Tag Archives: duck hunting

The holiday season is upon us and it’s filled with many hunting traditions as family and friends get together, especially in waterfowl hunting blinds. For most of us, hunting is about much more than a successful harvest. It’s about spending time afield bonding with family and friends, watching the sunrise over a river wetland on a crisp morning or watching the sunset from a harvested cornfield on a warm, windy, brisk evening, plus having exciting stories to tell when you …

LINCOLN, Neb. – When Janice Spicha shot a northern pintail on a Harlan County duck hunt Nov. 18, she said “it was like winning the lottery.” Not because that bird gave her a Nebraska Duck Slam, making her the first female to complete it this season. “A pintail is kind of elusive out here at times,” the 73-year-old Alma hunter said. “I knew it would be the hardest duck to get. Pintails have been few and far between.” The Nebraska …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is clarifying its 2020/2021 duck season dates to specify the hunting dates in the Low Plains and High Plains units. The duck and coot dates are: Zone 1: Oct. 10-Dec. 22; Zone 2: Oct. 3-Dec. 15 in Low Plains, and Oct. 3-Dec. 15 and Jan. 6-27 in High Plains; Zone 3: Oct. 24-Jan. 5 in Low Plains, and Oct. 24-Jan. 5 and Jan. 6-27 in High Plains; and Zone 4: Oct. …

The holiday season is upon us and it’s filled with many hunting traditions as family and friends get together, especially in waterfowl hunting blinds. For most of us, hunting is about much more than a successful harvest. It’s about spending time afield bonding with family and friends, watching the sunrise over a river wetland on a crisp morning or watching the sunset from a harvested cornfield on a warm, windy evening, plus having exciting stories to tell when you get …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Estimated duck breeding populations are strong, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s recent 2018 waterfowl population status report. Although the numbers are down from 2017, the report shows abundance of most duck species above their long-term averages (1955-2017). In general, habitat conditions during the 2018 Waterfowl Breeding and Population Habitat Survey were slightly poorer relative to 2017, with a few exceptions. Habitat quality generally declined across the survey area compared to last year, except for …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Wetland conditions across most of the state have improved recently, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. On Oct. 11, Game and Parks released an update on the status of Rainwater Basin wetlands, as well as pumping plans for waterfowl hunting seasons. “Due to cooler temperatures and increased rainfall, conditions throughout most of the state and in many Rainwater Basin wetlands have improved over the past month,” said Ted LaGrange, Game and Parks’ wetland program manager. …

LINCOLN – Nebraska duck hunters will find good news in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s recent 2016 waterfowl population status report. The report shows mallard numbers are near record highs and the estimated green-winged teal population is the highest since estimates began in 1955. The estimated mallard population this year is 51 percent above the long-term (1955-2015) average, while the green-wing teal numbers are 104 percent higher than the long-term average. Other dabbling duck species varied in abundances from …

Welcome to November and all it has to offer in its short 30-day span.  For the hunter the toughest part may be choosing just what to chase next. The migration is on and all parts of Nebraska’s duck zones are currently open. There are a good number of local Canada geese around the state and there will be more added as it cools down further north. Bird season is open and you can pursue grouse, chickens, pheasant and quail.  (and …

It happens just about every year.  The ducks that are around have been around for a while and they seem to have it all figured out.  They not only avoid your decoys, many disappear during shooting hours and those that stick around land on the wrong side of the pond. Some call it the October Lull.  But all of us wildfowlers grumble bad words as we watch our lonely dekes bobbing in the water. We try our best to derive …

We hunters are continually in search of tips and secrets that will help out in the pursuit of our prey.  We read articles, watch videos, talk to biologists and listen to experienced hunters.  There are many great sources of good information.  There is also a lot of misinformation out there.  Some are Old Hunter Tales, others are often repeated myths and a few simply outright lies. I have several people to thank for getting me into duck hunting.  Rhett was …