May/June 2025On the Cover: Tom Martineau photographed, Nash, a male black Labrador retriever, in action during a late-season hunt in central Oklahoma.

May/June 2025

Features

From Puppy to Finished Retriever

It’s a long journey, but this road map will help you reach your destination

by Eric Keszler
A Letter to My Dogs

For all they mean to us, in the marsh and in the home, we owe our retrievers a few words of gratitude

Bellrose

A look back at one of the giants of waterfowl conservation

2025 DU Member Photo Contest

This year’s winning images celebrate the wonders of wetlands and our waterfowling traditions

by Chris Jennings

Mixed Bag

The Ultimate Resource for Today's Waterfowlers

Shotgunning: Stacked Loads

These versatile and affordable shotgun shells can be an effective option for many waterfowlers

by Phil Bourjaily
Waterfowler's Journal: Nowhere to Hide

Tips for staying concealed in areas with little to no cover

by Will Brantley
Retrievers: All-Around Gundogs

If you hunt waterfowl and upland birds, one of the versatile breeds might be the perfect choice for you

by Tom Davis
Gearing Up: High-Performance Retriever Gear

The following products will help your dog reach his full potential in the field

by Chris Jennings
Dad's Duck Dinner

This decades-old recipe converted a future chef from waterfowl skeptic to waterfowl connoisseur

Cupped Wings: Buried Treasure

There is no limit to what a hunter will do to recover a lost duck call

by T. Edward Nickens

The Mission

Filling the Skies with Waterfowl Today, Tomorrow, and Forever

Understanding Waterfowl: Fair-Weather Friends

A closer look at the ecology and population status of blue-winged teal

Conservation: Making a Difference for Mottled Ducks

DU and its partners are working to secure a brighter future for this unique, nonmigratory waterfowl species

Field Reports: Spring Habitat Outlook

An overview of wetland conditions in key waterfowl breeding and migration areas

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