November/December 2022
Issue Contents

FEATURES

A Chriatmas Goose
A Late Season Brings New
Life To A Family Tradition
By James Davis

Storm Tracking
Weather Watching And A
Sound Plan Create Great Hunts!
By Gary Zahm

Big Water & Long Tails
Pursuing A Coastal Trophy
On Inland Waters
By Mike Gnatkowski

DEPARTMENTS

Hunt Book
Flyway Watch—Pintail Paradox
Notable—More About Joe Hautman And The 2023 Duck Stamp
Smart Money—Private Land Getaways
Deep Thoughts—Group Therapy
Legends—The Greatest Duck Shot
Marsh Notes—Drought Plagues Famous Marshes
Bird Flu Requires Safe Handling
Terry’s Tips—Late Season Adjustments

From The Editor
Cost Vs. Benefit
By Jay Strangis

Duck Dogs
Distraction Workarounds
By Robert Milner

Shotguns
Big Honkers And Stoeger Shotguns
By Larry Case

Shotshells
Safe Barrels
By Tom Keer

Decoying
The Power Of Silhouettes
By Scott Haugen

Market Hunter
Find An Outfitter, Call, Boat, Retriever, Waterfowling Accessory

PotShots
Rating Shooting Difficulty
By Patrick Meitin

When Birds Social Distance

If you would have told me nine months ago that the world as we know it would take a 90-degree turn, I would likely have thought you to be kidding, a conspiracy theorist, or completely mad (as in crazy). But here we are. If you had told me that the U.S./Canadian border, something that has been a part of my life since a young child, would be closed for perhaps a year, I would have laughed—not possible. But here we are.

Over the past eight months, the world has been redefined and we’ve adapted to new realities not by choice but by necessity. And we’ve done a good job of it, in many cases. Even our terminology has changed. Terms like “essential workers” and “front-line workers” now define diverse groups of people in the important roles they play for a working society. Online learning is no longer an outlier method of getting a degree; it has become standard fare. Social distancing? Who ever heard of that? We’ve adapted in the workplace, with more telecommuting, more online meetings. We’ve adapted in business, with empty spaces becoming outdoor cafés, and box stores and restaurants combining online business with curbside pickup.

Personally, I’m impressed with how much a society can change in so short a period, but do I like it? No. In so many ways it’s inconvenient as heck—especially when it comes to hunting!

I had plans for a couple of trips across our northern border—both cancelled. Minnesota’s Game Fair, a fun August event—cancelled. Shot Show, a January industry even—cancelled. NWTF, a February event in Nashville, cancelled. As I write this, I’m still trying to figure out what our trips to the prairies are going to look like when motels and restaurants and travel in general are factored.

It’s all a pain in the behind. Yeah, I get that some alteration in routine is required in these unusual times, and yes, I want to keep my family safe and intend to follow guidelines to do that. But let me be clear—I can’t wait to turn the page.

On the other hand, I think the ducks and geese might be liking this, at least those north of the Canadian border. I hear this from my contacts up there who have found hunting to be tough this year. According to reports, the birds in Canada are having a party—one to which you and I weren’t invited.

To start with, weather early was unusually warm—never great for hunting. Add to that a landscape with an endless buffet table and too few hunters to keep the birds honest. And finally, for goose hunters, too many adult geese are in the flocks, which means fewer mistakes by the birds and tougher decoying for the hunters.

One source reported watching scouted birds feed in four different fields in the same afternoon, with the hunters completely vexed by where the birds might go next. I don’t know about the hunters, but it sounds like the birds are doing a great job of social distancing! www.waterfowler.com/subscribe

December 2015
Issue Contents

FEATURES

Waiting For Calmer Water
A Late-Season, Take-
What-Comes Duck Hunt
By David Rearick

Winter Bayou
Chased South By A Bitter
January Cold Snap
By Ron Peach

Problem Solved
Hiding A Big Boat In Open Water
With A Scissors Blind
By Mike Marsh

Enough
Some Hunts Form In The
Shadows Of Expectations
By Jack Hirt

It’s The Motion
Depending On Its Form, Or Timing,
Motion Can Kill, Or Cure, A Hunt
By Wendell H. Shepherd

A New Dutch Treat
Trophy Goose Hunting
In A Very “Green” World
By Ramsey Russell

Funeral Song
Armed With Little Faith, He Chose
A Resting Place Close To Heaven
By Jon Wongrey

DEPARTMENTS

Hunt Book

Flyway Watch—Taking Notice Of Whitefronts
Smart Money: Coastal New Jersey
Survey Says—Iowa’s Early Teal Season
A Wild Goose Farce?
Why Three Shots?
The Pond
Band Beginnings
Marsh Notes: Seasons Announced Earlier
Award-Winning Beer Gives Back
Green Bay NWR To Expand

From The Editor
That Was Different
By Jay Strangis

Decoying
One-Two Duck Hunting
By Michael Hungle

Duck Dogs
The Trainer’s Fault
By Robert Milner

Shotguns
Tools Of The Trade
By Jarrod Spilger

Shotshells
Practicing And Hunting With Steel
By Tom Roster

Boats Guide
Boat Blinds—Mobile Hides
By David Rearick

Close Calls!
Surprise Shots
By Willard Weikle

Market Hunter
Find An Outfitter, Call, Boat, Retriever, Waterfowling Accessory

PotShots
Born To Please
By Patrick Meitin

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