Whatever suits you, be it ducks, geese, or even cranes, we can help you find a great wingshooting trip. So if you’re looking for some amazing waterfowl hunting, get in touch. We think you’ll love working with us.
We’re here to help you book the perfect hunt, and our advice doesn’t cost you a thing.
If hunting Harlequin, Surf Scoter, Common Scoter, White Wing Scoter, Common and Redbreasted Merganser and Barrows Goldeneye ducks is on your bucket list then Alaska is a place that you should put high on your hunt list!
The waterfowl are in their full winter plumage and make beautiful trophies for collectors. The sheltered bays offer good protection for the wintering ducks, but keep in mind, this is Alaska in the middle of the winter. Come prepared for wind, rain, snow and cold. Warm layers of comfortable clothes, wool and fleece are recommended. Be sure to bring one heavy coat for sitting in skiffs or blinds.
With a variety of wetland habitats that ducks and geese use both during fall and spring migration, this state is blessed with exceptional hunting. The Nebraska waterfowl hunting season starts with teal in September, the light goose conservation order in February and the regular duck and goose seasons in between. Sometimes you can even get in some good upland bird hunting as well if that strikes your fancy.
When you go to Saskatchewan waterfowl hunting, you can expect to see thousands of “honkers” filling the sky; the fields will be so covered in snow geese it will look like it just snowed, and the sandhill crane hunting is phenomenal! Plus there are high bag limits. Are you ready for a world class waterfowl hunt?!
In the cold winter months for the quality and quantity of ducks, geese, and sandhill cranes you’re looking for! If you can’t find solid populations of mallards in other states, or Canada, a Wyoming waterfowl hunt has got you covered!
To make the most of your days in the field, waterfowlers need to understand weather patterns and how they affect duck and goose behavior.
Normal people don’t like storms much, but duck hunters love them! When it’s windy, the birds stop feeding during the night and move more during the day, and are limited to areas protected by the wind. It’s also easier to trick those eyes because there isn’t a problem with glare and there is tons movement caused by the wind. Dress warm, stay mobile, and adapt to changing wind directions and you’ll do well.
Bluebird skies aren’t ideal waterfowl hunting weather, but if you know where the birds are and are well concealed, it can be great hunting.
Clear, sunny skies make for some tough hunting. The birds can go wherever they want on days like this so they are more scattered. On days like this, perfect camouflage is essential, and beware of glowing upturned faces. Patterning is extremely important, and take notes. Once you’ve determined where the birds fly during clear skies, you can intercept them on a future hunt.
When the cold is extreme, the shallow water freezes over, which concentrates the birds on remaining open water. On top of that, because the birds need more calories, they’ll fly out to feed twice a day. All good right? Well, not quite…that cold weather can be tough to deal with, and the right gear is important.
A good tactic is to work open river channels until you jump a flock of ducks, then quickly set up your decoys in strings along the edges out of the wind. Hide the boat and stand next to cover in your waders, waiting for the birds to come back. Enduring the cold is the hard part.
When you can’t see, neither can the ducks and geese. This makes calling even more important than in other situations. Waterfowl hunting in snow and fog can be super exciting.
Here’s a list of the top 10 retriever breeds in no particular order.
If you’re looking for a versatile dog to hunt, flush and retrieve birds “right out of the box,” get a lab. If you want a great family dog, get a lab.
For more than 20 years in a row now, the Labrador retriever has been the most popular dog breed in the United States. This isn’t a fluke. They are proven waterfowl and upland game hunters, great family dogs, intelligent, strong swimmers, and have an intense drive.
Wealthy owners of duck clubs that lined both shores of the Chesapeake Bay during the 19th century set the basic breed type of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Old-time sportsmen hoping to exploit this duck hunter’s paradise built a retriever well-suited to the bay’s frigid waters. The thick, oily, double coat of the Chessie is both insulating and waterproof; it repels moisture much the way a duck’s feathers do. Chessies are more emotionally complex than the usual gundog. Chessies take to training, but they have a mind of their own and can tenaciously pursue their own path. They are protective of their humans and polite, but not overtly friendly, to strangers.
The Golden Retriever is one of the most lovable of the bird dogs. This Scottish beauty is serious in the field, and obedient and fun to be around at home. A perfect family dog for the hunter who likes to hunt waterfowl. The only bad thing about them is that their popularity has diluted the gene pool, so if you’re looking for a good hunter be sure to do your research and find some proven field lines.
The American Water Spaniel is a rare breed that was developed in the United States. They perform well in all endeavors but excel in the field as either a waterfowl retriever or upland flushing dog. The typical American Water Spaniel is happy, energetic, and eager to please. They are a great choice for the waterfowler who hunts from small boats or canoes.
Boykins were bred to hunt not only waterfowl but also wild turkeys, which is surprising when you consider the breed’s diminutive size. In addition to their work on water, they are also sometimes used by dove and quail gunners in the southern states.
Sometimes called “the best kept secret of the dog world,” it is the largest of the spaniels, bred originally to be a gundog for retrieving fowl both on water and land. They have powerful endurance and bold eagerness enlivened by a clownish sense of humor, making them wonderful with families.
Flat-Coats are among the happiest of all breeds. They mature slowly; some owners say that they never grow up and act like puppies into old age. This highly energetic breed requires lots of outdoorsy exercise, making them a great choice for waterfowlers.
We realize that many of you may scoff at this one, but poodles have been retrieving wild game long before firearms were even invented. Poodles are great water dogs, and rank second in canine intelligence only behind the border collie. Even that goofy haircut was originally for hunting. The thicker coat around the head and torso worked to keep the dog’s internal organs warm in cold water and the shaved back end was designed so as not to impede the dog’s swimming.
While the Nova Scotia duck-tolling retriever functions well as a traditional duck dog, its hunting role has varied historically. Tollers once served waterfowl hunters by running up and down the shoreline with the purpose of attracting curious waterfowl within gunning range. Tollers feature a water-repellent double coat, making them hardy in cold-water environments. This breed takes a special training hand and does not thrive when pressured or forced.
Traditional recipes for the waterfowl hunter include simple roasted wild goose, and duck gumbo. Both of these recipes have been popular for generations. Whether you like your duck roasted, seared, grilled, or confit we have a delicious recipe for you.
Mallard; Wood Duck; American Black Duck; Northern Pintail; American Wigeon; Gadwall; Blue-Winged Teal; Cinnamon Teal; Green-Winged Teal; Northern Shoveler
Canvasback; Greater and Lesser Scaup; Redhead; Ring-Necked Duck; Bufflehead; Common Goldeneye; Ruddy Duck; Merganser
Oldsquaw; Surf Scoter; White-winged Scoter; Common Scoter; Harlequin; Common Eider; Stellar’s Eider; Spectacled Eider; King Eider
West Indian Whistling Duck; Black-bellied Whistling Duck; Fulvous Whistling Duck
*The gear list is an important subject matter and does require personal contact with the outfitter prior to departing from your home.
, various, field
and floating
, Goose Calls
, heavyweight socks
for hands and feet
, earplugs
© 2020 · OUTDOORS INTERNATIONAL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
