Hunter’s Life
Lancaster Chapter Delivers Personal Experience for New Hunter
Lancaster Chapter Delivers Personal Experience for New Hunter An aspiring waterfowler connects with her late grandfather’s passion for duck hunting. NEW HOLLAND, PA—Angelina Sweigart, an 18-year-old from southeastern Pennsylvania, always planned to [...]
Avian Influenza Outbreak Worsens: Hunters cautioned to avoid contact with sick birds
Avian Influenza Outbreak Worsens Hunters cautioned to avoid contact with sick birds A strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to exact a deadly toll on waterfowl and other birds throughout the [...]
Ward Lived a Waterfowl Hunter’s Life to the Fullest
Ward Lived a Waterfowl Hunter’s Life to the Fullest Russell Ward, a masterful storyteller, waterfowl guide and decoy maker at the Delta Marsh in Manitoba, died Oct. 25. He was 93. Russell [...]
USFWS Report: Fewer Hunters, Less Ducks Shot During 2021-2022 Season
USFWS Report: Fewer Hunters, Less Ducks Shot During 2021-2022 Season As waterfowl hunters across the United States excitedly await the heart of a promising fall 2022 migration, let’s look back at the [...]
Joseph Hautman Wins Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest
Joseph Hautman Wins Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest Majestic tundra swans will grace the 2023-2024 stamp Joseph Hautman’s acrylic painting of a trio of tundra swans winging over a wetland was [...]
Wildlife Habitat Canada Grants Support Delta Waterfowl Duck Production and HunteR3 Programs
Wildlife Habitat Canada Grants Support Delta Waterfowl Duck Production and HunteR3 Programs September 19, 2022 WINNIPEG, MANITOBA — Grants from Wildlife Habitat Canada have been awarded to Delta Waterfowl to bolster the organization’s [...]
What Every Hunter Should Know About the Bird Flu
What Every Hunter Should Know About the Bird Flu Highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, is sickening and killing waterfowl in North America By Paul Wait Even though the U.S. Department [...]
Newfoundland and Labrador Eliminates Sunday Hunting Restrictions
Newfoundland and Labrador Eliminates Sunday Hunting Restrictions Waterfowl hunters can now hunt seven days a week all season long Newfoundland and Labrador has opened up hunting and trapping on Sundays throughout [...]
Exciting seasons ahead for East Coast and West Coast goose hunters
Exciting seasons ahead for East Coast and West Coast goose hunters As Delta's president Dr. Frank Rohwer so often says, "Hunters don't shoot the spring breeding population, we shoot the fall flight [...]
An Awakening: A week exploring the prairie breeding grounds brings revelations about ducks, research and hunting
An Awakening A week exploring the prairie breeding grounds brings revelations about ducks, research and hunting By Anna Kottakis Growing up in the New Jersey suburbs, my exposure to hunting dead-ended somewhere around [...]
Duck Stamps: A Small Price to Pay for Waterfowl Conservation
Duck Stamps: A Small Price to Pay for Waterfowl Conservation As waterfowl hunters prepare for the 2022-2023 fall hunting season, Delta Waterfowl urges its members to consider buying an extra duck stamp. Duck [...]
Delta Waterfowl Names Chapter Leaders from Texas and Newfoundland as 2022 Volunteers of the Year
Delta Waterfowl Names Chapter Leaders from Texas and Newfoundland as 2022 Volunteers of the Year For immediate release August 3, 2022 Inaugural event delights large, enthusiastic crowds of waterfowl hunters from throughout North [...]
Delta Waterfowl Duck Hunters EXPO a ‘big success’ in Little Rock, Arkansas
Delta Waterfowl Duck Hunters EXPO a ‘big success’ in Little Rock, Arkansas For immediate release August 2, 2022 Inaugural event delights large, enthusiastic crowds of waterfowl hunters from throughout North America BISMARCK, NORTH [...]
Delta Waterfowl’s Million Duck Campaign to Add 1 Million Ducks Annually
Delta Waterfowl’s Million Duck Campaign to Add 1 Million Ducks Annually For immediate release August 1, 2022 Bold new plan aims to maximize duck production and put more birds into every fall flight [...]
Excitement Builds for Delta Waterfowl Duck Hunters EXPO in Less Than a Month
Excitement Builds for Delta Waterfowl Duck Hunters EXPO in Less Than a Month For immediate release July 8, 2022 Tickets selling fast for the first-ever Delta Duck Hunters Expo July 29-31 Purchase Tickets [...]
Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey is Back in 2022
Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey is Back in 2022 After two-year hiatus because of COVID-19, the important index of North American waterfowl populations was conducted in May A lot has changed [...]
Delta Waterfowl Opposes Legislation to Dismantle Sportsmen-Led Conservation Funding
Delta Waterfowl Opposes Legislation to Dismantle Sportsmen-Led Conservation Funding On June 22, Congressman Andrew Clyde (GA-09) introduced H.R. 8167, the RETURN (Repealing Excise Tax on Unalienable Rights Now) Our Constitutional Rights Act. This [...]
Be Mindful of Avian Influenza Restrictions on Importation of Game Bird Meat from Canada This Fall
Be Mindful of Avian Influenza Restrictions on Importation of Game Bird Meat from Canada This Fall After two years of COVID-19 restrictions on American hunters traveling to Canada to hunt waterfowl, a new [...]
California Gun/Ammo Tax Proposal
California Gun/Ammo Tax Proposal Bears Watching... Wherever You Hunt Ducks by Bill Miller California lawmakers are again confirming their claim on proposing the most outlandish and contradictory legislation aimed squarely at hunters and [...]
Delta Waterfowl Applauds Modernization of Canada’s Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations
Delta Waterfowl Applauds Modernization of Canada’s Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations New rules simplify possession, transportation and gifting of migratory birds, and also allow youth to hunt waterfowl on free permits WINNIPEG, MANITOBA — [...]
Delta Waterfowl Applauds Mississippi Lawmakers for Passing Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund
Delta Waterfowl Applauds Mississippi Lawmakers for Passing Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund New law will expand conservation efforts, improve outdoor recreation and enhance natural resources across the state. Delta Waterfowl is celebrating a strongly [...]
2022 Canadian Duck Stamp to Feature White-fronted Geese
2022 Canadian Duck Stamp to Feature White-fronted Geese © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 2022 The 2022 Canadian Wildlife Habitat [...]
Delta Waterfowl Urges Mississippi Lawmakers to Pass Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund
Delta Waterfowl Urges Mississippi Lawmakers to Pass Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund The bill would expand conservation efforts, improve outdoor recreation, and enhance natural resources across the state of Mississippi. Delta Waterfowl joins 75 [...]
Hunting is Conservation — Let’s Keep it That Way
Hunting is Conservation — Let’s Keep it That Way Learn More Delta Waterfowl’s University Hunting Program teaches wildlife students about hunters’ critical contributions. By Cyrus Baird When I was [...]
Great Duck Hunters … And the Rest of Us
Great Duck Hunters … And the Rest of Us Some have a nose for the birds. Others are just there for the fellowship. By Kyle Wintersteen, Managing Editor There’s a [...]
Crash Landings: ‘Twas Three Weeks Before Christmas…
Crash Landings: ‘Twas Three Weeks Before Christmas… Weary snow geese make an unexpected nighttime visit in Northern California By Paul Wait Mike Cole really did not want his wife, Julie, to put up [...]
January 2021 Migration Report
January 2021 Waterfowl Migration Report Get the latest information on waterfowl migrations for ducks, geese and other birds in your flyway zone from Delta Waterfowl.
Delta Waterfowl Short Film Reveals the Making of a New Duck Hunter
Delta Waterfowl Short Film Reveals the Making of a New Duck Hunter Passage is a heartwarming journey in which young adult Hayden Wiatrek expresses interest in waterfowling, and soon finds himself pitching decoys [...]
Coming Soon! Passage — Presented by YETI
Coming Soon! Coming Soon — Delta Waterfowl’s short film “Passage” presented by YETI. A story about bringing a new hunter into the waterfowling world. Watch Hayden get his first taste of ducks coming [...]
Find Your New Duck Hunting Spot with HuntStand!
Find Your New Duck Hunting Spot with HuntStand! HuntStand, Delta Waterfowl’s new Champion is just the tool you need to help you find that new duck hole on public land. It also allows [...]
Delta’s “Voice of the Duck Hunter” Podcast – 2020 Fall Flight Forecast
Delta’s “Voice of the Duck Hunter” Podcast – 2020 Fall Flight Forecast This week’s episode of the “Voice of the Duck Hunter” podcast is especially exciting: We’re taking a deep dive into the [...]
Delta’s “Voice of the Duck Hunter” Podcast – Defending the Hunt
Delta’s “Voice of the Duck Hunter” Podcast – Defending the Hunt This week’s episode of the “Voice of the Duck Hunter” podcast explores Delta’s Defending the Hunt program — a critical initiative that [...]
Delta Celebrates the Success of New Waterfowl Hunters
Delta Celebrates the Success of New Waterfowl Hunters SUBMISSION GUIDELINES New hunters of all ages can submit a high-quality photo at deltawaterfowl.org/firstducks. Only quality photos will be used. Be sure to include your [...]
A Goose Against All Odds
A Goose Against All Odds A late April snow-goose hunt in central South Dakota generally offers up lower than usual odds of success. Delta Waterfowl digital media creator Ben Peterson and his [...]
SITKA Gear Film “Last Call for the Bayou” to Launch on Earth Day
SITKA Gear Film “Last Call for the Bayou” to Launch on Earth Day Check out the trailer for the SITKA film “Last Call for the Bayou. 5 Stories from Louisiana’s Disappearing Delta.” [...]
USFWS Proposes Liberal Frameworks for 2020-2021 Waterfowl Season
USFWS Proposes Liberal Frameworks for 2020-2021 Waterfowl Season By Kyle Wintersteen, Managing Editor Great news: Under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Proposed 2020-2021 Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations, U.S. waterfowlers [...]
Responsible Recreation
Responsible Recreation Dear Delta Supporter – If there is any silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s the unexpected free time many of us are experiencing. When asked, “Why do you enjoy [...]
Delta Member Bags ‘Goose of a Lifetime’
Delta Member Bags ‘Goose of a Lifetime’ It was one of those cool, bright January mornings when plenty of birds are flying to entertain hunters, but few descend below the stratosphere. [...]
Delta Waterfowl HunteR3
Delta Waterfowl HunteR3 Delta Waterfowl continues to work toward a bright future for waterfowl hunters. And now, we’re redoubling our hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation efforts through HunteR3, a bold new initiative of [...]
Forgotten Paradise
Forgotten Paradise Photos by Ben Peterson If you dread packing away your gear after the seasons close in North America, consider heading south — way south, beyond the U.S. border. The birds [...]
Delta Waterfowl 2019 Year in Review
2019 Year in Review Your support made 2019 a standout year for Delta’s mission to produce ducks and secure the future of waterfowl hunting.
Webfoot Outdoors of Clayton, NY Hosts Successful Delta Waterfowl University Hunt
Webfoot Outdoors of Clayton, NY Hosts Successful Delta Waterfowl University Hunt Seven wildlife sciences students from State University of New York ESF (Environmental Science & Forestry) recently culminated their introduction to waterfowl [...]
Hunter Recruitment: Are We Doing It Right?
Hunter Recruitment: Are We Doing It Right? As the hunting population ages, new approaches are needed to bolster our ranks. “Take a kid hunting.” It’s a slogan we’ve all heard countless times. When [...]
Hunting Saved His Life
Hunting Saved His Life Josh and Ronnie Raggio share a bond even beyond father and son – it’s the lifelong bond of duck calling. When a life-threatening illness struck Ronnie, they were certain [...]
Getting Ready
Getting Ready By Kyle Wintersteen You don’t need a calendar to tell you opening day is near. You feel it in the breezes of those first crisp September mornings. Your hunter’s spirit calls [...]
This Is Why…
This Is Why… By Paul Wait “This pass,” I whispered to myself, alternately tensing and relaxing my grip on the autoloader poised across my chest, all but the last few inches of barrel [...]
The Tin Can
The Tin Can A discovery sparks memories of bygone waterfowlers’ country boy ingenuity By Bill Miller A while back, I was ransacking the garage in search of a socket wrench I last recalled [...]
August 2019 Conditions Report
August Conditions Report Dr. Frank Rohwer of Delta Waterfowl explains how mid-summer water conditions in the Dakotas should boost the fall flight.
July 2019 Conditions Report
July Conditions Report Delta biologist Matt Chouinard reports on current habitat conditions for breeding ducks across all four flyways.
A Frugally Foolish Duck Hunter
A Frugally Foolish Duck Hunter by Bill Miller There are many ways to categorize waterfowl hunters. You can slice and dice the demographic profiles to infinity if that’s your thing. However, [...]
June 2019 Conditions Report
June Conditions Report Will good conditions for duck production in the United States be enough to offset a dry breeding season in prairie Canada? Delta biologist Matt Chouinard provides analysis. [...]
Delta Waterfowl 2019 Research Report
2019 Research Report The leader in waterfowl research, Delta’s 2019 projects are headlined by an Atlantic Flyway mallard study, dabbling duck tracking and drone work.
May 2019 Conditions Report
May Conditions Report Will this be a good year for duck production? Delta biologist Matt Chouinard provides analysis of current breeding-duck habitat conditions.
Teaching Tomorrow’s Conservation Leaders
Teaching Tomorrow’s Conservation Leaders The late November air was crisp, forming a thick haze across the expansive corn stubble and rendering a well-placed pit blind nearly invisible. Huddled inside, a crew [...]
Torturous Fun
Torturous Fun A Chesapeake Bay sea duck hunt tests the limits of hunters and gear By Brad Heidel As the calendar flipped to 2019, I was excited to be headed to [...]
2018 Year in Review
2018 Year in Review Your support made 2018 a standout year for Delta’s mission to produce ducks and secure the future of waterfowl hunting.
Delta Waterfowl Celebrates Mentors, New Hunters
Delta Waterfowl Celebrates Mentors, New Hunters When you mentor a new hunter this season, be sure to share your story and a photo to receive some amazing keepsakes from Delta’s Mentor [...]
The Expectations and Realities of Waterfowling
The Expectations and Realities of Waterfowling By Kyle Wintersteen, Managing Editor It happens every year on the night before duck season: I lie awake in bed as if a kid on Christmas [...]
July Conditions Report
July Conditions Report How’s the fall flight shaping up as waterfowl nesting draws to a close? Get an updated duck-season outlook with our final Conditions Report of 2018. [...]
Plan Your ‘Hunt of a Lifetime’
Plan Your ‘Hunt of a Lifetime’ By Bill Miller Let’s set one thing straight from the get-go: Hunts are like fingerprints and snowflakes — no two are alike. We’re all looking for [...]
June Conditions Report
June Conditions Report Thunderstorms have soaked the Upper Midwest in recent weeks — were they enough to improve the dry nesting conditions in key stretches of the prairies? Get an updated fall-flight [...]
Top 10 Ways to Improve Cooler Performance
Top 10 Ways to Improve Cooler Performance Nothing adds to the enjoyment of summertime activities such as retriever training, clays busting, camping and fishing like an icy cooler full of refreshing [...]
11 Foolproof Excuses for Your Next Missed Shot
11 Foolproof Excuses for Your Next Missed Shot By Kyle Wintersteen, Managing Editor The brilliantly adorned January greenhead slipped in on cupped wings, then hovered like a helicopter over my edge [...]
May Conditions Report
May Conditions Report Conditions vary widely across key nesting regions during this critical duck production period. Get an updated outlook for your flyway’s fall flight with Delta’s May Conditions Report. [...]
April 2018 Conditions Report
April Conditions Report Were this month’s record-breaking snow showers enough to offset dry conditions in key nesting regions? Get an updated outlook for your flyway’s fall flight with Delta’s April Conditions Report. [...]
Flight of the Electrified Pterodactyls
Flight of the Electrified Pterodactyls By Bill Miller A couple weeks into each North Dakota waterfowl season, Ken “The Crane Man” Toop and his gang of ne’er-do-wells invaded the tiny town [...]
April 2018 Migration Report
April Migration Report The snow goose migration is delayed in the western U.S., but things are heating up in eastern Canada. Find out where birds are concentrated in your flyway with Delta’s April [...]
March 2018 Conditions Report
March Conditions Report Were recent rains and snowfall enough to improve dry nesting conditions in key regions? Get an updated duck production outlook with Delta’s March Conditions Report.
March 2018 Migration Report
March Migration Report A lingering winter has stalled and concentrated snow geese in several regions. Find out where birds are on the move in your flyway with Delta’s March Migration Report. [...]
February Conditions Report
February Conditions Report With nesting season on the horizon, here’s a look at early water conditions on key waterfowl breeding grounds across North America.
His Prayer Was Answered
His Prayer Was Answered A Delta Waterfowl supporter shot a unique goose in Arkansas By Paul Wait As Kenny Jenkins and his three buddies settled in for an afternoon waterfowl hunt, they [...]
February Migration Report
February Migration Report Find out where snow geese are concentrated in your flyway with Delta’s February Migration Report.
Delta Waterfowl 2017 Year End
Your support made 2017 a banner year for Delta’s mission to produce ducks and secure the future of waterfowl hunting.
January Migration Report
January Migration Report Ducks and geese are on the move again as the south thaws following a major cold spell that had iced over much of the country. Here’s Delta’s January migration report, [...]
December Migration Report
December Migration Report A major winter weather event and plummeting temperatures have spurred migration activity across much of the United States. Find out where ducks and geese are on the move in your [...]
Delta Regional Director Bags Remarkable Hybrid Duck
Delta Regional Director Bags Remarkable Hybrid Duck By Kyle Wintersteen, Managing Editor An early cold snap drove wave upon wave of mallards into western Missouri in time for the opening day [...]
A Healing Hunt
A Healing Hunt Three combat-wounded U.S. veterans experience memorable Mississippi River waterfowling Story and photos by Paul Wait Bryan Gray stood over his truck’s tailgate, talking as he carefully field dressed [...]
November Migration Report
November Migration Report Freezing temperatures have kicked the waterfowl migration into high gear! Find out where ducks and geese are on the move in Delta’s November Migration Report.
Why Ducks Need More Duck Hunters
Why Ducks Need More Duck Hunters See how your membership can help reverse declining duck hunter numbers.
October Migration Report
October Migration Report Happy October! With hunting seasons now underway across much of North America, find out where ducks and geese are on the move in this month’s Migration Report. [...]
Delta Waterfowl July Conditions Report
July Conditions Report Delta Waterfowl staff assess how a mixed bag of wetland conditions across major waterfowl breeding areas may affect the fall flight.
Delta Waterfowl May Conditions Report
May Conditions Report Delta Waterfowl staff details the current water conditions in key waterfowl nesting areas across the United States and Canada, and explain what it means for duck production this year. [...]
Delta Waterfowl April Conditions Report
April Conditions Report More ducks and geese are arriving on the breeding grounds every day, and some have even started nesting. Here’s Delta Waterfowl’s April conditions report — a look at water and [...]
April Migration Report
April Migration Report Are there any snow geese left in the United States? Here’s the answer in Delta Waterfowl’s April Migration Report.
March Condition Report
March Condition Report As ducks and geese push north, here’s a look at early water conditions on key waterfowl breeding grounds across North America.
Quiz: Do You Have ‘Duck Depression?’
Quiz: Do You Have ‘Duck Depression?’ By Kyle Wintersteen Face it: You aren’t you when it isn’t duck season. The air seems less crisp, daily life is downright monotonous and your [...]
February Migration Report
February Delta Waterfowl Migration Report Unseasonably mild weather has spurred substantial numbers of snow geese to push north early this year. Watch Delta Waterfowl’s February Migration Report for up-to-date analysis. [...]
The Other Snow Goose
The Other Snow Goose By Kyle Wintersteen The scene was both beautiful and rather surreal as hunters arranged windsock-style snow goose decoys on an island of marsh grass, backlit by the [...]
Rate Your 2016-17 Waterfowl Season
Rate Your 2016-17 Waterfowl Season By Paul Wait Every waterfowl season begins with renewed optimism of swarms of decoying ducks and geese, the camaraderie of sharing the blind with friends and [...]
Duck Steaks
Duck Steaks Delta Waterfowl’s Dr. Frank Rohwer shows you an easy tip to make your ducks on the grill so much better.
January Migration Report
January Delta Waterfowl Migration Report Winter weather has pushed ducks and geese south, and hunters are taking advantage in all four flyways. Here’s your January migration report from Delta Waterfowl. [...]
Mid-December Delta Waterfowl Migration Report
Mid-December Delta Waterfowl Migration Report Snow storms and frigid temperatures have spurred major migration activity across North America! In this video, Delta staff report on conditions and waterfowl movements in all four flyways. [...]
Waiting for the Big Flight
Waiting for the Big Flight It was 70 degrees in Pennsylvania last Christmas, and everyone rejoiced — everyone, that is, except the waterfowlers. More miserable yet, the extreme warmth was no [...]
Late-November Conditions Report
Late-November Conditions Report Finally! Snow and ice have hit the U.S. and Canadian prairies, which has spurred a push of ducks and geese. Here’s Delta’s late-November migration report. Good luck hunting! [...]
Proper Field Care Improves Taxidermy Results
Proper Field Care Improves Taxidermy Results By Paul Wait You just shot the most brilliantly colored-up drake of your hunting career, and your buddies are imploring you to have it mounted. [...]
How to Sneak a Duck Mount Past Your Spouse
How to Sneak a Duck Mount Past Your Spouse Kyle Wintersteen, Managing Editor I have this friend. Let’s call him “Rick”. He’s as passionate a duck hunter as you’ll find, having gunned [...]
The Take ’Em Moment
The Take ’Em Moment Duck chatter rains down through the oaks of our beaver pond, shattering the stillness of the crisp December morning. Long, squealing wingbeats reveal an unmistakable cause for [...]
In Defense of Shooting Spoonies
In Defense of Shooting Spoonies Kyle Wintersteen, Managing Editor The horizon was a sea of amber marsh grasses concealing a seemingly endless array of small wetlands. My first trip to North [...]
Why I Buy Two Duck Stamps
Why I Buy Two Duck Stamps Kyle Wintersteen, Managing Editor “Two duck stamps, please.” How I look forward to uttering those words every summer. They signal it’s soon time to quit [...]
Opening Day: Rebirth of a Waterfowl Hunter’s Soul
Opening Day: Rebirth of a Waterfowl Hunter’s Soul Kyle Wintersteen, Managing Editor “Regular” folks are themselves 365 days per year. But not duck hunters. We merely go through the motions of [...]
How to Get Kicked Out of a Duck Blind
How to Get Kicked Out of a Duck Blind Somewhere in the middle of Pennsylvania (I’m cautious with specifics) lies a farm. And at the edge of that farm lies a pasture. [...]
A Promise to My Shotgun
A Promise to My Shotgun Kyle Wintersteen, Managing Editor Dear Shotgun, Dad long ago instilled in me that if you shoot a gun, you clean a gun. A rusty shotgun, he said, [...]