Episode #247 Episode 247 Season Wrap Up, Stats, Is Duck Hunting Being Ruined?

In this episode I wrap up the 2025–26 waterfowl season and break down my final numbers, including harvest totals, shooting percentage, and what made this my second best season ever. I recap my final hunt of the year in brutal cold, ice hole mallards, and some absolutely unreal dog work that capped the season the right way. I also answer listener questions pulled from Instagram, covering topics like finding open water during deep freezes, boat choices for marshes and reservoirs, teal decoy setups, off season plans, and whether marshes or reservoirs are more enjoyable to hunt. Finally, I dig into a topic I keep hearing over and over. Is duck hunting really being “ruined”? By social media, guides, influencers, or pressure. I give my honest take based on decades in the field and why effort still matters more than anything else. If you’re wondering what to do now that the season is over, how to stay sharp in the off season, or you just enjoy honest waterfowl talk, this one’s for you. As always, thanks for listening and supporting the North American Waterfowler podcast. Partners: Shotty Gear Waterproof, rugged hunting gear built by hunters for hunters. Shell pouches, blind bags, backpacks, gun cases, and more.https://www.shottygear.com Code FDH10 for 10% off Flight Day Ammunition Quality steel waterfowl loads at a great price. I ran Flight Day all season.https://www.flightdayammo.com Code FDH10 for 10% off TideWe Waders, heated gear, jackets, gloves, and ground blinds. I use their heated vest and outerwear all season long.https://www.tidewe.com Podcast code NAW18 for 18% off Weatherby Shotguns From the Element and Orion to the 18i and beyond, Weatherby makes dependable shotguns for the field.https://www.weatherby.com Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates Safe, durable dog crates with an optional roll cage system for travel. Search Mammoth Guardian Dog Crate on Amazon or visithttps://www.mammothpet.com Code GUARDIAN15 for 15% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices