this will be my sixth season. started when I was 18 and my girlfriend at the time little brother took me still hunt with the DA. From that day it had been on!

25 years hunting over decoys. First duck was a Scaup.

Started 3 years ago, when my now deceased Uncle took me on my very first trip in Arkansas. Loved it dearly, but didnt really start hunting hard until he passed away. My first bird was a green-head, but my first solo bird was a wigeon drake. What keeps me going, the thought that my uncle looks down on me everytime I go freeze and sling decoys to shoot a few birds, and the sound of the wind rushing over those cupped up wings. Have learned a ton in these past few years, still have a long way to go. Hopefully going to get to shoot public water for the first time this year.

My first duck hunt was 13 years ago, I destroyed a hen Mallard that flew about 10 yards right over my head. I'll never forget that morning. I think that literally every hunter on the entire NWR limited out. It was just crazy how many birds there were.

I do it for the whistling wings, and the chase. I love the mind game of outsmarting those little guys.

Widgeon Drake. 22 years ago. Obsessed since.

This is my first year to duck hunt!!!

My first duck was sept 16 2012!!! A blue wing teal!!! I remember it like it was just a few days ago!!!!

My friend got me into hunting!! This forum got me into duck hunting!! And I have more access for hunting birds and water fowl then Deer or hogs or anything else!! Plus it is fun!!! Think I actually like waking up at 330-4 and hiking in the dark setting up and waiting fit that first light!!!


Something very addicting about duck hunting!!!

Started duck hunting in 1982. After a family friend took me one morning I was hooked. My first bird was a wood duck hen. I enjoy my deer hunting but duck and geese are my true love.

1st time was in 1982...I was 14.
2nd time was in 2009...in Stuttgart, AR on a group from work.
Hooked worse than any hobby I've ever had.
Just celebrated my 31st hunt this morning with a limit of teal.

Great sport.

My third season with limited success...but it's been fun. Can't imagine what it will be like to
hunt an area that holds lots of birds....

It was the fall of 1966. Black ducks and woodies in the great state of Maine

1984 gray duck over decoys. Grandpa and dad got me hooked. I never had a chance, most little kids had dinky yellow rubber duck to play with in the bathtub, I had a decoy. Other kids got hot wheels in their stockings at Christmas I got duck calls

I shot my first duck when i was 7! I was a on the water shoot and it was cold and raining!! We had about 20 decoys out so it was hard for me to find it!! The only reason i still remember this is because im 16 now! My grandfather keeps me at it!!

23 years starting my 24 year in the mud
My dad got me started
First duck blue bill
Dogs is the only reason I go anymore
One day I will stop training dogs and hang up the waders
Won't go with out a dog and thank it is wrong to go
With out one.

Green wing teal...been duck hunting since I was 6 years old with my dad! It's awesome getting to take him places that Ive found to hunt now! Went to Canada last year with him and it was one of the coolest things I've ever experienced! Shot my first banded bird while I was there with him!

First duck was a Green wing teal!!

My dad started taking me when I was 4. Started shooting when I was 5 and killed a Greenhead for my first duck. That was 25yrs ago and I'm still going strong.

What keeps me going? The challenge of finding them and fooling them the next morning! Also, just love watching work and respond to the call.

22 years for me but did not start till I was 20 years old, stopped deer hunting and never turned back except for bow season.

First duck was a hooded merganser.

First goose was a domestic hanging with migrants. All the other geese flew away, it didn't know what to think and I didn't know any better.

Hunted the entire 75 season and did not kill a single bird. Missed ALOT that first year. First duck was a Redhead the next season. (Must have been a sign as I ended up married to a Redhead.) About to start my 37th season. I was started Duck Hunting by one of my Grandfather's friends. He could out-do me and my two teenage buddies without even breaking a sweat.

1998 in the little town of Oakfield NY I turned 12 and was finally able to hunt and I shot a hen woodie with my 870 express youth 20 gauge. Miss those days, my lab was 1 then and now she is gonna be 13 soon and I would give anything to go back and hunt again with her. My first Texas duck was a drake mallard in fall 2010.

Kilt my first mallard 41 years ago when I was 7.

Been pilin up the mallards consistently for over 30 years

1970...swamps of upstate New York, mallards. Just my lil brother and me trying to learn the ropes and not get lost.
Dogs and the outdoors keeps me fired up!

Early Teal (I guess they had it back then - at 7 years old all I remember was it was hot, skeeters everywhere, and teal galore) with my old man in 1977 just outside Bay City on a rice pond.

If I had to analyze why I still love it, I'd have to say that I come from a long line of farmers and ranchers. Our branch of the family was the first to move to a small town and I've taken a step further by living in the metromess. Getting outdoors feels right to me, makes me feel connected to my past. In short, heritage.

Had a buddy take me duck hunting 2003. I shot one duck. GW walks up to me and it went something like this:

GW: What you shoot?

Guy: Teal

GW: No, that is a wood duck hen. You should know what you are shooting.

Guy: Sorry, this is my first duck hunt. How do I learn how to ID ducks?

GW: You can start by getting the LeMaster Method book.

Guy: Ok, I’ll get that today.

GW: Where is your type 2 permit?

Guy: What is that?

(After we walk back to his truck and he writes me a ticket…)

Guy: You know any good places to duck hunt?

GW: Sure, you can follow me around this morning I’ll show you some spots.

Been hooked ever since, and I carried that LeMaster Method book in my back pack for years.

At least you got your monies worth.........