State of Duck Hunting

[Deltamud77]

What is your opinion on the current state of duck hunting relative to traditions versus the new blood way of doing things, and will the traditional ways persist or fade away.

We see discussions about "Banded Gear/Affliction" style duck hunting that seems to be embraced by the younger crowd, we see the pro-mojo versus anti-mojo crowd, the electric waterfowl coat versus the filson waterfowl sweater, etc.

If you were to assess the current relative health of duck hunting as compared to years past going forward, what would your assessment be at the moment? Moreover, what do you think dunting hunting, as a way of life and thought, will look like 20 years from now?

[Blake Williamson]

Face paint, jacked up trucks with duck stickers everywhere, fast mud boats, boat races, and Ark duck calling contest everywhere you go, with 10 mojos out in a spread of 6 doz decoys, with 10 guys at least to a hunting party all to sky bust 3 woodies.

[hillhunter]

There is no telling. The more the sport gets marketed to the younger generation, the more younger folks are going to jump in. I'm 32 years old, and have been duck hunting since I was 13. I think it was what 1999 or 2000 when the Mojo came out? To me this little invention completely changed duck hunting forever.... that with a combination of superior years as far as hunting goes. I think the time period from 1998-2005 got a ton of folks into the sport. Some folks think this is a bad thing, but the more people in our sport the better, especially in todays age.

As far as traditions go, I dont really know much about them. Both my granddads were mostly bird hunters and didn't duck hunt. My dad duck hunted some when they were thick, but he is a deer hunter by trade. My uncle is an excellent duck hunter who I have learned a lot from. Mostly what I do i have done from trial and error.

For me personally duck hunting will always be a way of life. I don't have a McAllister jacket or a waxed canvas hat that I wear, but I have also never painted my face in some funny way to look cool. I will admit that I had a mojo at one time, but dont even know where it is right now. I own two dozen decoys and usually where I hunt, 6-8 decoys and three on a jerk string is sufficient.

I think a lot of this goes in cycles. For a little over ten years it has been cool. There are just as many people that I know who have quit duck hunting, who have started duck hunting in the past five years. Its just one of those things that people want to try and either don't have the connections or funds to get in a lease or get sick of chasing and competing for space on public land.... either way they get out eventually mostly from frustration.

I think the future of the sport is finicky right now. Its the haves and have nots. If you have access to the land, its great. If you don't then its not. And I don't only mean private land. There are plenty of public holes, which I used to have access to which I cant say that I do now, either as a result of draws or equipment (I dont have a duck boat, and friends that did have them for a short time got out) or over crowding, take your pick.

[hntrpat1]

I'm 34 been duck hunting since 15 I think its in the crapper with this younger crowd. Go watch the video I posted

[kb7722]

http://www.ducksouth.com/phpbb/viewtopi ... 1&t=109053

[hillhunter]

hntrpat, I realize that those guys don't have a clue when it come to duck hunting, but I don't think folks like that are what hurts this sport. Do they know what they are doing? No. Are they hurting you, me or anyone else? No. Other than not doing it like you or I they are not hurting a thing, other than being a stupid teenager. I mean they are hunting woodies for cryin out loud. It doesn't really matter what they do other than make shots in order to hunt those things. They will probably look at those videos in ten years and say the same thing we are... "Look how stupid we were!!" and laugh about it.

I really think that some of the shows that have sponsors hurt the sport WAY more than the video you posted. You look at it and see its nothing but a 30 min marketing session. Doesn't give any insight into the hows or why, just "Use this gadget and it'll bring em right in." You don't ever see a show with all those gadgets and them not killing a thing cause the weren't on the X in the first place, which 95% of the time is the only thing that matters anyway. These shows add fuel to the fire that if you have enough gimmicks in your spread then all you have to have is two acres of water in a flyway somewhere and ducks will all of a sudden use it.

[davidees]

Many of these clowns you speak of will vanish in time.

[Buckwabit]

Many of these clowns you speak of will vanish in time.

Nope. They will be around just like us. Duck hunting is a fun sport and once you start..you won't stop

[ScottyLee]

For those of us who hunt a bunch of a lot on public land I don't know that you will ever feel or see the "days of old" traditions that where once apart of duck hunting. Simply put, that's the easiest place for kids to have access to the resource, who weren't raised in the ways so to speak. Now with that being said, a lot of these people will either fade out over time or end up moving on to hunt in leases, clubs, or their own land. but the big influx of topwaters will still continue to take place at the draws and local wma's. just my 2 cents...

and yes i own 3 mojo's, haven't hunted over one all year, and don't own the first waxed canvas article of clothing, nor do i paint my face.

[Ster]

Honestly speaking, I think that the false infatuation with Duck hunting will rise, but the actual numbers of duck hunters will decline. It is really easy to buy a Drake Waterfowl sticker for your truck, and watch Duck Dynasty. It is another thing entirely to keep up with the cost of Duck leases etc...

I agree with the other poster that stated that he knows of just as many people that have given up duck hunting as he has people that started. Duck hunting and deer hunting are becoming more expensive annually.

I had the pleasure of talking to a former member of the MS board of Wildlife and we were discussing all of the changes that have taken place in deer hunting over the years. Gone are the days of Doe Tags, Doe Days etc.... Instead we see 5 deer bag limits, increasing deer seasons, and Primitive weapons that are no different than your basic high powered rifle. When discussing the reason he states that people don't deer hunt like they use to a generation ago. Go back 30 years and you would find that just about every Male in MS was hunting, just about every weekend and in most cases just as soon as a teenager got out of school in the afternoon. Now, you are lucky if teenagers in MS deer hunt two or three weekends out of the season. There is just to much gonig on for people to hunt like they did in the "good old days". Sports programs in high school are almost year round these days. Electronics etc... are at an all time high.

The other prevailing issue is the escalating cost. Many of these big dollar hunting clubs are financially able to gobble up a lot of lease property. Prublic hunting can in many ways be a very frustrating process for many hunters as well.

[Hambone]

I agree with many of the previous comments and am about as traditional as they come. But the "popularity" of duck hunting is not an entirely bad thing. Interest and participation in the sport is much more likely to keep it viable than the elitism of those who think their way is the only way. On the other hand, I realize that this is a hard point to accept when 8 face-painted, Wetlands Advantage-clad Georgians show up with 6 mojos and a vortex and set up 50 yards from your formerly secret public land hot spot.

[davidees]

Part of the reason ducks are so hard for many of us to consistently kill is because duck hunting is so popular now with every field that's capable holding water nowadays. There's so much more water in the delta now than there was in the early 90's when I started. That's just my experience and my opinion.

[hntrpat1]

Sure makes it tough when you can hunt "anywhere La" and here shotguns go off in every direction everyday of duck season

[hntrpat1]

30 and 3 is coming and all of this nonsense will stop. To be honest most of the hardcore hunters have given up by this time of year.

[davidees]

30 and 3 is coming and all of this nonsense will stop. To be honest most of the hardcore hunters have given up by this time of year.

Yup