Waterfowl

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.

The nature of duck hunting means you'll need some specialized equipment, unless you want to sit around in soggy gear all day. The right gear can make or break a hunt.

Due to their migratory nature and adaptation, ducks are capable of clocking impressive distances across different climates, zones, and even continents, especially during extreme seasonal changes. But how long can ducks fly when we consider time in the air?

When the weather starts to crisp up and some cooler weather patterns emerge, dedicated waterfowl hunters begin gearing up for the excitement and thrill of the goose season. Across the four major flyways, goose hunters wait in anticipation for big honkers to fly by and hopefully settle into a nearby field for some quick R&R.

Waterfowl need places to stop to rest and refuel on their long migrations from their breeding grounds in the North to their wintering grounds in the South and back again every year. Building a duck pond not only creates a reliable duck hunting spot, but more importantly, creates a habitat and spaces for a variety of wildlife and enhances conservation.

We've met some seriously obsessed duck hunters, the kind of people who live and breathe the sport and are always thinking about ways to conserve the sport for themselves and generations of duck hunters to come.