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{{Redirect|Wildfowler|the racehorse|Wildfowler (horse)}}
{{Redirect|Wildfowler|the racehorse|Wildfowler (horse)}}
{{See also|Hunting in Australia|Hunting and shooting in the United Kingdom}}
{{See also|Hunting in Australia|Hunting and shooting in the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
[[File:Wild Duck Shooting, Crane Creek, near Toledo, Ohio - DPLA - 4ac6a51874f9a3716ae87583a4965ead (page 1).jpg|thumb|right|Duck hunting using [[Duck decoy (model)|decoys]] near [[Toledo, Ohio]], 1908.]]
[[File:Waterfowl hunting Ridgefield.jpg|thumb|Waterfowl hunters at [[Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge]].]]
'''Waterfowl hunting''' is the practice of [[hunting]] [[Water bird|aquatic birds]] such as [[duck]]s, [[Goose|geese]] and other [[Anseriformes|waterfowls]] or [[Wader|shorebirds]] for [[field sports|sport]] and [[meat]]. [[Anseriformes|Waterfowl]] are hunted in [[Field (agriculture)|crop fields]] where they feed, or in areas with [[Body of water|bodies of water]] such as [[river]]s, [[lake]]s, [[pond]]s, [[wetland]]s, [[Slough (hydrology)|sloughs]], or [[coast]]s.
'''Waterfowl hunting''' is the practice of hunting [[Water bird|aquatic birds]] such as ducks, geese and other [[Anseriformes|waterfowls]] or [[Wader|shorebirds]] for sport and meat. Waterfowl are hunted in crop fields where they feed, or in areas with bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, ponds, [[wetland]]s, [[Slough (hydrology)|sloughs]], or coasts.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Petzal |first=David E. |title=The experts' book of upland bird and waterfowl hunting |date=1975 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-0-671-21884-3 |location=New York}}</ref> There are around 3&nbsp;million waterfowl hunters in the United States alone.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation |url=https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Final_2022-National-Survey_101223-accessible-single-page.pdf |website=U.S. Department of the Interior}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
===Prehistoric waterfowl hunting===
===Prehistoric waterfowl hunting===
Wild [[Anseriformes|waterfowl]] have been hunted for [[meat]], [[Down feather|down]], and [[feather]]s worldwide since [[Prehistory|prehistoric]] times. Ducks, geese, and [[swan]]s appear in [[Europe]]an [[cave painting]]s from the [[Last Glacial Period|last ice age]]. The [[mural]] in the [[ancient Egypt]]ian tomb of [[Khnumhotep II]] shows a man in a [[hunting blind]] capturing swimming ducks in a trap.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Arlette |last=David |title=Hoopoes and Acacias: Decoding an Ancient Egyptian Funerary Scene |journal=Journal of Near Eastern Studies |volume=73 |issue=2 |pages=235–252 |year=2014 |doi=10.1086/677251 |s2cid=164075553 }}</ref> [[Muscovy duck]]s were depicted in the art of the [[Moche culture]] of ancient [[Peru]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Waterfowl Ecology and Management |year=1994 |first1=Guy A. |last1=Baldassarre |first2=Eric G. |last2=Bolen |first3=D. Andrew |last3=Saunders |pages=3–6 |location=New York |publisher=Wiley |isbn=0-471-59770-8 }}</ref>
Wild waterfowl have been hunted for meat, [[Down feather|down]], and feathers worldwide since prehistoric times. Ducks, geese, and swans appear in European [[cave painting]]s from the [[Last Glacial Period|last ice age]]. The mural in the [[ancient Egypt]]ian tomb of [[Khnumhotep II]] shows a man in a [[hunting blind]] capturing swimming ducks in a trap.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Arlette |last=David |title=Hoopoes and Acacias: Decoding an Ancient Egyptian Funerary Scene |journal=Journal of Near Eastern Studies |volume=73 |issue=2 |pages=235–252 |year=2014 |doi=10.1086/677251 |s2cid=164075553 }}</ref> [[Muscovy duck]]s were depicted in the art of the [[Moche culture]] of ancient [[Peru]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Waterfowl Ecology and Management |year=1994 |first1=Guy A. |last1=Baldassarre |first2=Eric G. |last2=Bolen |first3=D. Andrew |last3=Saunders |pages=3–6 |location=New York |publisher=Wiley |isbn=0-471-59770-8 }}</ref>


=== Rise of modern waterfowl hunting ===
=== Rise of modern waterfowl hunting ===
[[File:Franc Anton Steinberg - Lov na race; čakališče na jezeru pri jami Lisišče.jpg|thumb|Duck hunting outside [[Lanišče]], by Franz Anton von Steinberg, 1759.]]
[[File:Franc Anton Steinberg - Lov na race; čakališče na jezeru pri jami Lisišče.jpg|thumb|Duck hunting outside [[Lanišče]], by Franz Anton von Steinberg, 1759.]]


Modern waterfowl hunting began in the [[17th century]] with the [[Matchlock|matchlock rifle]]. Later [[flintlock]] [[blunderbuss]] and [[percussion cap]] guns were used. Shotguns were loaded with [[Gunpowder|black powder]] and lead shot through the [[Gun barrel|muzzle]] until the late [[19th century]]. The transition from [[flintlock]] to [[Caplock mechanism|percussion lock]] firearms and from muzzle to [[Breechloader|breechloading]] guns was largely driven by [[innovation]]s made by gunmakers such as [[Joseph Manton]], at which time wildfowling was extremely popular in [[England]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Payne-Gallwey |first=Ralph |title=The Diary of Colonel Peter Hawker, 1802-1853; Volume 1 |publisher=Longmans, Green, and Co |year=1893 |isbn=978-1297914959 |location=London}}</ref> Both the shotgun [[Choke (firearms)|choke]] and [[smokeless powder]] was invented in the late [[19th century]] which allowed for longer range shooting with the shotgun. With the advent of [[punt gun]]s hunters could kill dozens of birds with a single blast.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Dizard |first1=Jan E. |title=Hunting: a cultural history |last2=Stange |first2=Mary Zeiss |date=2022 |publisher=The MIT Press |isbn=978-0-262-54329-3 |series=The MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts}}</ref>
Modern waterfowl hunting began in the 17th century with the [[Matchlock|matchlock rifle]]. Later [[flintlock]] [[blunderbuss]] and [[percussion cap]] guns were used. Shotguns were loaded with [[Gunpowder|black powder]] and lead shot through the [[Gun barrel|muzzle]] until the late 19th century. The transition from muzzle to [[Breechloader|breechloading]] [[shotgun]]s was largely driven by innovations made by gunmakers such as [[Joseph Manton]], at which time wildfowling was extremely popular in England.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Payne-Gallwey |first=Ralph |title=The Diary of Colonel Peter Hawker, 1802–1853; Volume 1 |publisher=Longmans, Green, and Co |year=1893 |isbn=978-1297914959 |location=London}}</ref> Both the shotgun [[Choke (firearms)|choke]] and [[smokeless powder]] was invented in the late 19th century which allowed for longer range shooting with the shotgun. With the advent of [[punt gun]]s hunters could kill dozens of birds with a single blast.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Dizard |first1=Jan E. |title=Hunting: a cultural history |last2=Stange |first2=Mary Zeiss |date=2022 |publisher=The MIT Press |isbn=978-0-262-54329-3 |series=The MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts}}</ref>


[[European colonization of the Americas|European settlers in America]] hunted waterfowl with great zeal, as the supply of waterfowl seemed unlimited in the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] [[coast]]. As more [[Immigration|immigrants]] came to the [[Americas]] in the [[19th century]], the need for more food became greater. [[Professional hunter|Market hunting]] started to take form, to supply the local [[population]] living along the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] with fresh [[duck]]s and [[Goose|geese]]. [[Life|Live]] ducks were used as [[Duck decoy (model)|decoys]] to attract other [[Anseriformes|waterfowl]], something that today is considered [[Cruelty to animals|animal cruelty]]. During the fall migrations, the skies were filled with waterfowl. Places such as [[Chesapeake Bay]], [[Delaware Bay]], and [[Barnegat Bay]] were hunted extensively.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Michener |first=James A. |title=Chesapeake |date=1978 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-0-394-50079-9 |location=New York, N.Y}}</ref> In the [[Chesapeake Bay]] in the [[1930s]] one of the biggest threats to [[Anseriformes|waterfowl]] was local [[Poaching|poachers]] using [[Flat-bottomed boat|flat boats]] with [[swivel gun|swivel]] [[cannon]]s that killed entire [[Flock (birds)|flocks]] with one [[gunshot|shot]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dacy |first=George H. |date=1933 |title=Poaching Made Big Business by Ruthless Gangs of Killers |journal=Popular Science |volume=123 |issue=4 |pages=30-31}}</ref>
[[European colonization of the Americas|European settlers in America]] hunted waterfowl with great zeal, as the supply of waterfowl seemed unlimited in the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast. As more immigrants came to the Americas in the 19th century, the need for more food became greater. [[Professional hunter|Market hunting]] started to take form, to supply the local population living along the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] with fresh ducks and geese. Live ducks were used as [[Duck decoy (model)|decoys]] to attract other waterfowl, something that today is considered animal cruelty. During the fall migrations, the skies were filled with waterfowl. Places such as [[Chesapeake Bay]], [[Delaware Bay]], and [[Barnegat Bay]] were hunted extensively.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Michener |first=James A. |title=Chesapeake |date=1978 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-0-394-50079-9 |location=New York, N.Y}}</ref> In the [[Chesapeake Bay]] in the 1930s one of the biggest threats to waterfowl was local [[Poaching|poachers]] using [[Flat-bottomed boat|flat boats]] with [[swivel gun|swivel]] [[cannon]]s that killed entire flocks with one shot.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dacy |first=George H. |date=1933 |title=Poaching Made Big Business by Ruthless Gangs of Killers |journal=Popular Science |volume=123 |issue=4 |pages=30–31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Walsh |first=Harry M. |title=The outlaw gunner: a journey from hunting for survival to a call for waterfowl conservation |date=2020 |publisher=Schiffer Publishing |isbn=978-0-7643-6061-9 |edition=2 |location=Atglen, PA}}</ref>


==Species of waterfowl hunted==
==Species of waterfowl hunted==


Many [[species]] of [[duck]]s and [[Goose|geese]] share the same [[habitat]] and have overlapping [[hunting season]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024-2025 — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/regs/animal_listing |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=tpwd.texas.gov |language=en-us}}</ref> In [[North America]] a variety of ducks and geese are hunted, the most common being [[mallard]]s, [[Canada goose]], [[snow goose]], [[canvasback]], [[Redhead (bird)|redhead]], [[northern pintail]], [[gadwall]], [[ruddy duck]], [[coot]]s, [[common merganser]] and [[red-breasted merganser]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Earley |first=Chris |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/on1117772207 |title=Waterfowl of Eastern North America |date=2020 |publisher=Firefly Books |isbn=978-0-2281-0247-2 |location=Buffalo, New York ; Richmond Hill, Ontario |oclc=on1117772207}}</ref> Also hunted are [[American black duck|black duck]], [[wood duck]], [[blue-winged teal]], [[green-winged teal]], [[bufflehead]], [[northern shoveler]], [[American wigeon|wigeon]], and [[Goldeneye (duck)|goldeneye]]. Sea ducks include [[long-tailed duck]], [[eider]], and [[scoter]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Le Master |first=Richard |title=Waterfowl identification: the LeMaster method |date=1986 |publisher=Stackpole Books |isbn=978-0-8117-2982-6 |location=Mechanicsburg, PA}}</ref>
Many [[species]] of ducks and geese share the same habitat and have overlapping [[hunting season]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024-2025 — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/regs/animal_listing |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=tpwd.texas.gov |language=en-us}}</ref> In North America a variety of ducks and geese are hunted, the most common being [[mallard]]s, [[Canada goose]], [[snow goose]], [[canvasback]], [[Redhead (bird)|redhead]], [[northern pintail]], [[gadwall]], [[ruddy duck]], [[coot]]s, [[common merganser]] and [[red-breasted merganser]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Earley |first=Chris |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/on1117772207 |title=Waterfowl of Eastern North America |date=2020 |publisher=Firefly Books |isbn=978-0-2281-0247-2 |location=Buffalo, New York; Richmond Hill, Ontario |oclc=on1117772207}}</ref> Also hunted are [[American black duck|black duck]], [[wood duck]], [[blue-winged teal]], [[green-winged teal]], [[bufflehead]], [[northern shoveler]], [[American wigeon|wigeon]], and [[Goldeneye (duck)|goldeneye]]. Sea ducks include [[long-tailed duck]], [[eider]], and [[scoter]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Le Master |first=Richard |title=Waterfowl identification: the LeMaster method |date=1986 |publisher=Stackpole Books |isbn=978-0-8117-2982-6 |location=Mechanicsburg, PA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Baldassarre |first=Guy A. |title=Ducks, geese, and swans of North America |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-4214-0751-7 |edition= |location=Baltimore}}</ref>


==Modern hunting techniques==
==Modern hunting techniques==
[[File:Photograph of a Duck Hunter - NARA - 2128258.jpg|thumb|Duck hunting using [[Duck decoy (model)|decoys]] in the [[Chippewa National Forest]], 1938.]]
[[File:Photograph of a Duck Hunter - NARA - 2128258.jpg|thumb|Duck hunting using [[Duck decoy (model)|decoys]] in the [[Chippewa National Forest]], 1938.]]
The waterfowl hunting season is generally in the [[autumn]] and [[winter]]. Hunting seasons are set by the [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service]] in the [[United States]]. In the autumn, the [[duck]]s and [[Goose|geese]] have finished raising their young and are migrating to warmer areas to feed. A [[hunting blind]] is used to conceal the hunter while [[Duck decoy (model)|duck decoys]] are used to attract birds. Using a good spread of [[decoy]]s and calling, an experienced waterfowl hunter can successfully [[bag (fishing & hunting)|bag]] ducks or geese if waterfowl are flying that day.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mackey |first=William J. |title=American bird decoys |date=1987 |publisher=Dutton |isbn=978-0-525-24500-1 |location=New York}}</ref>
The waterfowl hunting season is generally in the autumn and winter. Hunting seasons are set by the [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service]] in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-26 |title=How the Hunting Seasons and Limits are Set for Waterfowl {{!}} U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |url=https://www.fws.gov/story/how-hunting-seasons-and-limits-are-set-waterfowl |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=www.fws.gov |language=en}}</ref> In the autumn, the ducks and geese have finished raising their young and are migrating to warmer areas to feed.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last1=Airhart |first1=Tom |title=The ultimate guide to waterfowl hunting: tips, tactics, and techniques for ducks and geese |last2=Kent |first2=Eddie |last3=Raymer |first3=Kent |date=2017 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |isbn=978-1-5107-1674-2 |location=New York, NY}}</ref> A [[hunting blind]] is used to conceal the hunter while [[Duck decoy (model)|duck decoys]] are used to attract birds. Using a good spread of [[decoy]]s and calling, an experienced waterfowl hunter can successfully [[bag (fishing & hunting)|bag]] ducks or geese if waterfowl are flying that day.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mackey |first=William J. |title=American bird decoys |date=1987 |publisher=Dutton |isbn=978-0-525-24500-1 |location=New York}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2004 |title=Waterfowl Hunting and Baiting |url=https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/FW-1012-Waterfowl-Hunting-and-Baiting.pdf |website=U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service}}</ref>


Boats can be used as a [[hunting blind]], known as [[sneakbox]]. Most popular are [[flat-bottomed boat]]s (usually [[johnboat]]s) for increased stability. [[Kayak]]s or [[canoe]]s are also used. Pursuing diving ducks in lakes, bays or [[sound (geography)|sounds]] requires larger and more stable boats, as small boats have been known to [[capsizing|capsize]]. [[Sinkbox]]es that conceal the hunter under the water surface are illegal.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last1=Airhart |first1=Tom |title=The ultimate guide to waterfowl hunting: tips, tactics, and techniques for ducks and geese |last2=Kent |first2=Eddie |last3=Raymer |first3=Kent |date=2017 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |isbn=978-1-5107-1674-2 |location=New York, NY}}</ref> [[Retriever]] [[dog]]s are used to retrieve the shot [[duck]]s. Most often hunters use a [[Labrador Retriever]], [[Golden Retriever]] or [[Chesapeake Bay Retriever]] to retrieve waterfowl. The [[retriever]] helps to retrieve birds, and hunts down [[cripple]]d [[duck]]s that survived the shooting.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Encyclopedia of North American sporting dogs |date=2002 |publisher=Willow Creek Press |isbn=978-1-57223-501-4 |editor-last=Smith |editor-first=Steve |location=Minocqua, Wis}}</ref>
Boats can be used as a [[hunting blind]], known as [[sneakbox]]. Most popular are [[flat-bottomed boat]]s (usually [[johnboat]]s) for increased stability. [[Kayak]]s or canoes are also used. Pursuing diving ducks in lakes, bays or [[sound (geography)|sounds]] requires larger and more stable boats, as small boats have been known to capsize. [[Sinkbox]]es that conceal the hunter under the water surface are illegal.<ref name=":3" /> [[Retriever]] dogs are used to retrieve the shot ducks. Most often hunters use a [[Labrador Retriever]], [[Golden Retriever]] or [[Chesapeake Bay Retriever]] to retrieve waterfowl. The [[retriever]] helps to retrieve birds, and hunts down crippled ducks that survived the shooting.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Encyclopedia of North American sporting dogs |date=2002 |publisher=Willow Creek Press |isbn=978-1-57223-501-4 |editor-last=Smith |editor-first=Steve |location=Minocqua, Wis}}</ref>


===Shotguns and ammunition===
===Shotguns and ammunition===
Since the [[16th century]], [[lead]] [[Shot (pellet)|shot]] has been used in waterfowl hunting. In the late [[1960s]], lead shot was identified as a major cause of [[lead poisoning]] in waterfowl, which often feed off the bottom of lakes and wetlands.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sanderson |first1=Glen C. |first2=Frank C. |last2=Bellrose |year=1986 |title=A Review of the Problem of Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl |location=Champaign, Illinois |series=Special Publication |volume=4 |url=http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/pbpoison/pbpoison.htm |archivedate=April 22, 1999 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990422091004/http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/pbpoison/pbpoison.htm }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first1=A. M. |last1=Scheuhammer |first2=S. L. |last2=Norris |year=1996 |title=The ecotoxicology of lead shot and lead fishing weights |journal=[[Ecotoxicology]] |volume=5 |issue=5 |pages=279–295 |doi=10.1007/BF00119051 |pmid=24193869 |bibcode=1996Ecotx...5..279S |s2cid=40092400 }}</ref> The [[Gauge (firearms)|12-gauge]] [[shotgun]] is the most common, larger than a [[Gauge (firearms)|10-gauge]] are prohibited. Shotguns that can hold more than three [[Shotgun cartridge|cartridges]] must be modified to reduce their [[Magazine (firearms)|magazine]] size. Hunters use [[Shot (pellet)|pellet sizes]] 4, 3, and 2 for ducks, and 2, BB, BBB and T shot for geese, [[buckshot]] is illegal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-11 |title=Shotgun {{!}} Hunting, Home Defense & Self-Protection {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/shotgun |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> [[Shot (pellet)|Shots]] used for [[Anseriformes|waterfowl]] must today be [[lead]] free.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-19 |title=Nontoxic Shot Regulations For Hunting Waterfowl and Coots in the U.S. {{!}} U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |url=https://www.fws.gov/story/2022-04/nontoxic-shot-regulations-hunting-waterfowl-and-coots-us |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=www.fws.gov |language=en}}</ref>
Since the 16th century lead [[Shot (pellet)|shot]] has been used in waterfowl hunting. In the late 1960s lead shot was identified as a major cause of [[lead poisoning]] in waterfowl, which often feed off the bottom of lakes and wetlands.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sanderson |first1=Glen C. |first2=Frank C. |last2=Bellrose |year=1986 |title=A Review of the Problem of Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl |location=Champaign, Illinois |series=Special Publication |volume=4 |url=http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/pbpoison/pbpoison.htm |archivedate=22 April 1999 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990422091004/http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/pbpoison/pbpoison.htm }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first1=A. M. |last1=Scheuhammer |first2=S. L. |last2=Norris |year=1996 |title=The ecotoxicology of lead shot and lead fishing weights |journal=[[Ecotoxicology]] |volume=5 |issue=5 |pages=279–295 |doi=10.1007/BF00119051 |pmid=24193869 |bibcode=1996Ecotx...5..279S |s2cid=40092400 }}</ref> [[Shot (pellet)|Shot pellets]] used for [[Anseriformes|waterfowl]] must today be lead-free.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 April 2022 |title=Nontoxic Shot Regulations For Hunting Waterfowl and Coots in the U.S. {{!}} U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |url=https://www.fws.gov/story/2022-04/nontoxic-shot-regulations-hunting-waterfowl-and-coots-us |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=www.fws.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Branch |first=Legislative Services |date=10 June 2024 |title=Consolidated federal laws of Canada, Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 |url=https://lois-laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2022-105/index.html |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=lois-laws.justice.gc.ca}}</ref> The [[Gauge (firearms)|12-gauge]] shotgun is the most common and larger than a [[Gauge (firearms)|10-gauge]] are prohibited. Shotguns that can hold more than three [[Shotgun cartridge|cartridges]] must be modified to reduce their [[Magazine (firearms)|magazine]] capacity. The [[Shot (pellet)|pellet size]] used depends on which waterfowl species are being hunted, [[buckshot]] is illegal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 August 2024 |title=Shotgun {{!}} Hunting, Home Defense & Self-Protection {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/shotgun |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>


When [[hunting]] with [[shotgun]]s, there is always a risk of injuring [[duck]]s that survive but manage to escape, so called [[Cripple|crippling]] losses. As ducks often fly in [[Flock (birds)|flocks]], there is a potential for multiple ducks to be hit when hunters shoot into the [[Flock (birds)|flock]] to target an [[individual]]. The duck struck by the central cluster of the [[Shotgun cartridge|shot]] typically dies and falls to the ground. However, ducks on the periphery of the shot may still be hit by some [[Shot (pellet)|pellets]], which they survive but result in lifelong suffering. Shooting at too far a distance also increases the risk of causing injury due to the increased spread of [[Shot (pellet)|shot pellets]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Russell |first=Geoff |date=1994 |title=Shotgun Wounding Characteristics |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308233762 |journal=Maple Tech: Maple in Mathematics and the Sciences |volume=December |pages=17–23}}</ref>
When hunting with shotguns, there is always a risk of injuring ducks that survive but manage to escape, so called crippling losses. As ducks often fly in flocks, there is a potential for multiple ducks to be hit when hunters shoot into the flock to target an individual. The duck struck by the central cluster of the shot typically dies and falls to the ground. However, ducks on the periphery of the shot may still be hit by some [[Shot (pellet)|pellets]], which they survive but result in lifelong suffering. Shooting at too far a distance also increases the risk of causing injury due to the increased spread of shot pellets.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Russell |first=Geoff |date=1994 |title=Shotgun Wounding Characteristics |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308233762 |journal=Maple Tech: Maple in Mathematics and the Sciences |volume=December |pages=17–23}}</ref>


==Regulations and sportsmanship==
==Regulations and sportsmanship==
[[Europe|European]] hunters in the [[Middle Ages]] had a deep sense of justice for their [[Predation|prey]] and saw [[hunting]] as a challenge, where the [[animal]]s deserved a fair chance. Hunters used fair methods to minimize unnecessary suffering for the prey. This [[code of honor]] required hunters to actively pursue and kill all injured animals to prevent their suffering. Targeting a sitting duck was considered dishonest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-07 |title=Hunting {{!}} History, Methods, & Management {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/sports/hunting-sport |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>
European hunters in the [[Middle Ages]] had a deep sense of justice for their prey and saw hunting as a challenge, where the animals deserved a fair chance. Hunters used fair methods to minimize unnecessary suffering for the prey. This [[code of honor]] required hunters to actively pursue and kill all injured animals to prevent their suffering. Targeting a sitting duck was considered dishonest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 August 2024 |title=Hunting {{!}} History, Methods, & Management {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/sports/hunting-sport |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>


[[File:Molly2016071.jpg|thumb|A [[Shooting|shot]] [[mallard]] in [[Distress (medicine)|distress]] gets help from the [[Ontario Provincial Police]].]]
[[File:Molly2016071.jpg|thumb|A shot [[mallard]] in [[Distress (medicine)|distress]] gets help from the [[Ontario Provincial Police]].]]
[[File:Molly2016073.jpg|thumb|[[Radiography|X-ray]] of the [[mallard]] showing [[Shot (pellet)|shot pellets]] in her [[hip]] and [[lung]] injury.]]
[[File:Molly2016073.jpg|thumb|[[Radiography|X-ray]] of the mallard showing shot pellets in her hip and lung injury.]]


To hunt waterfowl in [[Canada]], one must first obtain a valid
To hunt waterfowl in Canada, one must first obtain a valid
[[Hunting license|Canada Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit]], as well as additional licenses at the provincial level.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-game-bird-hunting/permit.html|title = Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit|date = September 2011}}</ref> Hunters in [[Canada]] and the [[United States]] are also required to complete safety courses before they can obtain a license.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hunter_education/ostates.phtml#canada|title = Hunter Education Requirements in the United States and Canada — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department}}</ref> In the United States, hunters must also purchase a [[Federal Duck Stamp]]. It is illegal to shoot ducks from a motor vehicle or a moving boat. Laying [[bait (luring substance)|bait]]s such as corn and the use of live ducks as decoys, are also illegal.<ref name=":3" />
[[Hunting license|Canada Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit]], as well as additional licenses at the provincial level.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-game-bird-hunting/permit.html|title = Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit|date = September 2011}}</ref> Hunters in Canada and the United States are also required to complete safety courses before they can obtain a license.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hunter_education/ostates.phtml#canada|title = Hunter Education Requirements in the United States and Canada — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department}}</ref> In the United States, hunters must also purchase a [[Federal Duck Stamp]]. It is illegal to shoot ducks from a motor vehicle or a moving boat. Laying [[bait (luring substance)|bait]]s such as corn and the use of live ducks as decoys, are also illegal.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Nick |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/ocm61295904 |title=Waterfowl hunting: ducks and geese of North America |date=2006 |publisher=Creative Pub. International |isbn=978-1-58923-237-2 |series=The complete hunter |location=Chanhassen, MN |oclc=ocm61295904}}</ref>


It is considered good [[sportsmanship]] to make every possible attempt to retrieve injured or [[cripple]]d [[Anseriformes|waterfowl]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Posewitz |first=Jim |title=Beyond fair chase: the ethic and tradition of hunting |date=1994 |publisher=Falcon |others=United Conservation Alliance |isbn=978-1-56044-302-5 |location=Helena, Mont}}</ref> The losses resulting from [[Hunting|hunters]] not retrieving their kills, referred to as [[Cripple|crippling]] losses, likely range from 20% to 40% of all [[Anseriformes|waterfowl]] shot in [[Canada]] and the [[United States]]. The probable fate for [[Mutilation|mutilated]] ducks is a prolonged, agonizing death, marked by relentless suffering and distress.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Perry |first1=Matthew C. |last2=Geissler |first2=Paul H. |date=1980 |title=Incidence of Embedded Shot in Canvasbacks |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3808317 |journal=The Journal of Wildlife Management |volume=44 |issue=4 |pages=888–894 |doi=10.2307/3808317 |jstor=3808317 |issn=0022-541X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=O'Kelley |first1=Brian L. |last2=Bolen |first2=Eric G. |date=1985 |title=Hunting Pressure on Black-Bellied Whistling-Ducks as Indicated by Embedded Shot |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3782680 |journal=Wildlife Society Bulletin (1973-2006) |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=515–517 |jstor=3782680 |issn=0091-7648}}</ref> An [[X-ray]] study of ducks caught using nets in [[Australia]] found that between 6% and 19% of ducks live with embedded [[Shot (pellet)|pellets]] from [[Shotgun cartridge|shots]] in their [[Body (biology)|bodies]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Norman |first=Fi |date=1976 |title=The Incidence of Lead Shotgun Pellets in Waterfowl (Anatidae and Rallidae) Examined in South-Eastern Australia Between 1957 and 1973. |url=http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=WR9760061 |journal=Wildlife Research |language=en |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=61 |doi=10.1071/WR9760061 |issn=1035-3712}}</ref> A survey conducted in [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]] on hunting four species of native ducks revealed a significant number of injured birds. Some of these birds survive, while others suffer before eventually dying. Approximately 26% of the shot ducks are either wounded or [[Mutilation|mutilated]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Norman |first1=Fi |last2=Powell |first2=Dgm |date=1981 |title=Rates of Recovery of Bands, Harvest Patterns and Estimates for Black Duck, Chestnut Teal, Grey Teal and Mountain Duck Shot during Victorian Open Seasons, 1953-1977 |url=http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=WR9810659 |journal=Wildlife Research |language=en |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=659 |doi=10.1071/WR9810659 |issn=1035-3712}}</ref> Surprisingly, this act of [[Cruelty to animals|animal cruelty]] has been largely overlooked by government authorities.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hampton |first1=Jordan O. |last2=Hyndman |first2=Timothy H. |date=2019 |title=Underaddressed animal-welfare issues in conservation |url=https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.13267 |journal=Conservation Biology |language=en |volume=33 |issue=4 |pages=803–811 |doi=10.1111/cobi.13267 |bibcode=2019ConBi..33..803H |issn=0888-8892|hdl=11343/285334 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
It is considered good sportsmanship to make every possible attempt to retrieve injured or crippled waterfowl.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Posewitz |first=Jim |title=Beyond fair chase: the ethic and tradition of hunting |date=1994 |publisher=Falcon |others=United Conservation Alliance |isbn=978-1-56044-302-5 |location=Helena, Mont}}</ref> The losses resulting from hunters not retrieving their kills, referred to as [[Cripple|crippling]] losses, likely range from 20% to 40% of all waterfowl shot in Canada and the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Norton |first1=Michael R. |last2=Thomas |first2=Vernon G. |date=1994 |title=Economic Analyses of 'Crippling Losses' of North American Waterfowl and Their Policy Implications for Management |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/environmental-conservation/article/abs/economic-analyses-of-crippling-losses-of-north-american-waterfowl-and-their-policy-implications-for-management/4DE08BCB1FDC09C74F50618988DED385 |journal=Environmental Conservation |language=en |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=347–353 |doi=10.1017/S037689290003366X |issn=1469-4387}}</ref> The [[Bird migration|migratory bird]] harvest for the [[prairie]] provinces of Canada and the [[contiguous United States]] are estimated to 12&nbsp;million birds annually.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Raftovich |first1=R. V. |last2=Fleming |first2=K. K. |last3=Chandler |first3=S. C. |last4=Cain |first4=C. M. |date=2024 |title=Migratory Bird Hunting Activity and Harvest during the 2022–23 and 2023–24 Hunting Seasons |url=https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024-08/migratory-bird-hunting-activity-and-harvest-during-2022-23-and-2023-24-hunting-seasons.pdf |website=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service}}</ref> Thus, each year, millions of ducks and [[Goose|geese]] are crippled or injured in North America due to hunting.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ellis |first1=Matthew B. |last2=Miller |first2=Craig A. |last3=Pallazza |first3=Samantha G. |date=2022 |title=The effect of individual harvest on crippling losses |url=https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wsb.1352 |journal=Wildlife Society Bulletin |language=en |volume=46 |issue=4 |doi=10.1002/wsb.1352 |issn=2328-5540|doi-access=free }}</ref> The probable fate for [[Mutilation|mutilated]] ducks is a prolonged, agonizing death, marked by relentless suffering and distress.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Perry |first1=Matthew C. |last2=Geissler |first2=Paul H. |date=1980 |title=Incidence of Embedded Shot in Canvasbacks |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3808317 |journal=The Journal of Wildlife Management |volume=44 |issue=4 |pages=888–894 |doi=10.2307/3808317 |jstor=3808317 |issn=0022-541X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=O'Kelley |first1=Brian L. |last2=Bolen |first2=Eric G. |date=1985 |title=Hunting Pressure on Black-Bellied Whistling-Ducks as Indicated by Embedded Shot |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3782680 |journal=Wildlife Society Bulletin |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=515–517 |jstor=3782680 |issn=0091-7648}}</ref>


An X-ray study of ducks caught using nets in Australia found that between 6% and 19% of the ducks live with embedded shot pellets in their bodies.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Norman |first=Fi |date=1976 |title=The Incidence of Lead Shotgun Pellets in Waterfowl (Anatidae and Rallidae) Examined in South-Eastern Australia Between 1957 and 1973. |url=http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=WR9760061 |journal=Wildlife Research |language=en |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=61 |doi=10.1071/WR9760061 |issn=1035-3712}}</ref> This act of [[Cruelty to animals|animal cruelty]] has been mostly overlooked by government officials.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hampton |first1=Jordan O. |last2=Hyndman |first2=Timothy H. |date=2019 |title=Underaddressed animal-welfare issues in conservation |url=https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.13267 |journal=Conservation Biology |language=en |volume=33 |issue=4 |pages=803–811 |doi=10.1111/cobi.13267 |pmid=30549308 |bibcode=2019ConBi..33..803H |issn=0888-8892|hdl=11343/285334 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
⚫
==Flyways and hunting grounds==
[[Image:Waterfowlflywaysmap.png|thumb|[[Flyway]]s over the [[United States]].]]


⚫
==Flyways and hunting grounds==
[[Bird migration|Birds migrate]] between [[Breeding in the wild|breeding]] and [[winter]]ing grounds using [[flyway]]s. In [[North America]], the [[flyway]]s used by migratory waterfowl are divided into four broad geographical paths. Each flyway is characterized by a different composition of [[species]] and [[habitat]]. The [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service]] established the flyways to help with the management of [[Migration (ecology)|migratory]] [[bird]]s. They studied all migratory birds and established the [[Mississippi Flyway]], [[Atlantic Flyway]], [[Central Flyway|Mountain Flyway]], and [[Pacific Flyway]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-11 |title=North American Migration Flyways |url=https://www.birdnature.com/north-american-migration-flyways/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=www.birdnature.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In the [[Mississippi Flyway]] wildfowl hunting generally occurs on lakes, marshes, swamps, or rivers where ducks and geese land during their migration. [[Maize|Cornfields]] and [[Paddy field|rice paddies]] are also common hunting grounds, since geese and ducks often feed on the grain that remains in the field after harvest.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Tekiela |first=Stan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/on1014353260 |title=Bird migration: the incredible journey of North American birds |date=2018 |publisher=Adventure Publications |isbn=978-1-59193-814-9 |location=Cambridge, Minnesota |oclc=on1014353260}}</ref> The [[Atlantic Flyway]] is a migration route used by waterfowl flying from northern [[Quebec]] to [[Florida]] in the autumn and back in the springtime.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kathryn |date=2022-05-16 |title=Avian Superhighways: The Four Flyways of North America |url=https://abcbirds.org/blog/north-american-bird-flyways/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=American Bird Conservancy |language=en}}</ref> The [[habitat]]s of [[Anseriformes|waterfowl]] are [[marsh]] and [[wetland]]s, which are shrinking at alarming rates due to the drought and farmers draining wetland areas to plant [[crop]]s. [[Wetland conservation]] and restoration is critical for the continuance of waterfowl hunting.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Xu |first1=Ting |last2=Weng |first2=Baisha |last3=Yan |first3=Denghua |last4=Wang |first4=Kun |last5=Li |first5=Xiangnan |last6=Bi |first6=Wuxia |last7=Li |first7=Meng |last8=Cheng |first8=Xiangjun |last9=Liu |first9=Yinxue |date=2019|title=Wetlands of International Importance: Status, Threats, and Future Protection |journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |volume=16 |issue=10 |pages=1818 |doi=10.3390/ijerph16101818 |doi-access=free |issn=1661-7827 |pmc=6571829 |pmid=31121932}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/on1311088464 |title=Wings over water: the vital magic of North America's prairie wetlands |date=2022 |publisher=FlashPoint Books |isbn=978-1-954854-55-0 |editor-last=Keaton |editor-first=Michael |location=Seattle |oclc=on1311088464 |editor-last2=Ducks Unlimited |editor-last3=Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation |editor-last4=National Audubon Society |editor-last5=Wetlands America Trust}}</ref>
[[Bird migration|Birds migrate]] between [[Breeding in the wild|breeding]] and wintering grounds using [[flyway]]s. Each flyway has a different composition of species and habitat. In the [[Mississippi Flyway]] wildfowl hunting generally occurs on lakes, [[marsh]]es, [[swamp]]s, or rivers where ducks and geese land during their [[Migration (ecology)|migration]]. [[Maize|Cornfields]] and [[Paddy field|rice paddies]] are also common hunting grounds, since geese and ducks often feed on the grain that remains in the field after harvest.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tekiela |first=Stan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/on1014353260 |title=Bird migration: the incredible journey of North American birds |date=2018 |publisher=Adventure Publications |isbn=978-1-59193-814-9 |location=Cambridge, Minnesota |oclc=on1014353260}}</ref> The [[Atlantic Flyway]] is a migration route used by waterfowl flying from northern Quebec to Florida in the autumn and back in the springtime.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kathryn |date=16 May 2022 |title=Avian Superhighways: The Four Flyways of North America |url=https://abcbirds.org/blog/north-american-bird-flyways/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=American Bird Conservancy |language=en}}</ref> The [[habitat]]s of [[Anseriformes|waterfowl]] are [[marsh]] and [[wetland]]s, which are shrinking at alarming rates due to the drought and farmers draining wetland areas to plant crops. [[Wetland conservation]] and restoration is critical for the continuance of waterfowl hunting.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Xu |first1=Ting |last2=Weng |first2=Baisha |last3=Yan |first3=Denghua |last4=Wang |first4=Kun |last5=Li |first5=Xiangnan |last6=Bi |first6=Wuxia |last7=Li |first7=Meng |last8=Cheng |first8=Xiangjun |last9=Liu |first9=Yinxue |date=2019|title=Wetlands of International Importance: Status, Threats, and Future Protection |journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |volume=16 |issue=10 |pages=1818 |doi=10.3390/ijerph16101818 |doi-access=free |issn=1661-7827 |pmc=6571829 |pmid=31121932}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Mahoney |first1=Shane P. |title=The North American model of wildlife conservation |last2=Geist |first2=Valerius |date=2019 |publisher=Johns Hopkins university press |isbn=978-1-4214-3280-9 |series=Wildlife management and conservation |location=Baltimore, Maryland}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
Line 51: Line 52:


== Further reading ==
== Further reading ==
* [https://www.fws.gov/program/migratory-birds United States Fish and Wildlife Service]
* [https://www.fws.gov/story/2021-12/information-waterfowl-hunters U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service] – Information for Waterfowl Hunters
* [http://www.ducks.org/ Ducks Unlimited] – The Leader in Wetlands Conservation
* [http://www.ducks.org/ Ducks Unlimited] – The Leader in Wetlands Conservation
* [https://nadecoycollectors.org/ Midwest Decoy Collectors Association] – America’s Largest and Longest Standing Decoy Association
* [https://nadecoycollectors.org/ Midwest Decoy Collectors Association] – America's Largest and Longest Standing Decoy Association


{{North American Game}}
{{North American Game}}
{{Hunting topics}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Waterfowl Hunting}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waterfowl Hunting}}

Latest revision as of 18:08, 23 November 2024

"Wildfowler" redirects here. For the racehorse, see Wildfowler (horse).
See also: Hunting in Australia and Hunting and shooting in the United Kingdom

Waterfowl hunters at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

Waterfowl hunting is the practice of hunting aquatic birds such as ducks, geese and other waterfowls or shorebirds for sport and meat. Waterfowl are hunted in crop fields where they feed, or in areas with bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands, sloughs, or coasts.[1] There are around 3 million waterfowl hunters in the United States alone.[2]

History

[edit]

Prehistoric waterfowl hunting

[edit]

Wild waterfowl have been hunted for meat, down, and feathers worldwide since prehistoric times. Ducks, geese, and swans appear in European cave paintings from the last ice age. The mural in the ancient Egyptian tomb of Khnumhotep II shows a man in a hunting blind capturing swimming ducks in a trap.[3] Muscovy ducks were depicted in the art of the Moche culture of ancient Peru.[4]

Rise of modern waterfowl hunting

[edit]
Duck hunting outside Lanišče, by Franz Anton von Steinberg, 1759.

Modern waterfowl hunting began in the 17th century with the matchlock rifle. Later flintlock blunderbuss and percussion cap guns were used. Shotguns were loaded with black powder and lead shot through the muzzle until the late 19th century. The transition from muzzle to breechloading shotguns was largely driven by innovations made by gunmakers such as Joseph Manton, at which time wildfowling was extremely popular in England.[5] Both the shotgun choke and smokeless powder was invented in the late 19th century which allowed for longer range shooting with the shotgun. With the advent of punt guns hunters could kill dozens of birds with a single blast.[6]

European settlers in America hunted waterfowl with great zeal, as the supply of waterfowl seemed unlimited in the Atlantic coast. As more immigrants came to the Americas in the 19th century, the need for more food became greater. Market hunting started to take form, to supply the local population living along the East Coast with fresh ducks and geese. Live ducks were used as decoys to attract other waterfowl, something that today is considered animal cruelty. During the fall migrations, the skies were filled with waterfowl. Places such as Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, and Barnegat Bay were hunted extensively.[7] In the Chesapeake Bay in the 1930s one of the biggest threats to waterfowl was local poachers using flat boats with swivel cannons that killed entire flocks with one shot.[8][9]

Species of waterfowl hunted

[edit]

Many species of ducks and geese share the same habitat and have overlapping hunting seasons.[10] In North America a variety of ducks and geese are hunted, the most common being mallards, Canada goose, snow goose, canvasback, redhead, northern pintail, gadwall, ruddy duck, coots, common merganser and red-breasted merganser.[11] Also hunted are black duck, wood duck, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, bufflehead, northern shoveler, wigeon, and goldeneye. Sea ducks include long-tailed duck, eider, and scoter.[12][13]

Modern hunting techniques

[edit]
Duck hunting using decoys in the Chippewa National Forest, 1938.

The waterfowl hunting season is generally in the autumn and winter. Hunting seasons are set by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in the United States.[14] In the autumn, the ducks and geese have finished raising their young and are migrating to warmer areas to feed.[15] A hunting blind is used to conceal the hunter while duck decoys are used to attract birds. Using a good spread of decoys and calling, an experienced waterfowl hunter can successfully bag ducks or geese if waterfowl are flying that day.[16][17]

Boats can be used as a hunting blind, known as sneakbox. Most popular are flat-bottomed boats (usually johnboats) for increased stability. Kayaks or canoes are also used. Pursuing diving ducks in lakes, bays or sounds requires larger and more stable boats, as small boats have been known to capsize. Sinkboxes that conceal the hunter under the water surface are illegal.[15] Retriever dogs are used to retrieve the shot ducks. Most often hunters use a Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever or Chesapeake Bay Retriever to retrieve waterfowl. The retriever helps to retrieve birds, and hunts down crippled ducks that survived the shooting.[18]

Shotguns and ammunition

[edit]

Since the 16th century lead shot has been used in waterfowl hunting. In the late 1960s lead shot was identified as a major cause of lead poisoning in waterfowl, which often feed off the bottom of lakes and wetlands.[19][20] Shot pellets used for waterfowl must today be lead-free.[21][22] The 12-gauge shotgun is the most common and larger than a 10-gauge are prohibited. Shotguns that can hold more than three cartridges must be modified to reduce their magazine capacity. The pellet size used depends on which waterfowl species are being hunted, buckshot is illegal.[23]

When hunting with shotguns, there is always a risk of injuring ducks that survive but manage to escape, so called crippling losses. As ducks often fly in flocks, there is a potential for multiple ducks to be hit when hunters shoot into the flock to target an individual. The duck struck by the central cluster of the shot typically dies and falls to the ground. However, ducks on the periphery of the shot may still be hit by some pellets, which they survive but result in lifelong suffering. Shooting at too far a distance also increases the risk of causing injury due to the increased spread of shot pellets.[24]

Regulations and sportsmanship

[edit]

European hunters in the Middle Ages had a deep sense of justice for their prey and saw hunting as a challenge, where the animals deserved a fair chance. Hunters used fair methods to minimize unnecessary suffering for the prey. This code of honor required hunters to actively pursue and kill all injured animals to prevent their suffering. Targeting a sitting duck was considered dishonest.[25]

A shot mallard in distress gets help from the Ontario Provincial Police.
X-ray of the mallard showing shot pellets in her hip and lung injury.

To hunt waterfowl in Canada, one must first obtain a valid Canada Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit, as well as additional licenses at the provincial level.[26] Hunters in Canada and the United States are also required to complete safety courses before they can obtain a license.[27] In the United States, hunters must also purchase a Federal Duck Stamp. It is illegal to shoot ducks from a motor vehicle or a moving boat. Laying baits such as corn and the use of live ducks as decoys, are also illegal.[28]

It is considered good sportsmanship to make every possible attempt to retrieve injured or crippled waterfowl.[29] The losses resulting from hunters not retrieving their kills, referred to as crippling losses, likely range from 20% to 40% of all waterfowl shot in Canada and the United States.[30] The migratory bird harvest for the prairie provinces of Canada and the contiguous United States are estimated to 12 million birds annually.[31] Thus, each year, millions of ducks and geese are crippled or injured in North America due to hunting.[32] The probable fate for mutilated ducks is a prolonged, agonizing death, marked by relentless suffering and distress.[33][34]

An X-ray study of ducks caught using nets in Australia found that between 6% and 19% of the ducks live with embedded shot pellets in their bodies.[35] This act of animal cruelty has been mostly overlooked by government officials.[36]

Flyways and hunting grounds

[edit]

Birds migrate between breeding and wintering grounds using flyways. Each flyway has a different composition of species and habitat. In the Mississippi Flyway wildfowl hunting generally occurs on lakes, marshes, swamps, or rivers where ducks and geese land during their migration. Cornfields and rice paddies are also common hunting grounds, since geese and ducks often feed on the grain that remains in the field after harvest.[37] The Atlantic Flyway is a migration route used by waterfowl flying from northern Quebec to Florida in the autumn and back in the springtime.[38] The habitats of waterfowl are marsh and wetlands, which are shrinking at alarming rates due to the drought and farmers draining wetland areas to plant crops. Wetland conservation and restoration is critical for the continuance of waterfowl hunting.[39][40]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Petzal, David E. (1975). The experts' book of upland bird and waterfowl hunting. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-21884-3.
  2. ^ "National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation" (PDF). U.S. Department of the Interior. 2022.
  3. ^ David, Arlette (2014). "Hoopoes and Acacias: Decoding an Ancient Egyptian Funerary Scene". Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 73 (2): 235–252. doi:10.1086/677251. S2CID 164075553.
  4. ^ Baldassarre, Guy A.; Bolen, Eric G.; Saunders, D. Andrew (1994). Waterfowl Ecology and Management. New York: Wiley. pp. 3–6. ISBN 0-471-59770-8.
  5. ^ Payne-Gallwey, Ralph (1893). The Diary of Colonel Peter Hawker, 1802–1853; Volume 1. London: Longmans, Green, and Co. ISBN 978-1297914959.
  6. ^ Dizard, Jan E.; Stange, Mary Zeiss (2022). Hunting: a cultural history. The MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-54329-3.
  7. ^ Michener, James A. (1978). Chesapeake. New York, N.Y: Random House. ISBN 978-0-394-50079-9.
  8. ^ Dacy, George H. (1933). "Poaching Made Big Business by Ruthless Gangs of Killers". Popular Science. 123 (4): 30–31.
  9. ^ Walsh, Harry M. (2020). The outlaw gunner: a journey from hunting for survival to a call for waterfowl conservation (2 ed.). Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7643-6061-9.
  10. ^ "2024-2025 — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department". tpwd.texas.gov. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  11. ^ Earley, Chris (2020). Waterfowl of Eastern North America. Buffalo, New York; Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books. ISBN 978-0-2281-0247-2. OCLC 1117772207.
  12. ^ Le Master, Richard (1986). Waterfowl identification: the LeMaster method. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2982-6.
  13. ^ Baldassarre, Guy A. (2014). Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-1-4214-0751-7.
  14. ^ "How the Hunting Seasons and Limits are Set for Waterfowl | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service". www.fws.gov. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  15. ^ a b Airhart, Tom; Kent, Eddie; Raymer, Kent (2017). The ultimate guide to waterfowl hunting: tips, tactics, and techniques for ducks and geese. New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5107-1674-2.
  16. ^ Mackey, William J. (1987). American bird decoys. New York: Dutton. ISBN 978-0-525-24500-1.
  17. ^ "Waterfowl Hunting and Baiting" (PDF). U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 2004.
  18. ^ Smith, Steve, ed. (2002). Encyclopedia of North American sporting dogs. Minocqua, Wis: Willow Creek Press. ISBN 978-1-57223-501-4.
  19. ^ Sanderson, Glen C.; Bellrose, Frank C. (1986). "A Review of the Problem of Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl". Special Publication. Champaign, Illinois. Archived from the original on 22 April 1999.
  20. ^ Scheuhammer, A. M.; Norris, S. L. (1996). "The ecotoxicology of lead shot and lead fishing weights". Ecotoxicology. 5 (5): 279–295. Bibcode:1996Ecotx...5..279S. doi:10.1007/BF00119051. PMID 24193869. S2CID 40092400.
  21. ^ "Nontoxic Shot Regulations For Hunting Waterfowl and Coots in the U.S. | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service". www.fws.gov. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  22. ^ Branch, Legislative Services (10 June 2024). "Consolidated federal laws of Canada, Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022". lois-laws.justice.gc.ca. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Shotgun | Hunting, Home Defense & Self-Protection | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 11 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  24. ^ Russell, Geoff (1994). "Shotgun Wounding Characteristics". Maple Tech: Maple in Mathematics and the Sciences. December: 17–23.
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Further reading

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