Waterfowl

Being ready when the ducks start piling into your decoy spread at first light begins with choosing the right shotgun for the job. Picking the "best" shotgun that fits your shoulders, allows you to swing cleanly, and matches your hunting style will make your next cold morning in the duck blind more enjoyable.

In most cases, yes, hunters can hunt WPAs (Waterfowl Production Areas). However, before you assume you can, keep reading (and do your research on the rules).

A spread of duck decoys sets the stage for a morning hunt: an empty pond, river bend, or field becomes the backdrop, and the way you place each decoy determines how real the scene looks from the air.

When November rolls around, a specific type of hunting fever sets in across the Show-Me State as snow geese travel south from Canada and Alaska. Dedicated waterfowl hunters from across Missouri and out-of-state start prepping to bag out on sky chickens. 

Hunting ducks and geese is only part of the reward. After you knock down some birds, you need to field dress and get them ready to enjoy!

Learning from the best is one of the best ways to become a better hunter. So, we've brought you the best tips for waterfowl hunting from our friend Ben Cole of RootedTV.

We all know that ducks are stunning long-distance flyers capable of putting in some incredible miles in a day and across the entire migration period, but how high do they go?

During duck season, the skies and waterways come alive with a rainbow of color from the different duck species from coast to coast. Whether you’re after dabblers, divers, or mergansers, the diversity of duck breeds provides unique opportunities for hunters to bag out a range of common and more elusive birds. 

As the days grow shorter, hunters across the country start studying weather forecasts and watching the skies for one of the greatest marvels in the natural world: the fall waterfowl migration. 

Minnesota's 2026 regular duck season opener is September 26, 2026, statewide, according to the Minnesota DNR Waterfowl Season Dates. Additional early dates include the early teal season from September 5–9, 2026, and the youth waterfowl hunt on September 12–13, 2026.

Whether you're a waterfowl hunter or an avid birdwatcher (or both), the great waterfowl migration is the best time to put eyes on birds and experience one of the most stunning natural processes on the planet.

If you’re new to duck hunting, duck calls can feel like trying to learn a whole new language — and it is. But that’s how most new things begin. It's new and potentially confusing until you get the hang of it.