JohnPollmann

John Pollmann

WF360 Central Flyway Migration Editor

John Pollmann is a freelance writer from Dell Rapids, South Dakota, who is an avid waterfowler and conservationist.

All articles by John Pollmann

Image for Five Duck Calls to Master this Off-Season
Five Duck Calls to Master this Off-Season

These five must‑know duck calls, paired with a little practice, could help boost your success this fall

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On the Road with Your Retriever

Tips for keeping your retriever safe when you hit the road

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Transporting Your Shotgun

Tips on how to protect your gun from damage, keep it functioning reliably, and help prevent accidents

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How to Hide an A-Frame Like a Pro

Discover three tips on how to hide your A-frame blind

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Hunting Big Water

Late-season tips for finding success on large lakes and rivers

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Answering the Call

Jeff Heidelbauer has given a lifetime of service to DU’s conservation mission and inspired many others to follow the same path

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Starting Strong

Here’s how to hit the ground running when opening day arrives

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The Right Gear

There’s no shortage of waterfowl equipment on the market—here’s how to choose gear that is best suited to the way you hunt

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Practice As You’ll Play

Make your retriever training as close to the real thing as possible

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Carve Your Own Decoys

One of the coolest ways to elevate your hunting experience is to spend a morning hunting over decoys that you made with your own hands

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Become a Better Waterfowl Caller During the Off-Season

Improve your calling and bring more ducks and geese to your spread this fall with these four tips

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Hunting the Duck Factory

An expert guide to waterfowling the Prairie Pothole Region from opening day to freeze-up

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On the Road Again

Simple tips for planning a waterfowling trip

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Banding Together

Information provided by hunters who report the harvest of banded birds is crucial to waterfowl conservation and management

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Moving-Water Magic

Expert advice on how to hunt late-season ducks and geese on rivers, creeks, and streams

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Winter Retriever Safety

Tips on how to keep your retriever safe and healthy in challenging late-season conditions

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Days You Can Sleep In

Here's a look at three waterfowl hunting situations when it pays to sleep in—a little, at least

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Minding the Migration

Stay one step ahead of the birds this season

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Getting Permission to Hunt

Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just starting out, these five tips can help you gain access to hunt private land

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Five Opening-Day Secrets

These expert strategies will help you get your season started with a bang

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The Magic of Migration

There is perhaps no greater spectacle than the grand passage of waterfowl

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Classic Spreads

Five tried-and-true decoy setups for ducks and geese

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Waterfowl Scouting 101

A crash course in how to find the best hunting spots for the upcoming season

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Off-Season Gear Storage

Enhance your gear's performance and longevity by cleaning, maintaining, and storing it properly during the off-season

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Tune Up Your Shooting

Tips to help you make the most of your time at the range this summer

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Off-Season To-Do List

Get ready for opening day by crossing these tasks off your list

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Training Days

Keep your retriever healthy with expert tips on exercise, heat stress, and first aid for a successful hunting season

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Image for A Look Beyond Labs: Alternative Waterfowl Hunting Dog Breeds
A Look Beyond Labs: Alternative Waterfowl Hunting Dog Breeds

Labrador retrievers are wonderful duck dogs, yet there are several other breeds that also fit the bill for waterfowlers

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Early-Season Destinations: Four Prairie Waterfowling Hotspots

Plan your next waterfowling adventure

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Exploring the Duck Factory

A closer look at the Prairie Pothole Region, North America's most important waterfowl breeding area

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Practice Like You Play

Five tips to making an off-season plan

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Goose Calling 101

Five tips for beginning callers

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Backyard Basics

How to maintain a solid retriever training regimen in small spaces

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Snow Season

Five tips for hunting light geese this spring

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Camouflaging Portable Blinds

Here’s how to conceal mobile blinds so you’ll stay hidden from the watchful eyes of waterfowl in a variety of habitats

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Stay Safe Out There!

When late-season weather turns dangerous, pay heed to this life-saving advice

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5 Late-Season Waterfowling Secrets

Ducks and geese act differently in January than they do in October. These expert tips will help you improve your hunting success by adapting to changes in waterfowl behavior and habitat conditions

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Dollars for Ducks

At DU events, members just like you come together to have fun and raise money for conservation

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Youth Movement

Special hunts for kids can help kick-start a love of waterfowling

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10 Ways to Improve Your Terrible Hunting Content

In an age where everyone is a content creator, learn how to make yours stand out

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The Future of CRP

Building support for this important agricultural conservation program is a top DU priority in the next Farm Bill

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Geese Over Water

Expand your goose-hunting opportunities with these special-specific decoy strategies for lakes, flooded fields, marshes, and ponds

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California Dreaming

A trip to California’s Sacramento Valley delivers a bucket-list hunt for pintails, specklebellies, and mallards in a waterfowler’s paradise

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Five Public Land Hotspots in the Central Flyway for 2021

Among the public hunting opportunities found throughout the Central Flyway are those that bear the mark of Ducks Unlimited volunteers and fellow supporters of wetlands conservation.

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Five Central Flyway Public Land Hotspots for 2020

Find ducks and geese on public land in the Central Flyway

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Five Tips for Shooting Bluewings

Bag more bluewings this September

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Going Mobile

Today's lightweight, portable blinds offer concealment and mobility in the field and on the water

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Best of the Flyways: Central Flyway

From the Canadian Arctic to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, the diverse landscapes of the Central Flyway provide a variety of options for hunters

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Five 2019 Public Hunting Hotspots in the Central Flyway

Your public-land waterfowling adventure begins here

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What Do the Annual Duck Numbers Actually Mean?

Behind the Numbers: Here’s what you need to know about the annual Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey

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Saskatchewan – A Dream Destination for Waterfowl Hunters

Diversity of species makes this prairie province an all-around waterfowling paradise

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5 Things to Consider When Deciding How to Hunt Spring Snows

Two experts weigh in on how to decide between freelancing or hiring a guide for spring snows

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Manitoba’s Unique Waterfowl Hunting Opportunities are Calling

Three fantastic hunts to help plan your next Canadian waterfowling adventure

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Image for 5 Central Flyway Public Waterfowl Hunting Destinations for 2017-2018
5 Central Flyway Public Waterfowl Hunting Destinations for 2017-2018

Five potential public-land hotspots for waterfowling

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5 Extreme North American Waterfowl Hunts

If a waterfowling adventure is what you're after, here's your list

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Image for Five Great Public Hunting Destinations in the Central Flyway
Five Great Public Hunting Destinations in the Central Flyway

2016 public waterfowling destinations

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Image for 5 Shooting Tips for Spring Snows
5 Shooting Tips for Spring Snows

Follow this expert advice to bag more light geese this season

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Strategies for Spring Snows

Helpful tips for hunting light geese on their northward migration

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Image for Tips For Staying Concealed
Tips For Staying Concealed

5 tips on how to stay hidden and put more birds in your decoys

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