facing almost any scenario in the field. Learn more about it in this exclusive video.
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI) has proposed restoring state-aligned hunting regulations in Alaska’s national preserves marks a significant shift toward reducing federal overreach and empowering local hunters.
Is the future filled with AI robots using facial recognition to check your hunting license? Will a cloud of “smart” drones launch on opening day? And why can’t hunters buy one of those robotic mules designed for the Marine Corps to haul big game out of a wilderness? If you've ever wondered about any of the above, check out this latest piece from our own Guy Sagi.