Read press releases, articles, & more on DU's conservation efforts.
Explore DU's video and podcast library
Expert tips, stunning photography, & more: Subscribe to DU Magazine today.
Experience wildlife in action through DU's photo gallery.
Get the latest news and updates from DU delivered straight to you.
Access exclusive features, tips, & more by downloading DU's App.
You make the difference! Thank you for being committed to changing the world - one acre at a time.
Make a difference for wetlands and waterfowl by becoming a DU member today.
Give back and leave a lasting legacy by volunteering with DU.
Celebrate the life of someone special with a memorial gift to DU.
T. Edward Nickens is a North Carolina-based freelance writer who has a passion for the outdoors and conservation. You can learn more about him by visiting his Instagram @enickens
On a waterfowling trip to Utah’s famous inland sea, the author gets a firsthand look at the crisis facing one of the most important wetland ecosystems in the arid West
Read Article
Making a duck call by hand is a unique combination of art and science
There’s a duck hole out there with your name on it
With a record-low breeding population surveyed last spring, pintails just missed the threshold that would have required a closed season. Following is an update on the status of these highly admired birds
Powerful images inspire memories of past hunts and influence the shape of things to come
On Maine's Merrymeeting Bay, boat-builder and decoy-carver Frank Middleton has immersed himself in the customs and traditions that define this unique region
You know that getting skunked is part of the game, but that doesn't make it any easier
A photographic tribute to the fall migration
After a two-year pause, the dedicated men and women who survey North America’s most important waterfowl breeding grounds were back in the field this spring
This classic ID guide, first published nearly six decades ago, is still a go-to resource for waterfowlers
Whether ramshackle or regal, duck blinds represent the hopes and dreams of their builders
With apologies to Thomas Wolfe, you can go home again
This thrilling moment is a float hunter’s ultimate rush
The lull before the final act serves as a time to prepare
The author reflects on the simple pleasure of plucking a fat duck for the table
The chaos of duck season can force hunters into unusual tactics
A sense of calm and belonging amidst the chaos of a Saskatchewan goose field
This beautiful, acrobatic species is the symbol of early fall for many hunters
These aerial acrobats can serve up humble pie for shotgunners
The author details his unique early-season reminder that ducks are on the way
The author self-evaluates and revamps his approach for the final weeks of duck season
Patience is a virtue that waterfowlers have learned to accept
Some smells are difficult to forget
Enjoy a Christmas break from the duck blind
Four DU biologists, who are also hard-core waterfowlers, share their proven tactics for a successful day in the marsh
The author's retriever senses that change is in the air
The many “firsts” of the season are soon upon us
The author revels in the beginning of hunting season
On a freelance hunting adventure in North Dakota, a father and son find themselves at the intersection of waterfowling dreams and reality
Even the slightest shifts of wind are noticeable to those who are paying attention
The author’s end of summer isn’t based on the calendar
Fall road trips begin as a glimmer of hope in the author's mind
When you're all by yourself in the duck woods, every moment is yours to treasure
The author’s Labrador retriever is living her best life, but change is coming
Even in these uncertain times, we can all look forward to a glorious fall
Those with an obsession with waterfowl are easy to identify
Across the breeding grounds, ducks and geese are getting down to the business of procreation
Sheltering in place gives waterfowlers time to sort through gear and relive memories from last season
Share this photo
