In the last two weeks I’ve hunted ducks in Arkansas (three times) and Louisiana (twice), and the action at the two spots was far from fast and furious. 

On January 7th, I scored a much-coveted invite to the Bayou Club in Louisiana, presided over by Mr. Tabasco, Paul McIlhenny. I’d heard plenty of tales about this fabled club, and I must say the place lived up to the hype—from the food to the clubhouse to the guides to the bourbon shot and singing of God Bless America at 5 AM. I also lucked into some decent action in the blind with a mixed bag of teal, pintails, gadwalls, and more. But not every member had the same fortune.

Earlier in the week I returned from northeast Arkansas, where the action was brutally slow. My group hunted flooded rice fields, but the ducks just weren’t flying. Still, I was hunting with my two older brothers, three of my nephews, and a good friend. And watching my youngest nephew shoot his first duck (a pintail) was enough to make the trip a smashing success.

In both states the guides blamed the warm weather for causing one of the toughest duck seasons in recent memory. As our guide in Arkansas said, “We were shooting teal in December. That should tell you something is wrong.”

I’m curious how duck season is treating the rest of you. Covered up with birds or empty skies?