It’s waterfowl season! That means it’s time to gear up and make plans to hunt some tasty birds, like geese and ducks. So, get your decoys and duck calls ready to have a great hunting season.
The exact season dates are going to vary per state, but in general, it’s going to go from now until the end of January. If you don’t have the best duck or geese hunting in your state, it might be time to take a road trip to a more ideal location. Here are 5 of the best places to hunt geese and ducks this fall.
North Dakota
In eastern North Dakota, there are a variety of public lands to hunt on. Plus, some private land is available for people to use as part of the state’s “Private Lands Open to Sportsmen” program.
The types of waterfowl you are going to find in abundance there are mallards, pintails, Canada geese, and gadwalls. A few cities to look at staying in are Fargo, Grand Forks, and Fort Ransom. If you have questions about the type of license you need, contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
Louisiana
Southern Louisiana is where you’ll find some of the best waterfowl hunting. It’s a wetland paradise which keeps all kinds of migratory waterfowl very happy during this time of year.
Their season is best from November to January. Head to the Cheneir Plain along the southwestern part of the state. It’s 200 miles of Gulf coast fronted marshland that is considered one of the best duck hunting places in the United States. There are an estimated 5.8 million ducks that winter there each year, so you’re bound to have some great luck.
Texas
The panhandle area of Texas is the area to go to. It includes the city of Amarillo, and is a perfect destination to nab some wigeon and the green-winged teal ducks. The season is hottest during November and December. If you contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, they can give you a list of private landowners that will let you hunt ducks on their properties.
Utah
A lake that’s 70 miles wide, the Great Salt Lake is obviously going to have a multitude of birds to hunt. There is public hunting on the lake through the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. It’s also home to almost 30 different private hunting clubs like Escalante Ranch on the Green River in Jensen, Utah. They offer hunting packages and lodging that will help you hunt all kinds of subspecies of Canadian geese.
Virginia
Virginia may be the state for lovers, but it’s also home to the Chesapeake Bay. You can hunt black ducks, canvasbacks, and mallards just to name a few. The Virginia Department of Game and Fisheries will give you any information you need before you go. The hot part of the season is mainly in December and January, because so many Canadian geese make this their winter home coming from the northern Atlantic.
So, there you have it. Make your plans as soon as possible to get in on some of these incredible hunting locations. Happy waterfowl hunting everyone!
I have to take exception to Virginia as being the 5th best state for hunting ducks and geese on the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland is world famous for the Chesapeake Bay. The bay is considered to be more a part of Maryland than Virginia. This is the first time I have ever heard of the bay being in Virginia.