Brian Haines

It was better than Christmas morning – opening day of duck hunting. I had just turned 14, and with a few seasons under my belt, I thought I knew it all.
Boy, was I wrong. Like most kids, my introduction to waterfowl hunting came from my father and grandfather. They were of the “old school” of thought – tough hunters who learned their craft back in the heyday of Minnesota duck hunting.

On an old coat rack in a basement, an old peg holds a treasured relic: a coat, but not just any coat. It’s an old Redwing canvas hunting jacket, and like the man who wore it, this coat carries the weight and wisdom of a duck hunter long gone.
Its fabric, softened and faded by countless trips to the marsh, is a vestige of days gone by.

When it comes to hunting late-season waterfowl, most hunters’ interests turn to the last of the duck migration. Newly-arriving birds are what waterfowlers dream about. Find yourself in the right place at the right time and you might be in for the hunt of a lifetime.
There are three key ingredients to making a successful hunt: decoy spreads, calling, and location. With Minnesota’s waterfowl season winding down, now’s the perfect time to review a few tactics and even some old tricks that might help you put a few final ducks in the bag.