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FALL ISSUE 2022 FEATURED ARTICLES

Photos Courtesy of Archer Film Company Adam DeMarchi https://www.archerfilmco.com/

4 FEDERAL’S 100 TH ANNIVERSARY By Brad Fenson

11 DUCKS & DECOYS By Scott Haugen

19 IT’S ALWAYS THE LITTLE THINGS By Ken Bailey 23 ARE WATERFOWL MIGRATIONS CHANGING? By Tom Moorman, Ph.D., DU

31 6 GUIDE SECRETS By Brad Fenson 40 GUNDOG SAFETY By Alex Langbell

43 ALBERTA WATERFOWL BONANZA By Brad Fenson

48 3 GENERATIONS By Kyle Killen

51 DREAM HOMES FOR MALLARDS By Bill Miller of Delta Waterfowl

57 HYBRIDS By Lynn Burkhead

62 CAN CROW HUNTING MAKE YOU A BETTER WATERFOWLER? By Mario Friendy 68 AN AMERICAN WATERFOWL HERITAGE By Courtney Nicolson

76 WATERFOWL RECIPES

FEDERAL AMMUNITION’S 100TH ANNIVERSARY By Brad Fenson

Quality loads for every scatter-gun application.

Ever since Federal started up it’s manufacturing efforts in 1922, shotshells were always its’ bread and butter. Then during its 100 -year lifespan, Federal eventually, and meticulously, developed a shotshell for every situation and activity. Federal has sat atop the awards podium with its target shotshells many times. From the original Hi-Power shells to dedicated Skeet loads, top-end shooters were quick to discover the advantages of Federal’s line of shotshells. Simultaneously Federal produced shotshell for hunting everything under the sun. So, whether hunters stalk the forests or wade in the wetlands, Federal had a shotshell to bag whatever game they are after. A list of the industry’s best, and ever important, home defense loads were also offered with great pride from the brand Law Enforcement personal defenders grew to trust most. Federal’s huge shotshell lineup didn’t happen overnight. It a long time adapting new technology, manufacturing processes, material sourcing and many other efforts for its massive product lineup to become the powerhouse it is today. Check out Federal complete, current lineup to see what you might be missing from your ammunition locker.

FEDERAL AMMUNITION’S 100TH ANNIVERSARY

The pursuit of waterfowl is a messy, water-logged endeavor that can introduce a litany of problems for hunters and their firearms, but a trip to the wetlands shouldn’t break the bank nor cause undue frustration from faulty ammo. Federal shotshells in the distinctive Federal blue box signify value without compromise. Speed-Shok shotshells have clean and fast-burning propellants, high-performance primers, and optimized velocities specifically suited to clipping waterfowl from the sky. Speed-Shok is available from .410 bore through 10- gauge and is the “go - to” shotshell for high -volume hunts. When hunting waterfowl, opportunities come at you fast. Upgrading to bismuth shotshells makes you faster. Federal partnered with the crew at MeatEater to bring a new line of bismuth to the waterfowl community. The Federal Premium Bismuth performs similarly to lead, with effective killing power at greater ranges, benefitting upland and waterfowl hunters. These new shotshells are available in a wide selection of 12- and 20- gauge loads and are malleable enough to work in older shotguns and full chokes. The quality Federal Premium Bismuth, at 9.6 g/cc density, will hit birds like traditional lead and, by using Black Cloud technology with FLITECONTROL FLEX wads that produce tight patterns, provide more killing power at longer ranges.

FEDERAL AMMUNITION’S 100TH ANNIVERSARY

During the mid-1990s, Federal began experimenting with non-toxic options that offer higher densities than steel or bismuth. In 1996, the company announced their first tungsten waterfowl load. Initially, it was met with skepticism since many hunters only saw the higher price, not the benefits. Tungsten is double the density of steel, and 56 percent heavier than lead, allowing pellets to maintain velocity and penetrate at greater distances. A little more than two decades later, Federal started loading Black Cloud Tungsten Super Shot (TSS), the industry heavyweight with the highest density and most effective range. Black Cloud TSS is the benchmark for waterfowl shells. The small No. 9 tungsten shot combined with FLITECONTROL FLEX wads create dense, consistent patterns and make up 60 percent of the shotshell. The final 40 percent are the No. 3 steel pellets that have a FLIGHTSTOPPER ring to allow them to spread quickly. Premium primers and powders round out the TSS shell.

CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW FOR AN OLDSKOOL FEDERAL AMMUNITION COMMERCIAL

FEDERAL AMMUNITION’S 100TH ANNIVERSARY

Black Cloud is a premium shotshell with unique wads, shot combinations, and performance. As the needs of the waterfowler have evolved, Black Cloud has evolved right along with them. Hunters who embraced the unique blend of steel pellets and premium performance have trouble putting anything else in their smoothbores. The most significant change to Black Cloud shotshells was the addition of the FLITECONTROL FLEX wad, allowing these already superb rounds to be shot out of any ported barrel or choke. These are incredibly versatile shotshells that deliver safety and performance thanks to plated heads, premium primers, temperature-stable powders, and the rear- opening FLITECONTROL FLEX wad ensures tight patterns through any choke. The standard Black Cloud shotshell is loaded with 40 percent FLITESTOPPER steel and 60 percent premium steel.

(https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/fe-pwbx142-ii)

FEDERAL AMMUNITION’S 100TH ANNIVERSARY

Federal Covers all Bases From the winners’ podium to the bedside of responsible citizens protecting their loved ones, Federal’s line of target and defensive shotshells handle every shotgunning task, ranging from the exciting new Shorty loads to the new High Overall. And from big, woodland game to small, fast fowl, the vast collection of Federal shotshells have every hunting need covered with more than twenty products under its Waterfowl, Slug & Buckshot, Turkey, and Upland categories including legendary products such as Black Cloud, Prairie Storm, Heavyweight TSS and more.

Whether you are looking for value or industry- leading performance, you’ll find a dependable and repeatable results with a Federal product that’s ideal for your needs.

https://www.federalpremium.com/

“Dogs & Decoys” By Scott Haugen

“How does your dog know to fetch the duck and not grab a decoy?” asked a buddy as we watched my dog swim to a dead teal on the other side of the spread. “Wait, was that a stupid question?” he followed, studying my face.

“Not at all,” I came back with a smile, reminding myself it was the first waterfowl

hunt of his life, at 52 years of age.

During the pandemic, a record number of hunters invested in dogs and in multiple states, purchased a hunting license for the first time. Many of these folks are turning to waterfowl to learn to hunt, and if you’re among them, welcome, you’re in for an addicting, glorious ride. With waterfowl hunting comes the use of decoys, and with new dogs comes a responsibility to educate them. If you have a new pup, the process of training it to work around decoys starts with familiarizing it with toys at 8 weeks of age, followed by soft bumpers, then hard bumpers as their adult teeth come in. When introducing your pup to decoys, start on land. Show them a decoy, string and weight. As soon as the pup takes interest to water, toss a couple decoys into a shallow place so they can wade and explore, on lead. If they bite a decoy, stop them and redirect their attention. If the pup likes to explore, now is a good time to redirect with a bumper toss, so they focus on it, not the decoys.

When it comes to retrieving ducks on water, educating your dog to not only negotiate decoys, but jerk cords and anchor lines, is important.

dog has to wade beyond them. Eventually you can add a few more decoys then move to deeper water where the pup must swim through a small spread to get the bumper.

Think of all the places you’ll potentially hunt over decoys this season. Envision the spreads and riggings and how your dog will negotiate them. You may be hunting over decoys of various shapes, sizes, and numbers; in shallow ponds, lakes, creeks, rivers, bays or an array of fields. You might have six duck decoys in a small ditch or 75 dozen goose decoys tightly packed in stubble. Whatever the situation, prepare your dog to confidently retrieve in the decoys. Mind you, there’s no need to put out 75 dozen canada or snow goose windsock decoys to train your dog; a dozen will do. Tightly position them and walk your pup through the decoys with a bumper in its mouth. Toss bumpers into the spread so the dog has to run through the decoys, making contact. As the retrieves progress, switch to a duck dummy then a goose dummy as your pup grows. You might strap wings to the dummy so there are moving parts to make it realistic. The more familiar your dog gets with swimming around and through several types of decoys, the better. As you’ll quickly discover, the priority is not to differentiate a decoy from a bird (or bumper) as my buddy inquired, because dogs are smart and quickly make that distinction. What you want is the pup to get used to chasing ducks around decoys, where tangles are possible.

Last season I hunted a shallow pond and dropped a pair of wigeon in the decoys. My female dog got right on the dead bird. The other baldpate kept diving amid a series of floaters lashed to a jerk cord. My male dog got a back foot tangled in the cord. Fortunately, he could stand and keep his head above water, so I whoa’ d him and quickly waded out. The string was so tightly wound around his foot and toes I had to cut the line. That night I replaced my thin jerk cord with a stiff one that wouldn’t tangle. I live in Oregon, which forbids motorized decoys. To create movement in my spreads I have multiple jerk cords running from the blind. Make sure such lines are elevated enough for your dog to enter the water without getting tangled. When on the retrieve you might have to raise the cord for your dog to swim under or add a slip-weight to the line, so it sinks deep enough for your dog to swim over. If using wind-aided decoys, mechanical decoys, flags, even socks that move in a breeze, introduce them to your pup before the hunt. Make sure they know how these decoys move and sound as this will keep them focused, marking birds, and achieving confident retrieves. Doing some pre-hunt bumper work around motorized decoys that throw water isn’t a bad idea.

Scott’s Pudlepointer Echo

One of the best times to familiarize your pup with decoys is on the hunt. When setting decoys have the pup walk or briefly swim by your side so it learns what’s happening. Keep it fun and encourage the dog, remembering this is new to them. Once the decoys are set take time to walk or swim the pup through the spread. When there’s a lull, give it a bird and have it swim, or heal and walk through the decoys with it, offering encouragement; you can even toss it or place it for a retrieve. A buddy always takes a bumper to toss into the decoys for his dog, on days when birds aren’t flying. I remember my dog’s first hunt in a spread of over 60 dozen decoys. Once all the silhouette, sock, and full body goose decoys were set on the edge of a field, along with dozens of floating, moving, and silhouette duck decoys on a flooded creek, I walked him through the spread before shooting time. Once he got familiar with the spread, and the hunters he’d never before met, he calmed down and it was all business. With the season fast approaching, anticipate what surprises your pup may encounter when hunting in different decoy spreads and prepare, accordingly. The more hunts you go on, the more familiar you and your pup will become with various spreads and the confidence and performance will rapidly grow, for both of you.

Scott Haugen and his male Pudelpointer, Kona, who had over 400 duck and goose retrieves last season. It was year filled with lots of American Wigeon and an occasional Eurasian.

https://fabrand.com/co llections/decoys/produ

cts/live-floating- wigeons-6-pack

Scott Haugen is a waterfowl hunter of 47 years and a full-time writer with over 3,000 magazine articles and many books.

Learn more at Home - Scott

and follow him on Instagram & Facebook.

"At the Saskatchewan Goose Company, we want to ensure that our guests have the best hunting experience possible, and we do everything we can to ensure this happens. Obviously, we can't control the weather or birds, but what separates us from the other guys is the amount of work my family and workers put into making this a trip of a lifetime."

Tyler Mann Phone: 306-342-7869

https://saskgooseco.com/

60 DAYS IN SASKATCHEWAN By Mario Friendy

If you have never been to Canada to chase waterfowl or if you have never spent more than a week or so, their season changes quickly. The U.S. waterfowl seasons are long and at points drag on a little as we hit slow spurts but in Saskatchewan like most of the Northern Provinces each week there is equivalent to two weeks down here. It is like figuring out how old your dog is in 1 of our human year’s vs 7 in dog years. So much happens in 8 weeks that is almost like having 4 months of the migration down in the lower forty-eight. Seasons usually run September 1 until the end of October if the weather and birds don’t get pushed out by snow and frigid temperatures. Let’s take Saskatchewan for instance, even more narrow let’s say Northern Saskatchewan with Saskatchewan Goose Company and Tyler Mann. (https://saskgooseco.com/) They don’t have a claim to fame for holding the most Specks or having a stopover for the Snows where numbers are near a million but what they do have is VARIETY! The hunts usually stay the same as you target dark geese in the morning and ducks and if you don’t finish with limits in the morning, you head out in the afternoon to chase the rest of the limits. If there are snows or lots of ducks, they will mix it up and spend the morning chasing dark geese then the afternoons after snows or ducks. The one thing that stays steady at camp is the food! You get a big brunch after the morning hunt and big dinner after the evening hunt and most of the time you must be rolled to one of the reclining chairs in the lodge.

CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW FOR A TOUR OF THE LODGE AT SASKATCHEWAN GOOSE COMPANY

We talked with Tyler to get more in-depth look at timeline in his flyway. His lodge opens on September 1st and the first two weeks are mainly honkers with a few local ducks. The tactics they are using at the beginning is putting a small silhouette spread as the birds are not educated and are still in family groups. They run 10 dozen of our FA silhouettes with two of the Lucky Duck spinning wing decoys for the ducks and our S.U.B. or Stand-Up Blind

(https://fabrand.com/collections/blinds/products/s-u-b-x3-blind-1)

The first fields off by farmers are green fields or second cut alfalfa fields. This is also the beginning of the major harvest where there will be a few wheat or barley swathed fields to hunt with the Stand-Up Blinds. The spinning wing decoys with a remote for the ducks coming at first light is a must as you need to turn them off when the geese start to come. Canada or not, the geese still don’t like the spinners there or anywhere else. The honkers are a little lazier and later in the morning and the calling is easy and very laid back with lots of clucks and moans. No other birds are down at this time but there is a chance of some late migrating Sandhill Cranes which is a very tasty bonus.

Mid-September is when all the Arctic birds show up (thanks Brad Fenson for the term). Arctic birds are your Specks, Snows and Lesser Canadas. At this time in the season the migration goes into full push mode. This is when the Specks, Snows and Lessers start to get thick with some fresh ducks showing up as well. Tyler and his guides puts out 2 spinning wing decoys and a huge silhouette spread. 25-30 dozen of our FA Last Pass Silhouettes.

(https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/final-approach-last-pass-canada-goose-silhouette-decoys-12pack).

The keys to this part of the season are simple…….be where the birds are! Scouting is the key. Another important part of the hunt is the hide. They put out the Stand-Up blinds with grass and willow tree branches to make it look like a clump or trees in the middle of the field. There are lots of those in the fields up there so the birds really don’t thing twice about them. The great part is the leaves are still on the branches for a little while longer so that helps your hide.

October is my favorite month and can be loaded with anything depending on the weather and migration. The majority this late will be Giant Honkers with lots of ducks. The lucky duck spinners are what is key in this part of the season. It not only gets the ducks attention but it also centers them up with the wind and where your blind is so you can get quality shots for all the guests. This is when Tyler hooks up the big boy trailer and puts out about 15 to 20 dozen of our FA HD Full Body Honker decoys.

(https://fabrand.com/collections/decoys/products/hd-full-body-honkers-upright-4-pack)

Whether it is decoys, calling or concealment this is show time and when all the tricks must be pulled out to make sure everyone has great hunts down to the last day of camp being open. The weather is getting worse, the patterns of the birds are somewhat predictable, but you still must scout hard to find them to put your guys on the X. More aggressive calling teamed with a lot of finesse and really reading the birds is also a key. The ducks at this time are in prime condition and everywhere. There is mostly Mallards and some Pintails and burning through your 8-bird limit sometimes seems like it goes by in a blink of an eye. If you have never experienced North of the border do yourself a favor and take your family and friends and go experience it at least once. You will never forget the memories of the hunting, the folks you meet up there and the sunrises and sunsets. It is magical.

It’s Always the Little Things By Ken Bailey

After more than 30 years as an outdoor writer, I can still get surprised now and then. Such was the case last fall when I visited Tyler Mann’s renowned Saskatchewan Goose Company in Glaslyn, Saskatchewan as a guest of Mossberg and Tourism Saskatchewan. I joined a group of familiar faces, along with a couple new ones. I’ve known Mossberg’s Linda Powell, and writers Ron Spomer and Brad Fenson, for several decades, and first met Daryl Demoskoff, the Travel Media Consultant for Saskatchewan, nearly ten year ago. New to me were Final Approach’s Mario Friendy, though I certainly knew of him, and Chris Ingram, a writer from the eastern U.S. whose work I’d read but had never met. The crew mix alone told me this would be a fun and memorable trip! Over the course of three days, seven of us shot a mix of mallards and pintails along with Canada, speckle-bellied and snow geese. On my, “How good is this stuff?” list was the Final Approach decoys. Having shot over FA - branded decoys in the past, I generally knew what to expect. What I was most interested in, quite frankly, was Tyler’s impressions. When you make your living hunting waterfowl, with two hunts a day, every day, for ten straight weeks, you need gear that works and gear that lasts; it’s really that simple. When you have the reputation for being one of the premier waterfowling outfitters in western Canada, a region with many, many outfitters, you can’t afford to have anything that doesn’t perform to expectations. Tyler related to me that he considers the FA decoys to be best-in-class and uses them because they’re effective in attracting waterfowl and can withstand the rigors of daily use, season after season. Again, given my previous experience with FA decoys, it wasn’t surprising that Tyler spoke so enthusiastically about them.

So, how was the hunting? In keeping with the theme of meeting expectations, Tyler Mann and his team met or exceeded everything a visiting hunter could hope for. Want to shoot big Canadas? Check — we did that on a couple hunts. You want specklebellies, the best table fare in the goose world? Check — twice we shot mixed bags of Canadas and specks. Snows? Yep, we shot them, too. Admittedly, on one afternoon they outfoxed us somewhat as snows are prone to do, but we still managed to drop some, including a few blues. Ducks, you say? No shortage of them, including an afternoon hunt where we joined forces with some local landowners. 11 of us shot 88 mallards and pintails, a full limit, and they continued to arrive without let-up as we picked up.

Saskatchewan Goose Company also gets top grades for their stunning and beautifully- appointed lodge, and for their food; I could happily stay there for a week and not hunt a day!

The jacket had all the features I want in a waterfowling coat. It’s windproof and waterproof, naturally, and I really appreciated the reinforcement on the elbows and forearms, the highest-wear areas. Further, it’s insulated with 100 grams of Primaloft Silver. That’s doesn’t make it particularly warm, but experience has taught me that heavily-insulated parkas become bulky and difficult to shoot in. I like a coat with just enough insulation that I remain comfortable on cool days wearing it over a base layer and a warm shirt or mid-weight sweater. When the mercury drops, I simply add a vest as necessary. It’s my torso I want insulated; I don’t find that my arms get cold, and excessively insulated arms on a waterfowling parka restrict your ability to smoothly mount and swing your shotgun. Other welcomed touches included an adjustable lower hem that allows you to establish a perfect fit whether wearing waders, hunting bibs or a pair of jeans. And the sleeves have both an inner cuff and a fully- adjustable outer cuff, meaning you never have to worry about wind or moisture working their way in. The Branta Wader Jacket hits all the sweet spots perfectly. What did surprise me on this trip, however, was the quality of FA’s hunting apparel. The market for waterfowling bibs and parkas is a pretty crowded space; these days it seems like everybody is making their own. Most are reasonably effective and differentiating between the brands can be difficult. But immediately upon donning FA’s Branta Wader jacket and Branta Bib, I recognized they hadn’t dived into this product sector on a whim; in the design phase they’d clearly given this gear some serious thought.

(https://fabrand.com/collections/apparel/products/branta-wader-jacket)

Other features I appreciated included the removable fleece-lined hood and upper-positioned fleece-lined hand- warmer pockets. Who doesn’t prefer the soft comfort of a fleece lining on your hands and head? The large, magnetic-closing shell pockets easily handled a box of ammo and were simple to open and close, even when wearing gloves. And the waterproof zippers on the storage pockets ensured that my gloves and toque stayed dry when I wasn’t wearing them, a nice touch. Lastly, in terms of pockets, the upper “stash” pocket, ideal for storing your phone and license, features both a waterproof zipper and a toggled zipper- pull that makes it simple to get into when you’re gloved -up. Finally, both shoulders have a non- slip design that ensures your buttstock doesn’t slide once you’ve mounted your shotgun. After just one day of hunting with this parka I was convinced of one thing — this garment was designed by hunters, for hunters.

The Branta Bibs also demonstrated FA’s commitment to functionality, durability and comfort. Like the jacket, these bibs are windproof, waterproof and insulated with Primaloft Silver. Additionally, all the high-wear areas, including the seat, knees and the adjustable boot cuffs, were reinforced, providing lasting wear-resistance and complementing the rip-stop exterior fabric on the rest of the bibs. The shoulder straps are adjustable, wide and slightly stretchy, with no annoying buckles that leave welts whenever you hit the switch — Velcro ensures a lasting fit.

(https://fabrand.com/collections/apparel/products/branta-bibs)

I like the integrated fleece-lined hand-warmer pockets, and the waterproof full-length leg zippers mean no more stifling truck rides to the hunt while all geared up; it’s a snap to pull these on over your boots once you’re in the field. I wore these bibs for several days in Saskatchewan and came away duly impressed. But where I really learned to appreciate them was back at home. I’m an avid diving duck hunter, and nothing tests the effectiveness and comfort of waterfowling apparel than days in continually cold, wet and windy conditions, shooting from boats. I wore the Branta bibs and jacket for several days in such conditions, and the best accolade I can provide is that, while I own several sets of waterfowling outerwear, it’s the FA Branta gear I’ll jump into come opening day this season. I went to Saskatchewan to check out the latest Mossberg auto- loader and FA’s newest decoys. Not surprisingly, each performed exceptionally well. And Tyler Mann’s operation lived up to its reputation as being among the finest waterfowling outfits in western Canada. What did surprise me, however, was that for a company best known for their decoys and blinds, FA clearly knows a thing or two about waterfowling apparel. In fact, if asked to design a set of bibs and parka myself, I’m not sure I’d have anything to add.

It’s always the little things that separate the exceptional from the mundane, and with

the FA Branta series, they addressed every little thing a waterfowler could want.

AD

https://fabrand.com/collections/apparel

Photo by Chris Jennings, DU

DU's former chief scientist discusses the many factors that influence where and when waterfowl migrate

By Tom Moorman, Ph.D.

As waterfowl seasons unfold each year across North America, the question "Where are the ducks?" Inevitably arises somewhere, and sometimes everywhere. While that seems like a straightforward, easy question, the answer is actually very complex. There are many factors that influence distribution of waterfowl in fall and winter, some that occur annually and others that cause longer-term changes.

Let's have a look at some of the most significant factors.

Weather

Most waterfowl hunters understand the effect weather has on waterfowl migration. After all, who among us is not guilty of checking our favorite weather app daily to see if Old Man Winter has awakened and hastened waterfowl migrations? Except for the few species that are hardwired for more dependable long-distance migrations, such as blue-winged teal, waterfowl are adapted to migrate only as far as is necessary for them to find food, open water, and places to rest. For some species, it may take several consecutive days of freezing temperatures and snow cover to push them southward. Without freezing temperatures and snow to cover food sources, waterfowl linger. It is advantageous for them to reduce risk of mortality from migration and remain closer to spring breeding areas. Especially among mallards and northern pintails, birds that arrive earliest on breeding areas in spring have access to the best territories, which results in a higher probability of nesting successfully and rearing a brood. Snow and ice cover and their influence on waterfowl migration and distribution are intuitive to most duck hunters. However, what may be less understood is the trend toward warmer winters. The science is very clear — if current climate trends continue in North America, midlatitude and northern regions will have less frequent ice and snow cover in future winters. Considering that waterfowl are adapted to stay as close as they can to breeding areas, such a trend does not bode well for waterfowlers farther south. In fact, recent research publications that model both climate and bird distribution indicate that by 2050 the core of the mallard wintering range may extend from Nebraska eastward to the Great Lakes region. Other species of ducks are likely to be similarly influenced, meaning significantly delayed fall migrations and shorter periods spent on southern wintering areas. Similar northward shifts are being documented in Europe. Given these trends, hunters should expect increased variability in migration activity and waterfowl distribution in the years ahead. O

Photo by John Hoffman, DU

Landscape Change and Variation

In the past 200 years the landscapes that are most important to waterfowl have suffered tremendous habitat loss, with some states losing more than 90 percent of wetlands, and nearly all losing over 50 percent. Such rapid change must have had significant effects on waterfowl distribution, but most of the changes occurred before the advent of modern waterfowl management and population surveys. Perhaps the most discouraging loss of wetlands important to wintering waterfowl has been in coastal Louisiana, where more than 40 percent of the state's approximately 3 million acres of marsh has disappeared over the past several decades. Large portions of remaining coastal wetlands have been invaded by nonnative plants, including water hyacinth and giant Salvinia, which do not provide food resources for waterfowl and outcompete the native plants that do. Such habitat loss and degradation has undoubtedly reduced the number of waterfowl in coastal Louisiana and changed the distribution of birds that still winter there. The decline in resident mottled ducks along the coasts of Louisiana and Texas likely reflects the loss of these crucial marshes. Across the continent, millions of acres of wildlife habitat have been converted to agriculture. Some waterfowl — such as geese, mallards, pintails, American green-winged teal, American wigeon, and wood ducks — have learned to exploit harvested rice, corn, wheat, barley, peas, and lentils. These landscape changes happened relatively rapidly, and while no one is certain when waterfowl adapted to feed in harvested grainfields, it likely began in the early 20th century, before modern waterfowl science could document the effects of this dramatic landscape change.

Photo by John Hoffman, DU

There is annual and long-term variation in agricultural crops and acreage, both of which influence waterfowl distribution. Along the Louisiana and Texas coasts the amount of rice agriculture, an important resource for wintering waterfowl, has declined from about 1.2 million acres to approximately 500,000 acres since 1970. The decline has been most significant along the Texas Mid-Coast, an area that once supported millions of snow geese and a thriving hunting industry. In recent years, only a couple of hundred thousand snow geese have wintered in coastal Texas. Millions of snows have shifted north to the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, where they find nearly 1 million acres of rice fields and an abundance of other cropland with green winter grasses. The steep decline of rice in Texas and Louisiana has likely also affected the number of puddle ducks wintering in the region, especially seed eaters such as pintails, teal, and mallards. Farther north, there have been significant increases in the amount of corn agriculture, particularly in North and South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Not historically a common crop in North Dakota, today corn is grown as far north as Manitoba thanks to the development of varieties that can mature faster in shorter, cooler growing seasons. In recent years, there have been up to 55 million acres of corn planted in the Mississippi River Basin. With millions of acres of harvested wheat, barley, and sorghum also on the landscape, an abundance of waste grain is available to migrating waterfowl, especially if it is not covered by snow.

Weather and Landscape Interactions

Changes in the amounts and types of crops and the trend toward warmer winters are likely enabling waterfowl to winter farther north or, at the least, delaying fall migration. Annual rainfall also influences waterfowl distribution. For example, the winter of 2018 – 19 was the third warmest on record across most of the United States, and in the eastern part of the continent it was the wettest in the more than 120 years that records have been kept by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. With that much water on the landscape, waterfowl had no shortage of places where people were not shooting at them — a recipe for a tough duck season. Unsurprisingly, across most of the eastern United States, many waterfowl hunters saw reduced harvest as a result.

Wetland Restoration

In the past 50 years, significant wetland restoration has occurred, though the number of restored acres pales in comparison to what has been lost. We lack good information about the ways such restoration has affected waterfowl populations, migrations, or nonbreeding distribution. However, we do know that birds abandon even food-rich habitats when they are covered in ice and snow. Alternatively, in the absence of ice and snow, birds linger at more northerly latitudes due to the adaptations discussed earlier. On most of the important winter and migration landscapes in North America, conservation planning models indicate that the amount of habitat and food energy available during fall and winter is below the levels needed to support established waterfowl population objectives. While conservation efforts continue in these areas, the highly mobile nature of waterfowl enables them to locate and exploit resources where they may exist across larger geographies in a given year.

Photo by John Hoffman, DU

Hunting Pressure

While hunting pressure is probably the least understood variable in the waterfowl distribution equation, we do know that ducks and geese do not like disturbance and will abandon heavily disturbed areas for places where they can find food and rest. Furthermore, hunting has changed in the past few decades. Advances in equipment and technology have made it easier to access nearly all places' waterfowl are found. Many hunters have purchased or lease land that is intensively managed to attract waterfowl for hunting, leading to more and often higher-quality habitat on many landscapes. Hunters commonly use motion decoys and machines that keep wetlands from freezing in cold weather. Regulations enabling multiple, split seasons in any given state mean that waterfowl are subjected to more hunting pressure in midlatitude and southern states. The effects and interactions of these variables are poorly understood. However, the surest way to lower the quality of hunting in your favorite duck hole is to disturb birds too often — by hunting or even riding through it too frequently. Ducks simply will not tolerate intense disturbance and will readily relocate to other areas, sometimes far away.

Photo by John Hoffman, DU

Annual Waterfowl Production

Each year hunters await the release of the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey issued by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. If populations are above average and wetland conditions favorable, breeding waterfowl are generally more successful and production of young increases. Years with more juvenile birds in the fall flight lead to better hunting success and larger harvests across the continent. However, hunters should know that increases in waterfowl breeding populations don't always mean increased production; the surveys are conducted in May, while breeding success depends on habitat conditions well into July. To achieve greater satisfaction from your hunting season, my best advice is to temper your expectations based on waterfowl breeding populations, and then temper your expectations further based on fall and winter weather to the north of your blind. I hunt in Mississippi, but the weather stations I watch to get a sense of the migration are in Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Missouri. Only when I see extended freezing temperatures for a week or more in those areas do I know large numbers of birds will be winging their way to the southern end of the flyway.

Photo by John Hoffman, DU

Then consider habitat conditions across the region you hunt. Birds evaluate habitat conditions on larger scales than your local honey hole. If conditions are good at a landscape scale, birds will stay in the area, and the chances of seeing them over your decoys increase. If the region is excessively flooded, the birds will have many options regarding where they can feed and rest, and you may experience tough hunting. If the region is dry, but there is water in the area you hunt, you may do pretty well. As hunters we often look for a silver bullet if birds don't show up in anticipated numbers over our decoys. It's human nature to seek simple explanations and solutions, but waterfowl distribution is driven by multiple interacting variables over which humans have little control, some of which are poorly understood. Waterfowl are very well adapted to exploit highly variable environments, and that is part of what makes them such worthy quarry. For those of us who love to pursue ducks and geese, the best way forward is to provide quality habitat, minimize disturbance as much as possible, hope for some help from Old Man Winter, and then hunt as much as our schedules allow!

Advanced Waterfowl Hunting: 6 Proven Guide Secrets By Brad Fenson

Do you know how your gun behaves with different loads and chokes? Or the best way to close a layout blind? You would if you hunted every day of the season.

Most all waterfowl outfitters live and breathe spotting birds, setting decoys, calling birds, and hunting daily. The busiest lodges are often running four to six hunts a day and must be adaptable and ready to face most any challenge. Often guides and outfitters are seen making modifications to a spread or tweaking the cover on blinds. Everything they do is for a reason, so pay attention to these details, and don’t be afraid to ask why changes are being made. Learning from a seasoned professional can reduce your learning curve, and keep the birds muscled up in front of you wherever and whenever you hunt. Here are some proven guide tips that will help you experience greater waterfowl success.

1. Know Your Pattern.

Few things drive waterfowl guides crazy like clients who can’t shoot accurately. A hunt is often calculated on how many incoming flights of birds may return to a specific spot to provide opportunity. When hard-working guides provide good chances to harvest birds, hunters need to be on target. It isn’t uncommon for outfitters to have access to a clay target thrower and some patterning boards, for clients who may need a lesson on where the pattern from their shotgun is hitting. Most every shotgun and choke will shoot different shotshells differently, so taking the time to pattern your gun well before a long-awaited trip is a minor investment in time, compared to setting up and paying for a hunt. It is surprising how many seasoned hunters have never patterned their shotgun. Take it from the pros and know what chokes and shotshells you need to carry, to be successful under varied hunting conditions.

2. The Cut-Through Lane.

It is always easier to decoy waterfowl when they approach directly into the wind. When birds come from upwind of your decoys, they tend to center on your spread, flying directly over blinds. When the birds do try to get into the decoys, they are often pushed out past the last string of decoys — or end up landing on the outer edge where hunters can’t get a shot. If ducks and geese can’t get to the center of your spread, create a “cut - through” lane for them to follow. Remove the decoys from a 25 - to 30-foot stretch that incoming birds can use as a runway to get to the center of the decoys. The cut-through lane works especially well when winds shift during a hunt, and the incoming birds don’t center up to the shooters. Consider this smart maneuver “air traffic control” for waterfowl. Don’t forget to use your weather apps to forecast wind strength and direction before you set your decoys, and blinds. Knowing that a wind switch is coming means that you’ll need to remove a few decoys for the cut - through, to get the birds to fly where you want.

3. Taming Bird-Spooking Shadows.

The best layout blinds are great waterfowl hides, but when you close the doors on the vast majority of models, be aware that they stack one on top of the other. If this is the case with your model, know that the door closest to the sun needs to be closed first, so the second door has its edge facing the sun. Closing the doors in the proper order prevents a shadow running the length of your blind from the door overhang. Why should you care? It is usually the little details that make the biggest difference in a successful hunt. The larger the doors, the larger the bird-spooking shadows, so watch how you close the doors when the sun is shining.

Also, most frame style blinds throw a larger shadow when setting up perpendicular to the sun. For example, a 12-foot blind will throw a 12-foot shadow. When possible, always face the ends of your blind into the sun, to minimize the shadow cast on the ground.

If you do have a large shadow coming off your permanent blind, do not place decoys in the shade. The birds will naturally seek out the sun. And as a bonus, your decoys will show up better in the light.

4. Call Out The Over-Callers.

Most all waterfowl hunters know “that guy or gal” who calls incessantly. More than one outfitter has advised listening closely to incoming birds and moderating any calling to the same volume and frequency of the real birds. Over-calling to ducks or geese that have seen some hunting pressure can be a sure-fire way to flare them — or keep them circling well out of range. It is difficult to tell someone when their calling is a detriment instead of a drawing tool. Honesty can be difficult but be up front and polite when the calls are not working. I saw one outfitter ask to see his client’s call so that he could “change the pitch.” When the device was handed over, it was pitched into the water. There was an eruption of laughter, but the point was made. Make sure you know your crowd before you go as far as pitching someone’s call.

5. Go Big Or Go Home?

When you can’t hide, don’t be afraid to be large and obvious. Blinds are critical to waterfowl hunting success. If you can’t stay hidden, you aren’t going to bag many birds. In the old days, goose hunters dug pits, and some regions still use pits and bunkers made for the entire season. Layout blinds revolutionized field hunting for waterfowl and are still in most hunters’ arsenals for a good hide. Stand-up blinds, a-frame blinds, and blind trailers are becoming more popular with outfitters that are setting up and tearing down twice a day, every day. The concept is to make the hide as natural looking as possible. A rock pile, small tree lot, slough edge, or just a clump of grass and trees in a field looks natural. It might seem to your eye to be somewhat large and out of place, but the larger it is, the more natural it can look to the birds. There are a few outfitters who use giant 24-foot trailers that can be lowered to the frame, complete with camo covers for the tires. The large structure looks like natural grass and tree cover in a field and is nicely mobile for day-to-day operations. When spotting birds, be sure to log the areas the birds are landing in a field, or on water. Note the wind and weather conditions and when conditions are ideal for a hunt, you’ll be in the prime spot. When using a big blind, you’ll always do better with natural cover on the skyline behind you. If a specific wind draws birds closer to a field edge, it will be the ideal time to set up and hunt.

6. Slow The Jack-In-The-Box.

The anticipation of having birds' decoy perfectly often has hunters springing out of their seats to shoot — and quite often, well before they should. On more than one occasion, guides have provided a friendly reminder that when one hunter is quicker at the draw than the rest of his hunting companions, only one shooter gets to target decoying birds, while the rest are shooting at wildly flaring birds. Under ideal conditions, you want everyone in the blind to shoot at the same time, so everyone has a chance to target relaxed decoying birds. Establishing shooting lanes well ahead of time will reduce doubling up on the same birds, and the success rate for the entire crew will go up exponentially. If you have a “jack -in-the- box” in your hunting crew, ask them politely to slow down, so that everyone can enjoy the same advantage. Good luck out there.

Not the jack in the box

Not the jack in the box

DOG SAFETY By Alex Langbell of Gundog Outdoors

Let’s talk safety, a subject that often times gets overlooked by many new hunters. If you have spent over 40 years of doing it, like I have, add 27 years of being in one of the most hazardous professions in the world, not only watching out for the safety of civilians but having to teach young firefighters how to safely carry out their role in doing so, safety quickly becomes the main priority in all aspects of life, especially hunting. I’ve owned hunting dogs for over 40 years and have witnessed every type of injury that you can imagine. Both to humans and gun dogs.

Having been a hunter for all of my adolescent and adult life I have witnessed our sport improve dramatically in the last 4 decades. We’ve created laws that make sure we teach our young recruits who join the ranks of this obsessed world of hunting we live in, to be safe and understand gun safety. We have developed some of the best hunting gear to keep us safe, preventing hypothermia (reduction of the body core temperature), including state of the art clothing which is now referred to as “gear”. We created hearing protection that you can hear your hunting buddy “rip one” down the other end of the blind, while quieting the 21 guns salute to a flock of landing geese. We’ve done an outstanding job and we should pat ourselves on the back right? Well, hold on one minute, what about the soul in the blind with the heart beating as fast as yours, the one who jumps into frigid waters in a current to retrieve your birds. What about the one that is running around that field of brush, that is taller than them, for hours consistently looking for your flushing, soon to be dead trophy? Who’s watching out for them? After filming 6 seasons of outdoor television and traveling this country from the famed Butte Sink of California to the Susquehanna Flats of the Chesapeake Bay. I’ve have come to realize that there is a severe lack of gun dog safety awareness. It seems those who practice it without any reservations are hunters who have experienced a gun dog go down in the field. Being an EMT and first responder I can tell you firsthand how important you are if you are the first one to reach the injured or dying subject. Many times, your actions are the ones that are going to determine whether they are going to live or die. With all of my firsthand professional experience I can tell you with conviction, that in order to be that “hero” there are three things that it includes, awareness, preparedness and prevention.

Awareness

Knowing that your dogs body temperature could change if it subjected to climate that is either too cold or too hot. Knowing your dog could easily take a sharp corn stalk into its chest from running through a corn field.

Preparedness

Knowing what 24-hour emergency veterinary hospitals are near you, especially if you are traveling. Bringing a heater or heat pack and emergency blanket with you in case your dog goes into hypothermia (drop in temperature) in order to save its life. Give your dog plenty of water before, during and after the hunt so your dog doesn’t go into hyperthermia (rise in body temperature) or bring a cold pack to cool off its core if it goes into the deadly condition of heat exhaustion.

Note: Heat exhaustion it the number one cause of death for working dogs including police dogs.

Prevention

Use a good quality vest (double them up like I do), to prevent that corn stalk to the chest or that hyperthermic condition you are potentially putting them in. But the biggest prevention is education. We need to educate our young inexperience hunters and/or first- time dog owners the importance of dog safety. You don’t let your dog run around a blind with 4 shotguns propped up in a confined space. You don’t shoot if a dog breaks. You don’t shoot if a dog is out in the field, but the birds “appear” to be high enough. You don’t shoot over a dog's head. Dogs do not have ear protection and will lose their hearing. Any seasoned waterfowler has been around a deaf ol ’ lab. How do you think it got that way? You don’t put your gun down on the ground loaded or on the boat loaded so your dog can jump on it and push the safety and at the same time it's pulling the trigger with its toenails. (I had a good friend whose friend was killed by his hunting dog doing this). I can’t stress enough the importance of gun dog safety. All it takes is one devastating accident in the field and it will change your perception of hunting forever, that is if your fortunate to experience it any more at all.

Hunting dog supplies – GunDog Outdoors

Alberta Waterfowl Bonanza By Brad Fenson

Alberta is blessed with a wide variety of waterfowl hunting in agricultural fields and on the water. With the diversity of habitats from the boreal forest, parkland, and prairie regions, it’s hard to rival the province for opportunity, numbers, and quality of hunting throughout the fall migration. Locally raised birds and arctic migrants provide a steady stream of waterfowl traversing Alberta from late summer until late fall. Geese, dabbling, and diving ducks are plentiful no matter what part of the province you visit. Migrations often happen in waves and being in the right place at the right time can create some incredible memories. Farming communities in northern Alberta attract hoards of arctic nesting geese early in the season. Grain fields offer the first high-protein feeds available to the birds with a steady diet of sedge grasses throughout the summer. Field shoots can provide the incredible spectacle of having thousands of birds floating into the decoys without hesitation.

In the early 1970s, Canada goose populations were still expanding. Once considered a rare treat for waterfowlers, geese are now at populations that continue to grow. Fifty years ago, if a hunter was fortunate to harvest a handful of geese each fall, it brought bragging rights. Times have changed. Canada goose populations have expanded drastically throughout Alberta. Changing agricultural practices, developing secure nesting sites, and transplanting goslings have allowed the Canada goose to thrive and expand across Alberta. Populations have grown more than 600 percent in less than three decades to offer waterfowl hunters some of the best goose hunting in North America.