Although, late season duck hunting is not a bed of roses. Below freezing temperatures can chill you to the bone. High winds make boat handling and decoy setting tough and picking up frozen decoys will numb a macho man into a Nancy.

The key to enjoying yourself is keeping warm and dry. In fact, I don’t think you can dress too warm. Always start off with long underwear. Longies made of polypropylene or thermax are light and keep you warm without bulk. Over this wear wool pants or lined pants. If I am hunting on shore I wear navy coveralls designed for sailors in theNorth Atlantic. You can get these quite cheaply from army surplus stores.

This time of year I leave my usual canvas hunting coat at home and switch to an insulated coat. Companies like Columbiaand Cabela’s have coats that are warm yet have game pockets and shell loops.

Foot wear is important because it needs to be warm yet not dangerously heavy if you over turn in a boat. Insulated rubber boots are sufficient in most conditions. On those last few days when winter has arrived, stay on shore or in shallow water and wear felt-lined boots. 

If I ever go to hell, I will probably be eternally subjected to the most horrible chore on earth….picking up wet, frozen decoys in freezing temperatures. The only thing that makes this chore bearable is thinsulate gloves lined with gortex. These gloves keep your hands warm and dry and are the best there is for late season waterfowl hunting. I suspect that even these gloves will get wet if you pick up a large number of decoys.

Another thing, wear a stocking cap. I continually see hunters wearing the typical Jones style hunting hat even when temperatures are just above zero. Leave those caps at home until next September.

Besides being cold, inadequate gear can be dangerous. More hunters die from overturning into the frigid waters than from gunshot wounds or over exertion and heart attacks. Every duck hunter that drowned over the years was not wearing a PFD (Personal Flotation Device). I used to think I didn’t have to wear one if I was in a canoe or boat that would float even when it was full of water. All I have to do is hang onto the boat, right? Wrong! When I finally did tip over in frigid waters my hands quickly became so numb I couldn’t hold onto anything. Fortunately I had enough training to right the canoe and get back into it. Never again will I go out in the water without a PFD.

Late season hunting is fun, but only if you use common sense. Nothing is worth risking your life over.

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He and I were hunting ducks one cold morning. There were a number of drainage canals that crisscrossed the land we hunted on (private). We knew that we would always stand a good chance of spooking up some ducks from these drainage ditches.

Anyway, I’m walking by the ditch and I spot a duck awhile down the canal. I signal my buddy, and we proceed to walk as far away from the ditch as possible in order to sneak up on the duck. I’m making my way back to the canal where I believe the duck is hanging out, crouching down so as to not cast a shadow toward it, almost in a crawl – through the snow. I get within about five feet of the canal and am very proud of how well I’ve done when I stand up, point my shotgun at the canal, and am shocked that the duck hasn’t taken off.

Meanwhile, my buddy is laying down in the snow, pointing at me, and laughing himself to tears.

I look over and I apparently stalked a decoy he left behind earlier that week.

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