waterfowl | The Filson Journal

black and white portrait of a black lab sitting

DOGS WITH JOBS: Labrador Retrievers

Blessed with a perpetual grin and soft floppy ears, Labrador Retrievers have been the most popular breed of dogs in America since 1991. A virtual Swiss Army knife of a dog, this sporting breed can do almost anything.

3 Min

Field Notes

How to Camouflage a Canoe for Duck Hunting

Seasoned outdoorsman T. Edward Nickens gives us his well-proven-play-by-play to camouflage a canoe and get up close with waterfowl before flushing them and taking the shot.

5 Min

Profiles

Who is Ducks Unlimited?

For more than 80 years, DU’s mission of waterfowl habitat conservation has resulted in work across the continent to restore and protect the habitats that make possible the abundance of wildlife. Waterfowl, other migratory birds, hundreds of species of wildlife and even people benefit from DU’s habitat work.

5 Min

Field Notes

Tips to Elevate Your Blind

We’ve asked a handful of successful waterfowl hunters from around the Pacific Northwest and the rest of the continent for their tips on building your blind the right way so you’ll have a successful and exciting hunt.

5 Min

a close up of a US Fish and Wildlife silver duck band

Field Notes

Duck Banding: Hunter-Backed Conservation Work Helps Waterfowl Thrive

Banding has been used for centuries. In 218 B.C., besieged Roman soldiers reportedly used thread to tie a message on a crow’s leg and then released the bird. John James Audubon and Ernest Thompson Seton pioneered early banding methods in the United States. Federal banding programs were established in the 1920s after the Migratory Bird Treaty of 1918.

5 Min

Profiles

Wild Goose Jack

At the turn of the 20th century, sportsman John (Jack) Miner found himself amidst an unregulated commercial market, and local grassroots hunting. In the small town of Kingsville, Ontario, along the northern shore of Lake Erie, young Jack and his brother Ted spent their minimal free time carving and painting decoys in preparation for when the ducks would return.

8 Min

dozens of birds flying overhead on an overcast day

Field Notes

North America’s Flyways and Ducks Unlimited

Twice a year waterfowl and bird species make the long journey from south to north and back again along the Pacific Flyway, stopping at reservoirs, wetlands, and shallow lakes along the way to both rest and feed.

9 Min

Profiles

Duck Band: Friendship, Music, and Hunting

Friendships tend to be tribal in their origins – shared interests, hobbies, and lifestyles attract and keep folks together. For this group of friends, their love of music and duck hunting are the ties that bind. “Would you have any interest in going on a duck hunt in Louisiana with us?” That seems like an

5 Min

Two dark labradors. One wears a camouflage jacket. near edge of lake

Field Notes

Field Guide: Duck Hunting the Skagit County Coastline

A 3-hour drive from the Filson Headquarters in Seattle will put you knee-deep in slate-gray water throwing dry flies for Steelhead, forging through a marsh with duck decoys in hand, or hiking along a basalt-rimmed plateau behind working dogs with a side-by-side. Cold fall and winter days mean it’s open season for waterfowl in the Northwest. Dropping temperatures lead to duck migration across the country and offer prime conditions for hunting.

Duck hunter wading in lake with gun and two decoy ducks at sunrise

Profiles

Last of the Season: Celebrating the Waterfowl Ender with Kyle Johnson

Kyle Johnson is a 30 year old editorial and commercial photographer hailing from the Pacific Northwest. During the ending days of the waterfowl season, Kyle and his good friend Jerry Patty were able to rise before the sun and give it one last go in Carnation, WA. Below, Jerry reflects on a family hunting tradition

4 Min

shotgun shells on ground between two lines of reeds

Profiles

Remembering the Duck Season Opener with John Ludlam

John Ludlam is a medium format photographer currently residing in Denver, Colorado. Two years ago, he started processing and printing his own photos in the darkroom and hasn’t gone back to digital since. Follow along as John recounts the waterfowl season opener in Colorado. The much awaited opening day of any season brings back the

How-To's

Peter Patenaude Partridge Hunting Tips

Peter Patenaude, a registered Maine guide, has been a Filson advocate for over six years. His blog Boot & Canoe, focuses on traditional skills and Maine’s outdoor heritage. Peter shares some more tips for a successful partridge hunt.

How-To's

10 Shooting Tips for Waterfowl

1. Practice As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Above all other tips, just get out and shoot in the pre-season. Find a clay skeet shooting range and go after shots you might see while on the pond (crossing, incoming, etc.). Ask an instructor at the range for advice or take a lesson. Begin on

DOGS WITH JOBS: Labrador Retrievers

How to Camouflage a Canoe for Duck Hunting

Who is Ducks Unlimited?

Tips to Elevate Your Blind

Duck Banding: Hunter-Backed Conservation Work Helps Waterfowl Thrive

Wild Goose Jack

Sign up to receive the latest news about Filson products, events & stories.

North America’s Flyways and Ducks Unlimited

Duck Band: Friendship, Music, and Hunting

Field Guide: Duck Hunting the Skagit County Coastline

Last of the Season: Celebrating the Waterfowl Ender with Kyle Johnson

Remembering the Duck Season Opener with John Ludlam

Peter Patenaude Partridge Hunting Tips

10 Shooting Tips for Waterfowl