Just what gear will I have to have this year to make my water fowl season a success is not based solely upon any one persons advice but is a conglomerate of advice from every other hunter that we know along with what the experts are saying with a little bit of what worked last year thrown in for good measure.  Let’s get down to the nuts and bolts of what we will need this year.

First of all lets start out with a good duck and goose call. Boy did we pick a hard one right off of the bat. With all of the great calls on the market today, trying to pick just one duck or goose call can be frustrating for even the most expert callers and most of those guys own more than one call and as many as several from as many different call companies. Most all of the better known call makers sell great calls but it is up to you to pick out one or two that suit both your calling ability and the type of water fowl hunting that you will be doing. Two Duck calls that I recommend are the Tall Timber single reed hand tuned Buck Gardner call and the double reed Cajun Squealer by Haydel Game Calls. The Gardner single reed works well in open water and field hunting while allowing you to blow softly when the need arises, the Haydel Cajun Squealer can be used both for open water and field calling and timber hunting. The Buck Gardner call comes in Acrylic and the Haydel call comes both in Coca bola or coca-acrilic. Both calls blow well when wet or dry and I have found that having both with me on my duck hunts have allowed me to use two very different calls in the same location. The Real Deal Double reed Duck call by Mike McLemore is also a good call to consider if you are a timber hunter. Goose calls should also be on the list of items as most states have Duck and Goose seasons that run concurrently. One of the best Goose calls on the shelve today is the Tim Grounds Short reed Goose call. What really matters most of all is that you find a call that you can learn to become effective with but remember practice is the key in water fowl calling.

Next on my list of gear for water fowl season is a great pair of chest waders and once again there are several companies that make good waders. My choice are neoprem 5 millimeter  with 1200 grams of Thensulate by Hodgeman. If you hunt in areas of the country that has a warmer climate then you may want to consider three millimeter neopream waders with less grams of Thinsulate.

Decoys are always on my list of gear for yearly purchase and Avery’s Greenhead Gear decoys are some of the best that I have used in recent years. These rugged decoys are very good in both color and price, allowing me the advantage of purchasing several dozen decoys without breaking the bank so to speak.  Spinning wing decoys have come on the scene in the past few years and the MM2 by Fowl Quest is the best one that I have tested. This decoy has wings that imitate a landing duck, Using only three double a batteries to turn on and off every two seconds with an automatic timer, this decoy will last for up to six hours on one set of batteries all the while looking more like a duck on the water than the real thing. A must on my list of gear for the upcoming year.

Small things seem to get lost in the shuffle when thinking of water fowl season and a good flashlight is one piece of equipment that no hunter should leave behind.

If it’s a boat and motor that is on your waterfowl list this season then let me suggest a Triton aluminum boat with a Mercury motor. Triton has in recent years came to the fore front of the boating industries and their aluminum line of boats is one of the best in the industry and comes in both camo and olive drab along with their new spray in liner, Triton is turning out some the best, most durable water fowling boats in America. The Mercury line of small outboard boat motors have become tried and true friends to the water fowling community over the years and the lineup for this year is among the best ever made by that great Brunswick Company. Whether it’s a four horse power or a fifty horse power that suits your needs, Mercury is has the motor for you waiting at your nearest dealer.

Last but not least is shot shells. I had the chance to shoot Remington Heavy Shot this past season and was overly impressed with the performance of these great shot shells for both ducks and geese over decoys as well as pass shooting. If I have learned one thing about non toxic shot shells is that the cheapest is not always the best route to go and Remington Heavy Shot, although a little higher in price than some of the other non toxic shot shells on the market, the hard hitting performance well made up the difference.

We were particularly impressed with the Aviator 3D spinning wing decoy. Along with the spinning wings, this decoys rocks back and forth and sways side to side. In addition, it’ll run all day on 3 AA batteries. As most waterfowlers have discovered, ducks eventually get leery of any decoy, spinning or not. It’s hard to hunt without one or two, but the Aviator 3D is the new generation of motorized decoys with motion that the ducks haven’t seen 2000 times before they get to your spread. The added motion really does seem to make a remarkable difference. One of our field testers, Don Becker of O’Neill Nebraska, recently fired up his Aviator 3D, left some friends in the blind and went to put the ATV up. On the way back, he heard shotguns blazing. His buddies couldn’t say enough great things about the effectiveness of the Aviator. As soon as Don turned it on, the ducks decended on the Aviator. While the Aviator 3D isn’t cheap, everyone should have at least one in their spread, especially during late season when the ducks get decoy shy.

Hunt Fish Cook

Gifted inventors know there’s always a better mousetrap. Despite all the gadgets and magic marvels on the market, Arnold saw the need for a more lifelike decoy that was simple to use and easy to transport.

He put his idea in motion seven years ago using a trial and error approach. At first it was just for his own use or a few buddies who hunted the likes of Camden bottoms where competition and hunting pressure were factors.

Nowadays Arnold has a lot more hunting buddies and invitations from across the country, thanks to the success of his Mallard Master series of motion decoys that help hunters fool even the most finicky fowl.

His quest to enhance the decoy spread and become a more successful duck hunter has transformed into Quest Outdoor Products. He now manufactures feeding and flying style models that not only gives the wing motion that attracts ducks from great distances but adds another dimension to the appeal with splashing water.

Most hunters know realistic movement in the spread will greatly enhance even the best camouflaged blind, location, and calling expert. The addition of Mallard Master series decoys have given even the novice hunter a new level of success and that, says Arnold, makes him feel good about his products.

“With the Mallard Master Pro I came up with something that both splashed water and offered wing movement. Over time I changed it from a constant motion to one with a two-second delay,” said Arnold, who builds his decoys at his shop in Camden under the watchful eye of his black Labrador “Gunner”.

“There were other motion ducks on the market such as the popular Robo and MoJo but they were on a stick up in the air and stayed in one position. My feeder and swimmer ducks move around, splash, make ripples, have no wires to mess with and that’s why we came up with the slogan “as real as it gets”, said Arnold.

“Ducks seemed to have gotten conditioned to the rotating wing style decoys but I think the Mallard Master series mimics feeding and swimming ducks so good that they never seem to loose their appeal.”

Powered by AA size batteries, Arnold’s decoys are winging their way into the marketplace too. Dealers across the country are calling him for units and he grins with satisfaction but says it kind of cuts into his own personal hunting time.

Since making the first decoy his line has expanded and this year Quest Outdoors, which is the parent company name of the Mallard Master series, offers both dove and crow decoys as well. And, a new goose decoy is in the making.

This year he introduced the “Aviator 3-D” model which can be used in a dry field setup or over water as the decoy rotates its position while wings are flapping, unlike others that stay facing one direction.

“I’m a hunter first and a decoy maker second,” says Arnold. “And, all the folks who work here are hunters too and we test every unit before it leaves the building. We don’t want a hunter out deep in the marsh to have a problem with his decoy so we make sure it works right before shipping.”

And what about other species? It appears the Mallard Master series will attract pretty much any species of ducks ranging from divers to puddle ducks as it’s the realistic motion and splashing that lures them into gunning range. From darting greenwing teal to the window shopping mentality of pesky pintails, these decoys sure seem to get the attention of curious ducks at a distance.

Waterfowlers from coast to coast know that wind and weather will always be key ingredients in the recipe for successful days. And, while hunters cannot control the weather, they do have the ability to enhance their decoy spread with the use of movement and motion, giving a more lifelike appeal to a stagnant day.

Backwater potholes such as swamps, cattails, and green timber where wind doesn’t reach are excellent places to use the decoys too.

“These decoys—from the feeders to the flappers—will help both the veteran and entry level waterfowler. If hunters have a bad outing the first few times out, odds are they won’t go back. I’d like to think our products help folks have a good time in the outdoors,” says Arnold, when asked about the overall reason behind it all.

Like most duck hunters with leaky boots, muddy trucks, stubborn starting outboards, and the desire for cold north winds, Mark Arnold has taken his desire to be a better duck hunter to another level.

With the use of technology and several sunrises of duck watching, he has created a product that stands out above the rest in a crowded field of competition. Come to think of it, that’s just where he got the idea in the first place.

Article by Steve McAdams

All for one thing.  The attempt to imitate ripples created by swimming ducks.  Well, we now have better ways.  Motion Decoys have made this easy.  Some motion decoys have carried it a step father.  Aside from ripples, some motion decoys have added other attributes that can be called “extreme“.  Let us take a look at the best.

Quest Outdoors makes some of the most realistic action available in decoys today.  Here are some of the attributes:

Mallard Master Pro: intermittent wing flash, swimming motion and splashing water
Mallard Master Feedn’ Frenzy:  feeding action, splashing water and kicking feet motion

Aviator 3D:  intermittent wing flash, full-body motion and gear to include water ripple.

These decoys provide the complete “duck attracting package” that will make you successful in the field. Don’t get you buddy wet to kill a duck.  Call Quest Outdoors.  Your buddies best friend.

Small stick-on weights can be strategically placed on the wings to make them stop in the correct position.  The second choice is to purchase a decoy that does this for you.  The Aviator 3D and the Mallard Master Pro come with balanced wings.  Problem solved.  They also come with the timer.  Second problem solved.  Combining the two, they create the most realistic motion available on the market today. The only thing you have to do is place them in your decoy spread close to the water.

If you want the complete duck killing package, get the Aviator 3D or the Mallard Master Pro.
Another note worthy fact is that when the wings stop and the black side is up, they disappear in your spread.  Approaching ducks loose site of the motion, not allowing them to continuously focus on the spinner as they descend.  A very deadly combination.
Be as real as you can.  These decoys are “As Real As It Gets”.

Serious waterfowlers, it is time to prepare!  Will you be ready?  For the latest in serious motion decoys, go to www.mallardmasterpro.com and see the latest products available by Quest Outdoors.  Check out the New Mallard Master Mini which provides lots of swimming action along with wing flash and water motion that attracts all breeds of waterfowl.  Of course you probably know about the Mallard Master Pro, Feedn’ Frenzy and the Aviator 3D which have been helping serious waterfowlers across the country for years.  For any questions about these products go to the forum section and submit your inquiries.  We will promptly reply.

According to a conservationist from Ducks Unlimited, lack of habitat and food sources are the 2 major reasons for smaller duck populations. Keeping that in mind, these last 8 years since the widespread use of spinning wing decoys began, the total duck population has been on a solid steady rise. With the help of organizations like Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl, these same 8 years have shown the same steady increase in available duck habitat.

Well guys, I was taught that 2+2=4. It only makes sense to me that our conservation efforts be mainly focused on habitat. As hunters, our license fees, taxes and personal donations should make sure that happens.

I say “Let us keep making donations, paying our license fees and taxes, harvest our limit of ducks and go back to bed”! Ok, I’m off my soapbox now.

Saturday morning, November 1st, was the opener for the Central Zone in Missouri. I ventured out with “Locked Wings and Labs” Guide Service. I report to you that they were holding a record population of ducks for this early in the season. The guys from “Locked Wings and Labs” hosted Buck Gardner along with myself. They showed us one of the best openers that I have been on in recent years. Combining the motion decoys from “Quest Outdoors”, the Champion of Champions calling of Buck Gardner and the set-up provided by Hunter Johnson and the guys, the ducks didn‘t stand a chance. Buck and I were thrilled for the invitation to accompany these guys on this hunt. Special thanks to Hunter Johnson, Robert Watson, Jason Patterson and especially Chaos the wonder dog who diligently retrieved every kill.

If you guys are looking for a hunt of a lifetime, contact Hunter Johnson at “Locked Wings and Labs”. You will find their link on the left side of this webpage. Check out the accommodations they have available. They book on a first come first serve basis. I urge you to reserve your space now.
A special note: the Missouri Waterfowl license is one of the best values in the country. Their one day permit is only eleven dollars.

Thanks guys, I will see you again soon.

My friends and I have field tested each design across the country and into Canada. What we discovered is that they are highly effective at attracting all species of waterfowl. Tried and proven to produce results, these products are now available to you.

Quest Outdoors is not a mass manufacturing company. Like a fine call maker, every decoy is hand tuned for maximum performance by waterfowlers that know and use the product. Quest Outdoors is truely a company that can say “By waterfowlers for waterfowlers’.

If you are a serious waterfowler, you owe it to yourself to try the serious motion that you will get from a product by Quest Outdoors.