There’s a lot of noise in waterfowl hunting these days... from long lists of gear, age-old tactics, influencer opinions, “must-do” spreads, and new trends every season.
But the hunters who’ve been doing it the longest usually say the same thing.
So we asked a few “OGs” in waterfowl hunting to share the best advice they’ve learned over decades in the marsh.
No shortcuts. No sales pitch. Just experience.
#1: Lee Kjos
A love for the birds comes first
“I’ve always been a waterfowl enthusiast and sportsman, but what’s kept me in it all these years is a love for the birds themselves.
The most important thing you can do is pay attention to them. Study them. Not the media, not trends, not what people say you should be doing. Watch what the ducks actually do.
If you really want to learn, spend time with them when they’re not being hunted. I’m lucky as an outdoor photographer. I get to be out there all year just watching. That has been my greatest education.
Learn them first. Biology first. Where are they? Why are they there? What stage of migration are they in? What part of the breeding cycle are they in? Ducks do everything for a reason.
As a boy, I had my head in every bird book and waterfowl magazine I could find. My dad gave me that foundation. Growing up in western Minnesota in the early ‘70s, I remember watching massive mallard migrations late in the season and wondering where they came from. That curiosity never left me. It eventually took me to the prairies of Canada and beyond.
Hunting is really a byproduct of all that knowledge.
Weather, habitat, behavior. It all connects.
Success isn’t just about the number of birds you take. It’s about the experience, and your connection to the birds and the place you’re in.
Find love in duck country.
And I care deeply about conservation, more than anything. I’d give up hunting before I’d give up conservation. I don’t need to kill them, but I need to see them.
We need to pass that mindset on.”
He also puts it simply when it comes to hunting conditions:
“There are days it doesn’t matter what you do, you’re going to kill them. There are days it doesn’t matter what you do, you’re not going to. And there are days it really matters what you do. The ducks, the light, the weather, the timing… it all has to line up.”
#2: MD Johnson
If you’re going to do it, do it right—especially the hide
“Two things I’ve learned in 52 years of duck hunting:
First thing: hide like your life depends on it. Sometimes to the point of invisibility. There is no such thing as an insignificant detail when you’re trying to hide from some of the sharpest eyes in the natural world.
But don’t overdo it. Too much can be just as bad as too little.
Look at your blind. Then look at it again. Soften the hard edges. Blend it into the environment. Use sun and shadows. Use terrain to lower your profile. Be meticulous.
Second: make it real.
Throw the best decoys you can afford. Keep them clean. Make them look natural. Give them space. Don’t overcrowd them.
Forget rigid patterns like perfect ‘V’s or ‘C’s. Set your spread like you actually see birds sitting in the marsh. Add different species. Break the “all-mallard” mindset. Experiment. You can always reset and try again.”
#3: Matthew Cagle
In pressured areas, don’t look like everyone else
“Growing up hunting mostly public ground in heavily pressured areas taught me one thing:
You have to look different.
Ducks fly rivers and marshes every day and see the same thing over and over. Dozens of decoys, spinning blades, boats brushed into boxes. And every time they get close… something bad happens.
Eventually, they recognize it as danger.
So I started changing things up.
Sometimes I’d ditch the spinner. Run a dozen decoys instead of four dozen. Pull the boat downriver, walk back, and sit on the bank instead of hiding in it.
A few decoys. A jerk string. You and your dog tucked into the natural shoreline.
Simple setups can be deadly when everything else is overdone.
And honestly, sometimes they make you the envy of the boat ramp.”
#4. Bill Stephenson
In pressured areas, don’t look like everyone else
"I have been a duckhunter and still am for almost 60 years. For me it's about the hunt and not the kill..The best part of hunting is sharing the experience with my friends and creating new and everlasting memories."
Closing Note
We love this stuff because it connects people to something bigger than just a hunt.
These are traditions built on observation, patience, and respect for the birds and the places they live.
We’re lucky to be part of a community that still values that.
If you’ve got your own “OG advice,” drop it in the comments. We’d love to keep this going.
