Misplaced Pages

Waterfowl hunting: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 17:25, 2 December 2007 edit66.192.59.2 (talk) →Guns and shells← Previous edit Latest revision as of 06:06, 18 December 2024 edit undoLord Cornwallis (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers459,635 edits →History: + link to article, image 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Practice of hunting waterfowl for food and sport}}
] to take a shot at an incoming bird.]]
{{Redirect|Wildfowler|the racehorse|Wildfowler (horse)}}
'''Waterfowl hunting''' (also called coon hunting, '''goose hunting''', or '''wildfowling''') is the practice of ] ]s, ], or other ] for ] and ]. In many western countries, commercial waterfowl hunting is prohibited, and duck hunting is primarily an ].
{{See also|Hunting in Australia|Hunting and shooting in the United Kingdom}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
Many types of ducks and geese share the same habitats, have overlapping or identical hunting seasons, and are hunted using the same methods. Thus is not uncommon to take several different species of waterfowl in the same outings.
].]]
'''Waterfowl hunting''' is the practice of hunting ] such as ducks, geese and other ] or ] for sport and meat. Waterfowl are hunted in crop fields where they feed, or in areas with bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, ponds, ]s, ], or coasts.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Petzal |first=David E. |title=The experts' book of upland bird and waterfowl hunting |date=1975 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-0-671-21884-3 |location=New York}}</ref> There are around 3&nbsp;million waterfowl hunters in the United States alone.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation |url=https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Final_2022-National-Survey_101223-accessible-single-page.pdf |website=U.S. Department of the Interior}}</ref>


==History== ==History==
], by Franz Anton von Steinberg, 1759.]]
===Prehistoric waterfowl hunting=== ===Prehistoric waterfowl hunting===
Wild ] have been hunted for food, ], and ]s worldwide since prehistoric times. Ducks, geese, and ]s appear in European cave paintings from the last ], and a mural in the ] tomb of ] (c. 1900 BC) shows a man in a ] capturing swimming ducks in a trap. ]s were depicted in the art of the ] culture of ancient ] by 200 BC, and were likely hunted by many peoples of the ] before then. <ref>''Waterfowl Ecology and Management'' (1994) by Guy A. Baldassarre, Eric G. Bolen, D. Andrew Saunders, Pp. 3-6.</ref> Wild waterfowl have been hunted for meat, ], and feathers worldwide since prehistoric times. Ducks, geese, and swans appear in European ]s from the ]. The mural in the ]ian tomb of ] shows a man in a ] capturing swimming ducks in a trap.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Arlette |last=David |title=Hoopoes and Acacias: Decoding an Ancient Egyptian Funerary Scene |journal=Journal of Near Eastern Studies |volume=73 |issue=2 |pages=235–252 |year=2014 |doi=10.1086/677251 |s2cid=164075553 }}</ref> ]s were depicted in the art of the ] of ancient ].<ref>{{cite book |title=Waterfowl Ecology and Management |year=1994 |first1=Guy A. |last1=Baldassarre |first2=Eric G. |last2=Bolen |first3=D. Andrew |last3=Saunders |pages=3–6 |location=New York |publisher=Wiley |isbn=0-471-59770-8 }}</ref>


===The rise of modern waterfowl hunting=== === Rise of modern waterfowl hunting ===
]'' by ], 1824]]
The rise of modern waterfowl hunting is tied to the history of the ], which can kill more reliably at greater ranges than a weapon that shoots a single projectile. <ref>''Waterfowl Ecology and Management'' (1994) by Guy A. Baldassarre, Eric G. Bolen, D. Andrew Saunders.</ref> In the 19th century, the seemingly limitless flocks of ducks and geese in the ] and ]s of ] were the basis for a thriving commercial waterfowl hunting industry. With the advent of ]s- massive, boat-mounted shotguns that could fire a half-pound of lead shot at a time- hunters could kill dozens of birds with a single blast. This period of intense commercial waterfowl hunting is vividly depicted in ]'s ] '']''.
Modern waterfowl hunting began in the 17th century with the ]. Later ] ] and ] guns were used. Shotguns were loaded with ] and lead shot through the ] until the late 19th century. The transition from muzzle to ] ]s was largely driven by innovations made by gunmakers such as ], at which time wildfowling was extremely popular in England.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Payne-Gallwey |first=Ralph |title=The Diary of Colonel Peter Hawker, 1802–1853; Volume 1 |publisher=Longmans, Green, and Co |year=1893 |isbn=978-1297914959 |location=London}}</ref> Both the shotgun ] and ] was invented in the late 19th century which allowed for longer range shooting with the shotgun. With the advent of ]s hunters could kill dozens of birds with a single blast.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Dizard |first1=Jan E. |title=Hunting: a cultural history |last2=Stange |first2=Mary Zeiss |date=2022 |publisher=The MIT Press |isbn=978-0-262-54329-3 |series=The MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts}}</ref>


] hunted waterfowl with great zeal, as the supply of waterfowl seemed unlimited in the ] coast. As more immigrants came to the Americas in the 19th century, the need for more food became greater. ] started to take form, to supply the local population living along the ] with fresh ducks and geese. Live ducks were used as ] to attract other waterfowl, something that today is considered animal cruelty. During the fall migrations, the skies were filled with waterfowl. Places such as ], ], and ] were hunted extensively.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Michener |first=James A. |title=Chesapeake |date=1978 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-0-394-50079-9 |location=New York, N.Y}}</ref> In the ] in the 1930s one of the biggest threats to waterfowl was local ] using ] with ] ]s that killed entire flocks with one shot.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dacy |first=George H. |date=1933 |title=Poaching Made Big Business by Ruthless Gangs of Killers |journal=Popular Science |volume=123 |issue=4 |pages=30–31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Walsh |first=Harry M. |title=The outlaw gunner: a journey from hunting for survival to a call for waterfowl conservation |date=2020 |publisher=Schiffer Publishing |isbn=978-0-7643-6061-9 |edition=2 |location=Atglen, PA}}</ref>
===Conservation and the Duck Stamp Act===
By the turn of the century, commercial hunting and loss of habitat lead to a decline in duck and goose populations in North America, along with many other species of wildlife. The ] of 1900, which outlawed transport of ] ] across state lines, and the ], which prohibited the possession of ]s without permission (such as a hunting license), marked the dawn of the modern ].


==Species of waterfowl hunted==
In 1934, at the urging of ] and ] ], the US government passed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act, better known as the ] Act. This program required hunters to purchase a special stamp, in additional to a regular hunting license, to hunt migratory waterfowl. Revenues from the program provided the majority of funding for conservation for many decades and funded the purchase of 4.5 million acres (18,000 km²) of ] land for waterfowl habitat since the program's inception. The Duck Stamp act has been described as "one of the most successful conservation programs ever devised."<ref>"Artistic License- The Duck Stamp Story." ] ].</ref> Duck stamps have also become collectible items in their own right.


Many ] of ducks and geese share the same habitat and have overlapping ]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024-2025 — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/regs/animal_listing |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=tpwd.texas.gov |language=en-us}}</ref> In North America a variety of ducks and geese are hunted, the most common being ]s, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ]s, ] and ].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Earley |first=Chris |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/on1117772207 |title=Waterfowl of Eastern North America |date=2020 |publisher=Firefly Books |isbn=978-0-2281-0247-2 |location=Buffalo, New York; Richmond Hill, Ontario |oclc=on1117772207}}</ref> Also hunted are ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. Sea ducks include ], ], and ].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Le Master |first=Richard |title=Waterfowl identification: the LeMaster method |date=1986 |publisher=Stackpole Books |isbn=978-0-8117-2982-6 |location=Mechanicsburg, PA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Baldassarre |first=Guy A. |title=Ducks, geese, and swans of North America |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-4214-0751-7 |edition= |location=Baltimore}}</ref>
==Modern hunting techniques in the Americas==
{{Unreferencedsection|date=February 2007}}


==Modern hunting techniques==
Waterfowl hunting season is generally in the winter and fall. At this time of the year, the birds have finished raising their young and are migrating to warmer areas. There are three elements used by almost all waterfowl hunters: a shotgun, a ], and ]s. The decoys are used to lure the birds within range, and the blind conceals the hunter. Once the birds are within range, the hunters leap up from the blind and quickly shoot the birds before they are frightened off. Duck or goose calls are often used to attract birds; sometimes calls of other birds will also be simulated to convince the birds that there is no danger. Waterfowl hunters also often use dogs to retrieve dead or injured birds; there are many ] breeds, such as ]s and ]s, specifically bred for the task.
] in the ], 1938.]]
The waterfowl hunting season is generally in the autumn and winter. Hunting seasons are set by the ] in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-26 |title=How the Hunting Seasons and Limits are Set for Waterfowl {{!}} U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |url=https://www.fws.gov/story/how-hunting-seasons-and-limits-are-set-waterfowl |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=www.fws.gov |language=en}}</ref> In the autumn, the ducks and geese have finished raising their young and are migrating to warmer areas to feed.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last1=Airhart |first1=Tom |title=The ultimate guide to waterfowl hunting: tips, tactics, and techniques for ducks and geese |last2=Kent |first2=Eddie |last3=Raymer |first3=Kent |date=2017 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |isbn=978-1-5107-1674-2 |location=New York, NY}}</ref> A ] is used to conceal the hunter while ] are used to attract birds. Using a good spread of ]s and calling, an experienced waterfowl hunter can successfully ] ducks or geese if waterfowl are flying that day.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mackey |first=William J. |title=American bird decoys |date=1987 |publisher=Dutton |isbn=978-0-525-24500-1 |location=New York}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2004 |title=Waterfowl Hunting and Baiting |url=https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/FW-1012-Waterfowl-Hunting-and-Baiting.pdf |website=U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service}}</ref>


Boats can be used as a ], known as ]. Most popular are ]s (usually ]s) for increased stability. ]s or canoes are also used. Pursuing diving ducks in lakes, bays or ] requires larger and more stable boats, as small boats have been known to capsize. ]es that conceal the hunter under the water surface are illegal.<ref name=":3" /> ] dogs are used to retrieve the shot ducks. Most often hunters use a ], ] or ] to retrieve waterfowl. The ] helps to retrieve birds, and hunts down crippled ducks that survived the shooting.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Encyclopedia of North American sporting dogs |date=2002 |publisher=Willow Creek Press |isbn=978-1-57223-501-4 |editor-last=Smith |editor-first=Steve |location=Minocqua, Wis}}</ref>
===Guns and shells===
The most commonly used guns are ] ], usually with ] ] for ducks or teal and larger shot, such as BB or even T-shot for geese. In many areas, buckshot and larger shot is illegal to use for taking migratory birds. Ten,16 and 20 gauge guns are also used. Although it is legal to use a ] or ] to take migratory waterfowl in many areas,<ref>State of California. "Selected 2006 Waterfowl Hunting Regulations." </ref> most hunters prefer taking migratory birds with a shotgun because of the difficulty of striking a moving bird with an arrow or crossbow bolt. Taking migratory birds with a rifle is illegal as well due to the inherent danger of lobbing long-range bullets into the air; also, the ability to take birds on the water at long ranges would give hunters an unfair advantage and endanger hunters who may not be seen on opposite shore.


===Shotguns and ammunition===
Waterfowl hunting with lead shot, along with the use of lead sinkers in ], has been identified as a major cause of ] in waterfowl, which often feed off the bottom of lakes and wetlands where lead shot collects.<ref>Sanderson, Glen C. and Frank C. Bellrose. 1986. A Review of the Problem of Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl. Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, Illinois. Special Publication 4. 34pp. </ref><ref>A.M. Scheuhammer and S. L. Norris. 1996. "The ecotoxicology of lead shot and lead fishing weights" '']'' Vol. 5 Number 5 pp. 279-295</ref> In the United States, UK, Canada, and many western European countries (France in 2006) all shot used for ] must now be non-toxic, and therefore may not contain any ]. ] is the cheapest alternative to lead but steel has a much less effective range than lead because of its lower density. 30 to 40 yards is considered the maximum effective range for duck hunting.
Since the 16th century lead ] has been used in waterfowl hunting. In the late 1960s lead shot was identified as a major cause of ] in waterfowl, which often feed off the bottom of lakes and wetlands.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sanderson |first1=Glen C. |first2=Frank C. |last2=Bellrose |year=1986 |title=A Review of the Problem of Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl |location=Champaign, Illinois |series=Special Publication |volume=4 |url=http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/pbpoison/pbpoison.htm |archivedate=22 April 1999 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990422091004/http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/pbpoison/pbpoison.htm }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first1=A. M. |last1=Scheuhammer |first2=S. L. |last2=Norris |year=1996 |title=The ecotoxicology of lead shot and lead fishing weights |journal=] |volume=5 |issue=5 |pages=279–295 |doi=10.1007/BF00119051 |pmid=24193869 |bibcode=1996Ecotx...5..279S |s2cid=40092400 }}</ref> ] used for ] must today be lead-free.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 April 2022 |title=Nontoxic Shot Regulations For Hunting Waterfowl and Coots in the U.S. {{!}} U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |url=https://www.fws.gov/story/2022-04/nontoxic-shot-regulations-hunting-waterfowl-and-coots-us |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=www.fws.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Branch |first=Legislative Services |date=10 June 2024 |title=Consolidated federal laws of Canada, Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 |url=https://lois-laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2022-105/index.html |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=lois-laws.justice.gc.ca}}</ref> The ] shotgun is the most common and larger than a ] are prohibited. Shotguns that can hold more than three ] must be modified to reduce their ] capacity. The ] used depends on which waterfowl species are being hunted, ] is illegal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 August 2024 |title=Shotgun {{!}} Hunting, Home Defense & Self-Protection {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/shotgun |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>


When hunting with shotguns, there is always a risk of injuring ducks that survive but manage to escape, so called crippling losses. As ducks often fly in flocks, there is a potential for multiple ducks to be hit when hunters shoot into the flock to target an individual. The duck struck by the central cluster of the shot typically dies and falls to the ground. However, ducks on the periphery of the shot may still be hit by some ], which they survive but result in lifelong suffering. Shooting at too far a distance also increases the risk of causing injury due to the increased spread of shot pellets.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Russell |first=Geoff |date=1994 |title=Shotgun Wounding Characteristics |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308233762 |journal=Maple Tech: Maple in Mathematics and the Sciences |volume=December |pages=17–23}}</ref>
Although steel is the most prevalently used shot, many hunters do not like its shooting properties. Steel is less dense than lead, therefore, its effective range is decreased due to a faster decrease in velocity. Many companies have improved steel shot by increasing muzzle-velocity and making more consistent 'shot' or pellets. Within recent years, several companies have created 'heavier than lead' non-toxic shot out of ], ] or other elements with a density similar or greater to lead. These shells have a more consistent patterns and greater range than steel shot. The increase in performance comes at a higher cost.


==Regulations and sportsmanship==
===Calls===
European hunters in the ] had a deep sense of justice for their prey and saw hunting as a challenge, where the animals deserved a fair chance. Hunters used fair methods to minimize unnecessary suffering for the prey. This ] required hunters to actively pursue and kill all injured animals to prevent their suffering. Targeting a sitting duck was considered dishonest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 August 2024 |title=Hunting {{!}} History, Methods, & Management {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/sports/hunting-sport |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>


] in ] gets help from the ].]]
In old times, a duck call was a very simple woodwind instrument. It had a barrel, a ] and a reed. Hunters would grunt into the call while saying "hut", "quit" or "ut". With the improvement of calls and calling techniques the best callers are able to use no voice. The most prevalent and hunted duck in the United States, the mallard, makes the well known "quack" sound many associate with ducks. Other species make many different sounds, ranging from high-pitched whistles to very low, grunt-like quacks. There are calls for almost all species of ducks. Pintails, teal, wood ducks, diving ducks and other ducks including the calls of both the male, or drake and the female, or hen.
] of the mallard showing shot pellets in her hip and lung injury.]]


To hunt waterfowl in Canada, one must first obtain a valid
In many species, the call of the drake (male) is different from that of the hen (female). Mallard drakes make a lower pitch, longer quack than the hen mallard. This call is often used while feeding and when a mallard drake is landing. It gives the other birds a heads up. The quack of a mallard drake requires voice and is replicated by humming into a special whistle-like call. This whistle is often called a 6-in-1 whistle, due to the fact that it can replicate six different duck species sounds.
], as well as additional licenses at the provincial level.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-game-bird-hunting/permit.html|title = Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit|date = September 2011}}</ref> Hunters in Canada and the United States are also required to complete safety courses before they can obtain a license.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hunter_education/ostates.phtml#canada|title = Hunter Education Requirements in the United States and Canada — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department}}</ref> In the United States, hunters must also purchase a ]. It is illegal to shoot ducks from a motor vehicle or a moving boat. Laying ]s such as corn and the use of live ducks as decoys, are also illegal.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Nick |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/ocm61295904 |title=Waterfowl hunting: ducks and geese of North America |date=2006 |publisher=Creative Pub. International |isbn=978-1-58923-237-2 |series=The complete hunter |location=Chanhassen, MN |oclc=ocm61295904}}</ref>


It is considered good sportsmanship to make every possible attempt to retrieve injured or crippled waterfowl.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Posewitz |first=Jim |title=Beyond fair chase: the ethic and tradition of hunting |date=1994 |publisher=Falcon |others=United Conservation Alliance |isbn=978-1-56044-302-5 |location=Helena, Mont}}</ref> The losses resulting from hunters not retrieving their kills, referred to as ] losses, likely range from 20% to 40% of all waterfowl shot in Canada and the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Norton |first1=Michael R. |last2=Thomas |first2=Vernon G. |date=1994 |title=Economic Analyses of 'Crippling Losses' of North American Waterfowl and Their Policy Implications for Management |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/environmental-conservation/article/abs/economic-analyses-of-crippling-losses-of-north-american-waterfowl-and-their-policy-implications-for-management/4DE08BCB1FDC09C74F50618988DED385 |journal=Environmental Conservation |language=en |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=347–353 |doi=10.1017/S037689290003366X |issn=1469-4387}}</ref> The ] harvest for the ] provinces of Canada and the ] are estimated to 12&nbsp;million birds annually.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Raftovich |first1=R. V. |last2=Fleming |first2=K. K. |last3=Chandler |first3=S. C. |last4=Cain |first4=C. M. |date=2024 |title=Migratory Bird Hunting Activity and Harvest during the 2022–23 and 2023–24 Hunting Seasons |url=https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024-08/migratory-bird-hunting-activity-and-harvest-during-2022-23-and-2023-24-hunting-seasons.pdf |website=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service}}</ref> Thus, each year, millions of ducks and ] are crippled or injured in North America due to hunting.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ellis |first1=Matthew B. |last2=Miller |first2=Craig A. |last3=Pallazza |first3=Samantha G. |date=2022 |title=The effect of individual harvest on crippling losses |url=https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wsb.1352 |journal=Wildlife Society Bulletin |language=en |volume=46 |issue=4 |doi=10.1002/wsb.1352 |issn=2328-5540|doi-access=free }}</ref> The probable fate for ] ducks is a prolonged, agonizing death, marked by relentless suffering and distress.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Perry |first1=Matthew C. |last2=Geissler |first2=Paul H. |date=1980 |title=Incidence of Embedded Shot in Canvasbacks |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3808317 |journal=The Journal of Wildlife Management |volume=44 |issue=4 |pages=888–894 |doi=10.2307/3808317 |jstor=3808317 |issn=0022-541X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=O'Kelley |first1=Brian L. |last2=Bolen |first2=Eric G. |date=1985 |title=Hunting Pressure on Black-Bellied Whistling-Ducks as Indicated by Embedded Shot |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3782680 |journal=Wildlife Society Bulletin |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=515–517 |jstor=3782680 |issn=0091-7648}}</ref>
In teal, the drakes make a call of short bursts of a high pitch whistle. The "teet! (pause) teet! (pause) teet!-teet!" or any other order of repetition. This call can be made by blowing short bursts of air into the "6-in-1" whistle.


An X-ray study of ducks caught using nets in Australia found that between 6% and 19% of the ducks live with embedded shot pellets in their bodies.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Norman |first=Fi |date=1976 |title=The Incidence of Lead Shotgun Pellets in Waterfowl (Anatidae and Rallidae) Examined in South-Eastern Australia Between 1957 and 1973. |url=http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=WR9760061 |journal=Wildlife Research |language=en |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=61 |doi=10.1071/WR9760061 |issn=1035-3712}}</ref> This act of ] has been mostly overlooked by government officials.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hampton |first1=Jordan O. |last2=Hyndman |first2=Timothy H. |date=2019 |title=Underaddressed animal-welfare issues in conservation |url=https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.13267 |journal=Conservation Biology |language=en |volume=33 |issue=4 |pages=803–811 |doi=10.1111/cobi.13267 |pmid=30549308 |bibcode=2019ConBi..33..803H |issn=0888-8892|hdl=11343/285334 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
The majority of duck sounds such as quacking people have heard and are familiar with comes from females, or hen, mallards. Hen mallards are extremely vocal and this is probably why the number one call for duck hunting in North America is a hen mallard call.


==Flyways and hunting grounds==
===Blinds===
] between ] and wintering grounds using ]s. Each flyway has a different composition of species and habitat. In the ] wildfowl hunting generally occurs on lakes, ]es, ]s, or rivers where ducks and geese land during their ]. ] and ] are also common hunting grounds, since geese and ducks often feed on the grain that remains in the field after harvest.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tekiela |first=Stan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/on1014353260 |title=Bird migration: the incredible journey of North American birds |date=2018 |publisher=Adventure Publications |isbn=978-1-59193-814-9 |location=Cambridge, Minnesota |oclc=on1014353260}}</ref> The ] is a migration route used by waterfowl flying from northern Quebec to Florida in the autumn and back in the springtime.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kathryn |date=16 May 2022 |title=Avian Superhighways: The Four Flyways of North America |url=https://abcbirds.org/blog/north-american-bird-flyways/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=American Bird Conservancy |language=en}}</ref> The ]s of ] are ] and ]s, which are shrinking at alarming rates due to the drought and farmers draining wetland areas to plant crops. ] and restoration is critical for the continuance of waterfowl hunting.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Xu |first1=Ting |last2=Weng |first2=Baisha |last3=Yan |first3=Denghua |last4=Wang |first4=Kun |last5=Li |first5=Xiangnan |last6=Bi |first6=Wuxia |last7=Li |first7=Meng |last8=Cheng |first8=Xiangjun |last9=Liu |first9=Yinxue |date=2019|title=Wetlands of International Importance: Status, Threats, and Future Protection |journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |volume=16 |issue=10 |pages=1818 |doi=10.3390/ijerph16101818 |doi-access=free |issn=1661-7827 |pmc=6571829 |pmid=31121932}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Mahoney |first1=Shane P. |title=The North American model of wildlife conservation |last2=Geist |first2=Valerius |date=2019 |publisher=Johns Hopkins university press |isbn=978-1-4214-3280-9 |series=Wildlife management and conservation |location=Baltimore, Maryland}}</ref>
]. Decoys are visible in the water to the right.]]
There are numerous types of structures that qualify as duck blinds. Blinds can be temporary or permanent. They are very effective at concealing hunters and making their movements un-noticed.


== References ==
For hunting over water, the types of blinds are almost unlimited.
{{reflist}}


== Further reading ==
A blind may be constructed out of plywood. Many of these permanent blinds look like a small shack with an opening that faces the water and a portion of the sky.
* – Information for Waterfowl Hunters
* – The Leader in Wetlands Conservation
* – America's Largest and Longest Standing Decoy Association


{{North American Game}}
Often creating a temporary, natural blind as a method of concealment is a hunter's best bet. This is done by using native grasses or marsh vegetation and natural material and simply hiding in a tree, clump of grass or a shrubb. More sophisticated natural blinds may have large logs or branches leaned together or lashed together using rope.
{{Hunting topics}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Waterfowl Hunting}}
Temporary blinds are common in protected and public areas where a permanent fixture is forbidden. Temporary blinds can be very simple and usually require a three dimensional enclosure to conceal hunters from circling flocks.
]

With the growing popularity of motorcraft such as boats in waterfowl hunting, many individuals have chosen to use boat blinds also known as pop-up blinds. Boat blinds are used to conceal a hunter when hunting out of a boat. Boat blinds can be hand made or are available from manufacturers.

There are two common types of blinds for land and field based waterfowl hunting: pit-blinds and layout-blinds. The pit blind is a solid structure that is placed into a hole in the ground or on the bank of a waterbody. Lay out blinds allow a hunter to have a low profile in a field without digging a hole. It is made of a metal frame and canvas. The hunter crawls in and lies down in the blind. When birds are coming in the hunter can sit up and shoot.

===Clothing===

Duck season takes place in the fall and winter where the weather can be harsh. Waterproof clothing is critical to duck hunting. Most duck hunters hunt over water, and they stand in water or in a boat. In order to stand in the water and stay dry the hunter must wear ]. ] are waterproof pants (usually made of a neoprene like material) that have attached boots and are completely waterproof. Typical waders are chest high, but waist high and knee high waders are sometimes used in shallow water. Duck hunting can be a very cold sport and the hunter must be well insulated from the cold. Ducks also have great vision which requires the hunters clothing to be well camouflaged.

Many clothing manufacturers such as Drake, Herters, Whitewater and Mad Dog have incorporated use of modern apparel technologies to provide added comfort and protection from the diverse weather elements that waterfowl hunters can be subjected to.

===Dogs===
]s. A ] and duck decoys are visible in the background.]]
Duck hunters quite often employ a ] to retrieve downed birds. Most often hunters use ]s, though ]s and some versatile breeds can also fit the bill. The use of a dog provides a number of advantages. As duck hunting often takes place in cold wet locations, the use of a dog frees the hunter from potentially dangerous forays into cold water to retrieve the bird. Such efforts can be dangerous for the hunter, but are managed by a dog quite easily. It also allows for the recovery of wounded birds that might otherwise escape. A dog's acute sense of smell allows them to find the wounded birds. The use of a dog prevents waste and ensures that a higher percentage of the birds shot end up on the table.

==Wildfowling in Europe and the UK==
Wild ducks and geese are hunted over foreshores and inland and coastal marshes in Europe. In Britain, the sport is known as '''wildfowling'''. Birds are hunted with a ], and less commonly, a large single barrelled gun mounted on a small boat, known as a ''punt''.

Only certain 'quarry' species of wildfowl may legally be hunted in the UK, and are protected under the ]. These are ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] (England and Wales only), ] and ]. Other common quarry targets for the wildfowler include ], ], ] and ].

An intimate knowledge of the quarry and it's habitat is required by the successful wildfowler. Shooting will normally occur during the early morning and late afternoon 'flights', when the birds move to and from feeding and roosting sites.

Wildfowling has come under threat in recent years through legislation. Destruction of habitat also has played a large part in the decline of shooting areas, and recently in the UK "right to roam" policies mean that wildfowler's conservation areas are at risk.

In UK wildfowling is largely self-regulated. Their reppresentative body, WAGBI (]), was founded in 1908 by Stanley Duncan in Hull. This Association changed its name in 1981 to become the ] (BASC) and now represents all forms of live quarry shooting at European, national and local levels. There are also many wildfowling clubs around the coast of ], often covering certain estuary areas where wildfowl are found in large numbers.

==Regulations, sportsmanship, and safety==

Waterfowl hunting is highly regulated. In most western countries, hunters are required to obtain a hunting license and face strict limits on the number of birds that can be taken in a day (bag limits) and the total number of birds a hunter can possess (possession limits).

In the United States, hunters must also purchase a federal duck stamp and often a state stamp. It is illegal to shoot ducks from a motor vehicle, a moving boat, or to shoot sitting or swimming ducks; this is also considered unsportsmanlike and possibly unsafe. Many practices that were once common in commercial duck hunting before the turn of the century, including laying ]s such as corn, use of live ducks as "decoys," and use of guns larger than a 10-gauge, are now prohibited. <ref>State of California. "Selected 2006 Waterfowl Hunting Regulations." </ref> In most areas, shotguns that can hold more than two or three shells must be modified to reduce their magazine size. Legal hunting is limited to a set time period (or "season"), which generally extends from fall to early winter, while birds are migrating south.<ref>TPWD:2006 2006-2007 Texas Hunting Season Dates, Grouped by Animal </ref>

It is also considered good sportsmanship to make every possible attempt to retrieve dead or injured waterfowl the hunter has shot. Shooting before birds are within range is also considered poor form, as this often merely injures the birds and may drive them away before other hunters can fire.

Many states and provinces of Canada require hunters, including waterfowl hunters, to complete hunter safety courses before they can obtain a license.
Waterfowl hunters fire short-range shotgun rounds into the air over often deserted bodies of water, so accidental injuries are rarer than in other hunting activities such as ] or ].

==Hunting areas==
]
In the ] and central ], wildfowl hunting generally occurs on lakes, marshes, swamps, or rivers where ducks and geese land during their migration. ] and ] are also common hunting grounds, since geese and ducks often feed on the grain that remains in the field after harvest. In some areas, farmers rent or lease hunting rights. Some farmers or hunters form ]s, which can cover thousands of acres and have ]-like amenities, or be as simple as a shallow pit blind dug into a field. On the East and West coast of America and many parts of Europe, waterfowl hunters often focus on the seashore. The U.S. ] maintains millions of acres as ]s open to public hunting.

] is the self-proclaimed "Duck Capital of the World." As a major rice producing area, eastern ] and nearby areas attract millions of birds each year eager to eat rice lost during harvest.

==Conservation==
Waterfowl are indigenous to marsh and wetland areas, which are shrinking at alarming rates. Wetland conservation and restoration is critical for the continuance of waterfowl hunting. Organizations such as ] are making a concerted effort to maintain and expand waterfowl and marshland ] to ensure safety and expansion of the sport.

==References==
<references/>

== See also==
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]

== External links ==
* - Waterfowl research and conservation
* - Wetlands and Waterfowl Conservation
* - Sir Ralph Payne Gallwey, 1886 (full text)
* - Joseph Whitaker (full text)
* The de facto international collectors group
* - Covering wildfowling in the UK

]
] ]
] ]
]

] ]

Latest revision as of 06:06, 18 December 2024

Practice of hunting waterfowl for food and sport "Wildfowler" redirects here. For the racehorse, see Wildfowler (horse). See also: Hunting in Australia and Hunting and shooting in the United Kingdom

Waterfowl hunters at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

Waterfowl hunting is the practice of hunting aquatic birds such as ducks, geese and other waterfowls or shorebirds for sport and meat. Waterfowl are hunted in crop fields where they feed, or in areas with bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands, sloughs, or coasts. There are around 3 million waterfowl hunters in the United States alone.

History

Duck hunting outside Lanišče, by Franz Anton von Steinberg, 1759.

Prehistoric waterfowl hunting

Wild waterfowl have been hunted for meat, down, and feathers worldwide since prehistoric times. Ducks, geese, and swans appear in European cave paintings from the last ice age. The mural in the ancient Egyptian tomb of Khnumhotep II shows a man in a hunting blind capturing swimming ducks in a trap. Muscovy ducks were depicted in the art of the Moche culture of ancient Peru.

Rise of modern waterfowl hunting

Duck Shooting by Horace Vernet, 1824

Modern waterfowl hunting began in the 17th century with the matchlock rifle. Later flintlock blunderbuss and percussion cap guns were used. Shotguns were loaded with black powder and lead shot through the muzzle until the late 19th century. The transition from muzzle to breechloading shotguns was largely driven by innovations made by gunmakers such as Joseph Manton, at which time wildfowling was extremely popular in England. Both the shotgun choke and smokeless powder was invented in the late 19th century which allowed for longer range shooting with the shotgun. With the advent of punt guns hunters could kill dozens of birds with a single blast.

European settlers in America hunted waterfowl with great zeal, as the supply of waterfowl seemed unlimited in the Atlantic coast. As more immigrants came to the Americas in the 19th century, the need for more food became greater. Market hunting started to take form, to supply the local population living along the East Coast with fresh ducks and geese. Live ducks were used as decoys to attract other waterfowl, something that today is considered animal cruelty. During the fall migrations, the skies were filled with waterfowl. Places such as Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, and Barnegat Bay were hunted extensively. In the Chesapeake Bay in the 1930s one of the biggest threats to waterfowl was local poachers using flat boats with swivel cannons that killed entire flocks with one shot.

Species of waterfowl hunted

Many species of ducks and geese share the same habitat and have overlapping hunting seasons. In North America a variety of ducks and geese are hunted, the most common being mallards, Canada goose, snow goose, canvasback, redhead, northern pintail, gadwall, ruddy duck, coots, common merganser and red-breasted merganser. Also hunted are black duck, wood duck, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, bufflehead, northern shoveler, wigeon, and goldeneye. Sea ducks include long-tailed duck, eider, and scoter.

Modern hunting techniques

Duck hunting using decoys in the Chippewa National Forest, 1938.

The waterfowl hunting season is generally in the autumn and winter. Hunting seasons are set by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in the United States. In the autumn, the ducks and geese have finished raising their young and are migrating to warmer areas to feed. A hunting blind is used to conceal the hunter while duck decoys are used to attract birds. Using a good spread of decoys and calling, an experienced waterfowl hunter can successfully bag ducks or geese if waterfowl are flying that day.

Boats can be used as a hunting blind, known as sneakbox. Most popular are flat-bottomed boats (usually johnboats) for increased stability. Kayaks or canoes are also used. Pursuing diving ducks in lakes, bays or sounds requires larger and more stable boats, as small boats have been known to capsize. Sinkboxes that conceal the hunter under the water surface are illegal. Retriever dogs are used to retrieve the shot ducks. Most often hunters use a Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever or Chesapeake Bay Retriever to retrieve waterfowl. The retriever helps to retrieve birds, and hunts down crippled ducks that survived the shooting.

Shotguns and ammunition

Since the 16th century lead shot has been used in waterfowl hunting. In the late 1960s lead shot was identified as a major cause of lead poisoning in waterfowl, which often feed off the bottom of lakes and wetlands. Shot pellets used for waterfowl must today be lead-free. The 12-gauge shotgun is the most common and larger than a 10-gauge are prohibited. Shotguns that can hold more than three cartridges must be modified to reduce their magazine capacity. The pellet size used depends on which waterfowl species are being hunted, buckshot is illegal.

When hunting with shotguns, there is always a risk of injuring ducks that survive but manage to escape, so called crippling losses. As ducks often fly in flocks, there is a potential for multiple ducks to be hit when hunters shoot into the flock to target an individual. The duck struck by the central cluster of the shot typically dies and falls to the ground. However, ducks on the periphery of the shot may still be hit by some pellets, which they survive but result in lifelong suffering. Shooting at too far a distance also increases the risk of causing injury due to the increased spread of shot pellets.

Regulations and sportsmanship

European hunters in the Middle Ages had a deep sense of justice for their prey and saw hunting as a challenge, where the animals deserved a fair chance. Hunters used fair methods to minimize unnecessary suffering for the prey. This code of honor required hunters to actively pursue and kill all injured animals to prevent their suffering. Targeting a sitting duck was considered dishonest.

A shot mallard in distress gets help from the Ontario Provincial Police.
X-ray of the mallard showing shot pellets in her hip and lung injury.

To hunt waterfowl in Canada, one must first obtain a valid Canada Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit, as well as additional licenses at the provincial level. Hunters in Canada and the United States are also required to complete safety courses before they can obtain a license. In the United States, hunters must also purchase a Federal Duck Stamp. It is illegal to shoot ducks from a motor vehicle or a moving boat. Laying baits such as corn and the use of live ducks as decoys, are also illegal.

It is considered good sportsmanship to make every possible attempt to retrieve injured or crippled waterfowl. The losses resulting from hunters not retrieving their kills, referred to as crippling losses, likely range from 20% to 40% of all waterfowl shot in Canada and the United States. The migratory bird harvest for the prairie provinces of Canada and the contiguous United States are estimated to 12 million birds annually. Thus, each year, millions of ducks and geese are crippled or injured in North America due to hunting. The probable fate for mutilated ducks is a prolonged, agonizing death, marked by relentless suffering and distress.

An X-ray study of ducks caught using nets in Australia found that between 6% and 19% of the ducks live with embedded shot pellets in their bodies. This act of animal cruelty has been mostly overlooked by government officials.

Flyways and hunting grounds

Birds migrate between breeding and wintering grounds using flyways. Each flyway has a different composition of species and habitat. In the Mississippi Flyway wildfowl hunting generally occurs on lakes, marshes, swamps, or rivers where ducks and geese land during their migration. Cornfields and rice paddies are also common hunting grounds, since geese and ducks often feed on the grain that remains in the field after harvest. The Atlantic Flyway is a migration route used by waterfowl flying from northern Quebec to Florida in the autumn and back in the springtime. The habitats of waterfowl are marsh and wetlands, which are shrinking at alarming rates due to the drought and farmers draining wetland areas to plant crops. Wetland conservation and restoration is critical for the continuance of waterfowl hunting.

References

  1. Petzal, David E. (1975). The experts' book of upland bird and waterfowl hunting. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-21884-3.
  2. "National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation" (PDF). U.S. Department of the Interior. 2022.
  3. David, Arlette (2014). "Hoopoes and Acacias: Decoding an Ancient Egyptian Funerary Scene". Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 73 (2): 235–252. doi:10.1086/677251. S2CID 164075553.
  4. Baldassarre, Guy A.; Bolen, Eric G.; Saunders, D. Andrew (1994). Waterfowl Ecology and Management. New York: Wiley. pp. 3–6. ISBN 0-471-59770-8.
  5. Payne-Gallwey, Ralph (1893). The Diary of Colonel Peter Hawker, 1802–1853; Volume 1. London: Longmans, Green, and Co. ISBN 978-1297914959.
  6. Dizard, Jan E.; Stange, Mary Zeiss (2022). Hunting: a cultural history. The MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-54329-3.
  7. Michener, James A. (1978). Chesapeake. New York, N.Y: Random House. ISBN 978-0-394-50079-9.
  8. Dacy, George H. (1933). "Poaching Made Big Business by Ruthless Gangs of Killers". Popular Science. 123 (4): 30–31.
  9. Walsh, Harry M. (2020). The outlaw gunner: a journey from hunting for survival to a call for waterfowl conservation (2 ed.). Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-6061-9.
  10. "2024-2025 — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department". tpwd.texas.gov. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  11. Earley, Chris (2020). Waterfowl of Eastern North America. Buffalo, New York; Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books. ISBN 978-0-2281-0247-2. OCLC 1117772207.
  12. Le Master, Richard (1986). Waterfowl identification: the LeMaster method. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2982-6.
  13. Baldassarre, Guy A. (2014). Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-1-4214-0751-7.
  14. "How the Hunting Seasons and Limits are Set for Waterfowl | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service". www.fws.gov. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  15. ^ Airhart, Tom; Kent, Eddie; Raymer, Kent (2017). The ultimate guide to waterfowl hunting: tips, tactics, and techniques for ducks and geese. New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5107-1674-2.
  16. Mackey, William J. (1987). American bird decoys. New York: Dutton. ISBN 978-0-525-24500-1.
  17. "Waterfowl Hunting and Baiting" (PDF). U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 2004.
  18. Smith, Steve, ed. (2002). Encyclopedia of North American sporting dogs. Minocqua, Wis: Willow Creek Press. ISBN 978-1-57223-501-4.
  19. Sanderson, Glen C.; Bellrose, Frank C. (1986). "A Review of the Problem of Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl". Special Publication. Champaign, Illinois. Archived from the original on 22 April 1999.
  20. Scheuhammer, A. M.; Norris, S. L. (1996). "The ecotoxicology of lead shot and lead fishing weights". Ecotoxicology. 5 (5): 279–295. Bibcode:1996Ecotx...5..279S. doi:10.1007/BF00119051. PMID 24193869. S2CID 40092400.
  21. "Nontoxic Shot Regulations For Hunting Waterfowl and Coots in the U.S. | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service". www.fws.gov. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  22. Branch, Legislative Services (10 June 2024). "Consolidated federal laws of Canada, Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022". lois-laws.justice.gc.ca. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  23. "Shotgun | Hunting, Home Defense & Self-Protection | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 11 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  24. Russell, Geoff (1994). "Shotgun Wounding Characteristics". Maple Tech: Maple in Mathematics and the Sciences. December: 17–23.
  25. "Hunting | History, Methods, & Management | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  26. "Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit". September 2011.
  27. "Hunter Education Requirements in the United States and Canada — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department".
  28. Smith, Nick (2006). Waterfowl hunting: ducks and geese of North America. The complete hunter. Chanhassen, MN: Creative Pub. International. ISBN 978-1-58923-237-2. OCLC 61295904.
  29. Posewitz, Jim (1994). Beyond fair chase: the ethic and tradition of hunting. United Conservation Alliance. Helena, Mont: Falcon. ISBN 978-1-56044-302-5.
  30. Norton, Michael R.; Thomas, Vernon G. (1994). "Economic Analyses of 'Crippling Losses' of North American Waterfowl and Their Policy Implications for Management". Environmental Conservation. 21 (4): 347–353. doi:10.1017/S037689290003366X. ISSN 1469-4387.
  31. Raftovich, R. V.; Fleming, K. K.; Chandler, S. C.; Cain, C. M. (2024). "Migratory Bird Hunting Activity and Harvest during the 2022–23 and 2023–24 Hunting Seasons" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  32. Ellis, Matthew B.; Miller, Craig A.; Pallazza, Samantha G. (2022). "The effect of individual harvest on crippling losses". Wildlife Society Bulletin. 46 (4). doi:10.1002/wsb.1352. ISSN 2328-5540.
  33. Perry, Matthew C.; Geissler, Paul H. (1980). "Incidence of Embedded Shot in Canvasbacks". The Journal of Wildlife Management. 44 (4): 888–894. doi:10.2307/3808317. ISSN 0022-541X. JSTOR 3808317.
  34. O'Kelley, Brian L.; Bolen, Eric G. (1985). "Hunting Pressure on Black-Bellied Whistling-Ducks as Indicated by Embedded Shot". Wildlife Society Bulletin. 13 (4): 515–517. ISSN 0091-7648. JSTOR 3782680.
  35. Norman, Fi (1976). "The Incidence of Lead Shotgun Pellets in Waterfowl (Anatidae and Rallidae) Examined in South-Eastern Australia Between 1957 and 1973". Wildlife Research. 3 (1): 61. doi:10.1071/WR9760061. ISSN 1035-3712.
  36. Hampton, Jordan O.; Hyndman, Timothy H. (2019). "Underaddressed animal-welfare issues in conservation". Conservation Biology. 33 (4): 803–811. Bibcode:2019ConBi..33..803H. doi:10.1111/cobi.13267. hdl:11343/285334. ISSN 0888-8892. PMID 30549308.
  37. Tekiela, Stan (2018). Bird migration: the incredible journey of North American birds. Cambridge, Minnesota: Adventure Publications. ISBN 978-1-59193-814-9. OCLC 1014353260.
  38. Kathryn (16 May 2022). "Avian Superhighways: The Four Flyways of North America". American Bird Conservancy. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  39. Xu, Ting; Weng, Baisha; Yan, Denghua; Wang, Kun; Li, Xiangnan; Bi, Wuxia; Li, Meng; Cheng, Xiangjun; Liu, Yinxue (2019). "Wetlands of International Importance: Status, Threats, and Future Protection". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 16 (10): 1818. doi:10.3390/ijerph16101818. ISSN 1661-7827. PMC 6571829. PMID 31121932.
  40. Mahoney, Shane P.; Geist, Valerius (2019). The North American model of wildlife conservation. Wildlife management and conservation. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins university press. ISBN 978-1-4214-3280-9.

Further reading

Game animals and shooting in North America
Game birds
Waterfowl hunters
Waterfowl hunters
Waterfowl
Big game
Other quarry
See also
Hunting topics
History
Forms
Equipment
Game
Infrastructure
By location
Regulation and conservation
Culture
Organizations
Other
Categories: