Eight weeks from duck season? Here is exactly what to do each week to be fully prepared.
8 Weeks Out: Licensing
Confirm your state game licence is current. Complete or renew waterfowl identification endorsement if required. Book any public land permits — these fill quickly.
7 Weeks Out: Gear Audit
Inspect every item. Check waders for pinholes — fill with air and submerge in a bathtub. Inspect decoys, shotgun, and ammunition.
6 Weeks Out: Scouting
Drive roads around your hunting area at dawn and dusk. Note which wetlands hold birds. Patterns of use are consistent even if numbers shift.
5 Weeks Out: Practise
Book a clay target session. Duck shooting involves passing and crossing shots at birds moving faster than expected. Practice translates directly to cleaner kills.
4 Weeks Out: Dog Work
Restart retrieving work — water retrieves, blind retrieves, and steadiness to shot. A dog that needs reminding the week before opening is a problem on the morning.
3 Weeks Out: Decoy Setup
Set your spread in the backyard. Untangle all lines, replace cracked weighted keels, repaint faded decoys.
2 Weeks Out: Final Gear Purchase
Any replacement gear should be ordered now. Do not leave it to the last week.
1 Week Out: Final Prep
Confirm locations, access permissions, weather. Load the vehicle the night before — opening morning starts at 3:30am.
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