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2023-24 West Tennessee
Waterfowl Season

CHALLENGING DUCK SEASON DRAWS TO A CLOSE
By Steve McCadams

Lots of bumps and bruises. Some success stories. Mostly an uphill battle.
Ducks hunters hit the home stretch this week as statewide season draws to a close next Tuesday. The 60-day season opened way back on the weekend after Thanksgiving for a two-day segment. It resumed the first week in December for a 58-day straight stretch which offered waterfowlers a wide window of opportunity.
Turns out dreary duck hunters needed a very wide window as the season overall was somewhat of a disappointment despite a big dose of frigid weather last week. As the season was winding down it sort of got derailed by the Siberian Express.
Brutal cold slipped in the door, dropping temps to zero in many places of west Tennessee followed by several days of single digits. Weather like that put ice in lots of places and shortened the season for scores of disgusted ducksters.
What had already been a very slow season turned into an abbreviated season as most tossed in the towel during the in-climate weather stretch. Duck hunters are usually wishing for cold fronts to stimulate the migration and send ducks winging southward but there are limitations.
Season began on a warm and dry note. The lion’s share of waterfowlers spent the vast majority of the season hoping for more rain as most of west Tennessee and portions of neighboring states suffered drought conditions that began back in early fall and lingered past Christmas.
From the mighty Mississippi River to all its tributaries across the west Tennessee such as the Obion, Forked Deer and Hatchie River lowland areas there were poor water conditions. Normally ducks follow the water up the river bottoms off the Mississippi River to wintering grounds that offer ample feeding and resting areas.
Swamps usually fill with abundant shallow backwaters. Private farms full of harvested grain field flood out, attracting big numbers of ducks to the region.
Such has been the case for decades. Sometimes weather played tricks but usually by early winter the areas filled with ducks and geese following the flooded conditions that produced a Mecca for them during their winter migration.
Not so this year. A lack of water proved to be a very high hurdle. In summary, the ducks just didn’t come to this region in adequate numbers. It hurt the feelings of lots of duck hunters across the five state region.
From Arkansas and the abundant wetlands across the Bootheel of Missouri to western Kentucky, Tennessee and portions of Mississippi numbers of ducks were down. Surveys conducted by several states throughout December and early January indicated below averages numbers. Mallard numbers have been especially low all season.
Last week the region saw some influx of waterfowl but in the aftermath of the drastic weather change came ice that disrupted the short honeymoon. Most popular hunting areas succumbed to glacier-like conditions.
Blinds and boat ramps were locked in. Access was denied. Some risked life and limb attempting to keep spots open as many Reelfoot Lake guides do whenever the temps go south.
When it gets too cold hunters can win a few battles but eventually lose the war. Single digit temps and no wind allow even open water areas to freeze sooner or later.
In the process of it all are torn up boats and motors. Decoy spreads float away following sheets of ice. Ice eaters help keep some holes open but sooner or later all the equipment and those that own and operate it fall victim to the elements.
That was the case last week but it appears the ending of season will offer a warm up and allow busted up duck hunters to end in style. Perhaps the crazy cold has moved out and normal highs and lows will at least allow the final weeks of season to end on a good note.
The trials and tribulations of a bad season can’t be overcome in the final week. However, ending the season on a positive note would sure help heal the morale and put a little pep in the step for next year!

HUNTING OFF TO SLUGGISH START

There are several private hunting clubs across West Tennessee that have pumping capabilities and they have been able to hold water for a week or two only because of continuous efforts and at great expense. A small percentage got off to a decent start last weekend.

Places such as Reelfoot Lake had plenty of water as did Kentucky and Barkley Lakes. Reelfoot Lake had been holding several ducks. Duck numbers here on Kentucky and Barkley lakes are low. Very low as to overall numbers on state and federal refuges.

Meanwhile, already underway prior to Tennessee’s season opener were both Missouri and Arkansas. Ample water has fallen in the states to our west plus rice fields are pumped up early so things got off to a pretty good start there for early season hunting.

Hunters in those states, however, reported low number of mallards seen and taken.

Food availability on the local scene is once again a victim of heavy spring rains that came at the wrong time and drowned out many acres of corn that had been planted. High water pretty much destroyed TWRA’s planting efforts in West Sandy, Big Sandy, Gin Creek, Dover and Camden bottoms.

Later this year when the weather turns cold and duck numbers increase there may not be enough food available in several of the wildlife management areas to attract and hold big numbers of ducks.

Federal refuges such as Tennessee and Cross Creeks National always help attract ducks to the region but they can only do so much if local units don’t have the table set. Hunters always hope to have crops in the hunting areas themselves.

And so it is another duck season takes flight here in Tennessee.

The daily bag limit of ducks is 6 birds/day which may include no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be a female), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 2 black ducks, 1 pintail, and 1 mottled duck.

The daily bag limit for scaup is only one from Nov. 25–26 and Dec. 5–17, then increases to two from Dec. 18 to Jan. 31, 2024.

Hunters here in West Tennessee have their fingers crossed for some more rain and cooler temps as the second segment of season arrives.

DELTA WATERFOWL OFFERS ONLINE COURSE

A new Delta Waterfowl Duck and Goose Hunting 101 Course is now available online to provide beginning hunters the knowledge they need to take that first duck or goose on their own or with their friends. Delivered in partnership with Kalkomey Enterprises — the world’s largest developer of online outdoor education — as part of its “Today’s Hunter” series, you’ll find the course at https://www.todayshunter.com/duck-goose-101.

Each year, more than 600,000 students take required hunter safety courses, and more of them than ever are doing so online. However, decades of follow-up surveys of graduates reveal that despite pursuing hunting safety certification, a surprisingly large number of graduates never actually go hunting or even purchase one hunting license. The most often cited reasons are lack of access, lack of support in social circles and unavailability of trustworthy knowledge.

“Delta’s Duck and Goose Hunting 101 online course is purpose-built to address that knowledge deficit when it comes to waterfowling,” said Joel Brice, Delta’s chief conservation officer. “We’ve used Delta’s collective experience as The Duck Hunters Organization to build an all-new, from scratch, engaging and fun curriculum specifically for the demographic of online hunter education graduates. It’s full of the skills and knowledge to put the first-time waterfowl hunter into position to safely, legally, ethically and — maybe most importantly in some ways — to enjoyably take that first duck or goose.”

In addition to hunter-education graduates, The Delta Duck and Goose Hunting 101 online course is available to anyone interested in online learning. It’s also a great gift idea for any novice duck hunter of any age.

Just a few of the important units in the course include: How to scout before and during the season, Tips for identifying ducks and geese in hand and in the air, Decoy placement on the water and in the field, How to master simple calling skills, emergencies in the field, hunting public and private areas and more.

RETURN TO REELFOOT…FROM FISH TO FOWL; IT NEVER GROWS OLD!

On a cold dark morning late in the duck season a camou clad crew boarded a huge jon boat and blasted away from Reelfoot Lake’s eastern shore at Samburg. A long and winding ride must have had the wind chill dipping down into the teens as the 20-minute or so journey at high speed began to penetrate even our heavy clothing.

A thin skim of ice dotted grasslines and pockets around endless bald cypress groves. Lilly pad stems emerged from shallow areas, a far cry from what it would look like on a mid-summer day when acres would later infest this earthquake spawned wildlife Mecca.

Darkness robbed what I knew was a spectacular view of this wildlife wonderland. My thoughts fell back to summer days of yesteryear when turtles lined logs, white herrons balanced on giant lilly pads and the unmistakable sight and sounds of Reelfoot Lake boats chugging slowly over stumps pushed by a little Briggs and Stratton air cooled engines was all part of the venture.

Cane poles and feisty bluegill darting figure 8’s around bonnets once a porcupine quill disappeared was nothing short of heaven when summer trips were taken here.

Visions of days gone by was quickly interrupted when our big rig full of waterfowlers reached a small opening and idled down a path full of decoys where a hotel doubling as a duck blind awaited our arrival.

For me it was a rare busman’s holiday. I was visiting my friend and fellow guide Jackie Van Cleave. His Hilton Hotel looking blind was camouflaged with a mixture of cane and cypress limbs, blending in nicely to the Everglades looking background.

Out front was a huge decoy spread where some 400-plus plastic Judas ducks waited on daylight so they could lure sky high mallards, teal, gadwall or ringnecks toward our backwater locale.

Mixed in the spread were flapping MoJo ducks on poles surrounded by an occasional feeder butt that vibrated ripples in the placid waters, giving off the appearance of a feeding duck. On the end of the spread a Vortex pair of winging mallards dipped and swirled, pushed in a rapid flying motion by a submerged battery.

What was a stagnant decoy spread on a calm morning quickly came to life once Jackie spent a few minutes out there turning things on and getting the show going. Duck hunters anywhere pray for wind but there are all sorts of motion decoys on the market nowadays that will add realistic motion even on stagnant days.

Sharing Jackie’s magnificent blind, complete with a separate kitchen area and boat shed adjacent to the shooting area, was my old friend Tommy Akin of Greenfield, Tony Thompson of Scott’s Hill and his son Drake, John Maness, Jackie’s brother Larry and David Ransom, who doubled as our cook and whipped up some mean biscuits, eggs and country ham!

The days of packing sardines, potted meat, Vienna sausages and soda crackers are gone for good!

Shooting time creeped in as an eastern sky signaled a clear, sunny day was about to wake up the marsh. A hush fell over the blind. Time to talk less and listen more.

From nowhere descended a hen mallard who succumbed to shots from Larry’s end of the blind. The appearance of the refuge like setting of the decoy spread fooled the mallard as she hovered about 30 yards out.

It wasn’t long after the degree of camaraderie increased that three mallards from the high heavens responded to Jackie’s call, cupping and swinging around the downwind side for a rapid return. “Take ‘em” barked Jackie as the ducks ventured out over the back end of the hole but close enough for clean shots.

Any duck hunter knows the first few ducks to bag are the hardest. It’s getting the skunk off the blind that lowers the bar for a successful day.

For me it was already a success before a single shot was fired. The chores of guiding are quite demanding in more ways than one. Today my friend Jackie was doing all the work. I felt helpless to some degree as I wasn’t accustomed to being on the other end in this scenario after 43 years!

Watching a sunrise over Reelfoot Lake was worth the price of admission. Making new friends and scanning the skies where large flocks of barking snow geese passed overhead was a pretty good way to start the day.

Blinds in the distance were shooting at times, indicating some duck movement was taking place. “Not much moving today,” said Jackie as we all stared a hole in the sky trying to find weary ducks. “We need some wind. Ain’t gonna get it this morning.”

Leary gadwalls pitched and sailed overhead at times, pausing to cup their wings and tease us into thinking they were headed our way. Call shy and finicky, they slide on by our blind as they did several others.

In-between stories of duck hunts here and across the region, we managed to bag some 13 ducks consisting of both mallards and gadwalls by mid-morning. Based on recent activity we all agreed it wasn’t bad. Ducks had not been kind to hunters this season here at Reelfoot Lake nor anywhere else across the region.

Massive flooding along the Mississippi River to our north had really scattered ducks this year. Added to that had been a warm fall and winter, diminishing the migration. Duck numbers down South this season were below average, even for popular locations like Reelfoot.

Despite not seeing a massive movement of working ducks we managed to bag a nice number. We got to see some ducks work and respond well, which makes time stand still as they unload air and fall out of the sky like meteors.

We traded stories of fellow hunters and places as one thing waterfowlers have is a network of communication once season starts and feathers fall. From northeastern Arkansas to the Bootheel of Missouri and the upper marshes of Mississippi, hunters were struggling this season at times with a few success stories always rising among the ranks.

After decades of guiding both fishermen and hunters, Jackie told me he was getting old too and the years were taking a toll. I could relate well to what he was saying and feeling.

Soon duck season would end and he would turn to crappie fishing in the open waters of Reelfoot Lake when the wind allowed.

I was thankful for the day and hoped to return again someday before we both got too old to fight it. With a laugh or two we promised to rendezvous again soon.

Days on Reelfoot Lake are never wasted. Nature’s paintbrush worked overtime at this wonderful place where fish and fowl lure sportsmen from all over just to partake of the atmosphere that never goes out of style.

Until my return the memory bank of fishing and fowling has ample pictures and fond times stored to carry me over.

Returning to Reelfoot always makes me ask myself why I waited so long.

EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT IN A DUCK BLIND!!!

After 42 years of sunrises observed from a duck blind with clients from all walks of life I can tell you every day is different! Actually I’ve been scanning the skies during waterfowl season now for 55-plus years as my dad took me on my first early morning wake-up call when I was about 10 years old.

It’s the last four decades plus that I’ve been in the blind during the lion’s share of the statewide season which takes in a portion of November and most all of December and January. As a professional guide I’ve had legions of hunters from just about every state in the union and from most every background one can imagine.

A professional hunting and fishing guide has a lot of similarities to the coaching profession; everyone likes you when you’re winning!

Guides and coaches know you can’t win them all either. Some days the ducks don’t fly and the fish don’t bite. Maybe they were flying for someone else in another corner of the world but truth is, the vocation is very challenging. It requires a tough skin. Definitely not for the faint of heart!

Mother Nature often deals the cards. Those of us in the outdoor field just have to play the hand that’s dealt.

When you want cold wind and falling temps you sometimes get balmy weather and stagnant winds. Sometimes it’s too cold and ice takes over, changing the whole duck hunting picture. And yes, it can get too cold at times!

Clients don’t always understand the variables. The ducks don’t know (or care) how far you’ve driven, how much you’ve spent to get here or how early you rose from a warm, comfortable bed.

I’ll have to say the vast majority of camouflage clad duck hunters who paraded into my blind were pretty good folks, eager to shoot some ducks but equally appreciative of the outdoor experience and the overall outing.

Most marveled at those burnt orange sunrises when silhouettes of decoy spreads formed a breath taking moment. Those short minutes when the sun first peaks above the horizon are fragments in time you wish you could put on hold. A quick rising sun jumping over the ridge tells us how fast life is indeed passing.

Sort of makes most people pause and reflect. Days gone by with old friends and family during hunts past. Perhaps their first hunt of yesteryear with dad or grandad. Memories of old retrievers who accompanied with whimpers of enthusiasm and a cold nose to the hand signaling the bond of unconditional love.

There’s something special about being in the marsh as a day begins. Quiet times shared with others as the world wakes from a winter’s nap.

Squawking great blue herons startled from their roost announce their discontent for all the world to hear. Owls deep in the woods trade messages with each other before their nocturnal journey ends.

It’s that moment of the morning for all hunters in the blind to speak the same language of silence. Listen and let the awakening world come to you!

Above the howling dogs of a distant country farmhouse and quartets of owls comes the unique honk of a flock of geese just taking flight far away. Which way are the going? Too dark to be seen and too far off to speculate on their location or destination.

Ducks appear from the heavens and the sound of their wings unloading air is quite a heart stopper. Shooting stars leave a short and fast fading trail in a dark sky.

All these things and more are not seen or appreciated on most mornings by most folks unless they are indeed in a duck blind. Clients often comment about the contrast between where they are and their usual work day schedule.

No traffic jams encountered. Parking isn’t a problem. Telephones sleep silently tucked away in bags.

For a few short hours the visitors deviate from their normal routine. They often ask why they don’t do this more often both aloud and to themselves.

Ducks blinds and marshes are places where you can be alone…but never lonely!

While the objective is to shoot a lots of ducks it’s not the only requirement for a successful trip, although I’ve had my fair share of hunters who felt anything short of a limit was a bad day. Yet that type, for the most part, are in the minority.

Some days you get the bear; some days the bear gets you! That’s part of hunting. Thus, it’s called the hunting season and not the “killing season”!

Still, clients have every right to expect results. They arrive expecting to pull the trigger a few times and bag ducks that winged over the decoys, adding yet another thrill to the outdoor adventure.

I’ve been calling ducks since I was big enough to breathe air and force the thrust through the barrel of a call. Making the right sounds takes a lot of time and practice. Knowing when to use this or that type call requires experience of watching ducks and learning their responses.

Still, despite all the decades of experience from calling, setting out decoy spreads and brushing blinds the ducks still have the element of surprise on their side. Some days they have mood swings and nothing you do seems to alter their stubbornness.

Both ducks and fish have kept me humble. There are times when they just hurt your feelings. Weather is a big factor in that too and guides can’t control the weather.

It’s not unusual to face other hurdles, namely novice hunters and shooters who don’t really know the way things ought to work. Veteran guides will tell you there are some days when all the experience and preparation just won’t overcome a novice hunters and their pie-in-the-sky expectations.

At the same time one doesn’t have to be good at it to enjoy it! The day depends on the disposition of the sports who bring with them a positive attitude of realistic expectations.

There are days when it all clicks and the stars are in line. Ducks fill the skies and work in range right over the decoys like they got the memo.

It’s those days when nothing goes quite right that seasons the real outdoorsman, forming the mold for future hunting trips. If a person can ride out the tough times and perhaps practice patience while learning from the whole experience then he or she has some great days ahead with friends and family.

Future dawns in the duck blind will pay dividends. It may not seem like it when paying the dues but all those tough times will be paid in full when a few good days erase the hard times.

Every day is indeed different in the duck blind, which is why I keep getting up in the wee hours of the morning meeting new friends. The good times far exceed the bad ones, regardless of how many ducks are dangling on the hanger at the end of the day!

Steve McCadams is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area. He has also contributed many outdoor oriented articles to various national publications.

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