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Waterfowl in flight over water, public waterfowl hunting land in Georgia concept.
Waterfowl

How to Find Public Waterfowl Hunting Land in Georgia

By Teri Williams on October 20, 2026

Georgia gives duck hunters a short season and a long lead time, so the planning for public water starts months before the first cold front. If you want to find public waterfowl hunting land in Georgia, the Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area south of Darien is the place to focus.
Deer rubs antlers on a tree, rut phases concept.
Deer

Deer Rut Phases Explained: Pre-Rut, Peak Chasing, Post-Rut, and More

By Melisa Geleott on October 19, 2026

In much of the U.S., the whitetail rut runs from late October to December across five phases and typically lasts six to eight weeks. As the rut progresses through each phase, buck behavior and movement patterns change, so you need an adaptable stand strategy and hunting approach.
Close-up of hunter using phone showing topo map, how to read topo maps for deer hunting concept.
Hunting Tips

How to Read Topo Maps for Deer Hunting (Find Stand Sites Before You Walk In)

By Quinn Badder on October 15, 2026

Topographic maps indicate changes in elevation using contour lines. When the contour lines are close together, the terrain is steeper. When the contour lines are spaced farther apart, the terrain has a gentle slope, showing gradual elevation changes.
Phone on truck tailgate showing hunting app, HuntWise vs GoHunt concept.
Hunting Tips

HuntWise vs GoHunt: Which App Is Right for Western Hunters?

By Teri Williams on October 13, 2026

HuntWise vs GoHunt isn’t a head-to-head fight because each app handles a different stage of the Western hunting process.
A graphic of the state of Delaware representing state of Delaware hunting season.
State Hunting Guide

The Guide to the State of Delaware Hunting Seasons 2026

By Teri Williams on October 12, 2026

If you're looking for more time to hunt deer, head to Delaware! The state offers one of the longest deer hunting seasons in the United States.
Hunter with buck deer in back of truck, Louisiana deer season 2026 concept.
Deer

The Hunter's Guide To Louisiana Deer Season 2026

By Teri Williams on October 6, 2026

Louisiana's 2026–2027 deer hunting season runs from August 29 through February 15, with specific dates and bag limits varying significantly by deer area (Areas 1 through 10).
Hunter with dog in the water for hunt, public waterfowl hunting land in Illinois concept.
Waterfowl

How to Find Public Waterfowl Hunting Land in Illinois

By Teri Williams on October 6, 2026

To find public waterfowl hunting land in Illinois, start with the State Fish and Wildlife Areas (SFWAs) that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) manages along the Illinois River, and plan to enter a lottery. Rice Lake SFWA, in Fulton County near Banner, covers 5,660 acres, and IDNR lists about 2,500 acres as huntable.
Hunter in the woods with bow holding phone, HuntWise vs Huntstand concept.
Hunting Tips

HuntWise vs HuntStand: Which Is Better for Whitetail Hunting in 2026?

By Teri Williams on October 5, 2026

HuntWise fits you better if you want daily hunt prediction and stand-by-stand wind planning, while HuntStand costs less if property lines and mapping are your main priority. Both apps are built for whitetail hunters, and both cover mapping, weather, and stand management.
Hunter in canoe on water near waterfowl decoys, public waterfowl hunting land in Ohio concept.
Waterfowl

How to Find Public Waterfowl Hunting Land in Ohio

By Teri Williams on October 5, 2026

Permits, not first-come lines, decide who hunts Ohio's Lake Erie marshes, so the first step to find public waterfowl hunting land in Ohio is learning the lottery.
Wide view of duck decoys on the water, public waterfowl hunting land in Iowa concept.
Waterfowl

How to Find Public Waterfowl Hunting Land in Iowa

By Teri Williams on October 5, 2026

The most direct way to find public waterfowl hunting land in Iowa is to focus on the state's managed marshes, and Riverton Wildlife Area in the Missouri River bottoms is a popular place to begin. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR) manages more than 410,000 acres of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) that stay open to the public year-round.
Wide view of water and trees with duck decoys, public waterfowl hunting land in Wisconsin concept.
Waterfowl

How to Find Public Waterfowl Hunting Land in Wisconsin

By Teri Williams on October 2, 2026

One boundary decides whether a duck hunt at Horicon Marsh is legal: the line between the state wildlife area and the federal refuge. To find public waterfowl hunting land in Wisconsin at its most widely known marsh, you need to know which side of that line you're on.
Hunters in boat with dog for waterfowl hunt, public waterfowl hunting land in Kansas concept.
Waterfowl

How to Find Public Waterfowl Hunting Land in Kansas

By Teri Williams on October 2, 2026

To find public waterfowl hunting land in Kansas, start with Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area near Great Bend and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge near Stafford. Cheyenne Bottoms sits inside a 41,000-acre wetland basin, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) manages 19,857 acres of it.