The sport of hunting ducks and geese is alive and quite well in North America, thanks in large part to a resurgence of waterfowl numbers, which, in turn, can be traced to conservation groups such as Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl, Inc., as well as to sportsmen who impose limits on themselves far stricter than those issued by the law.

Assembling the gear, fixing the decoys, working with the Labs and Chesapeakes, caring for the firearms, fixing the blinds or duck boats, and always looking for more hotspots to hunt, waterfowlers are a breed unto themselves.

In these pages, read how to become adept at all aspects of duck and goose hunting-how to set the decoys in various conditions, how to call for the various species at different times of the year, how to get out there on the marsh or grain field and collect birds.