The “Real” Duck Season.

Early season Sunrise over a New Jersey salt marsh.

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Here in New Jersey our waterfowl season starts the third week of October. We have one early week to chase ducks before the season closes for over a month. This early season is generally spent chasing wood ducks or blue wing teal that have overstayed their welcome.

Bag limits are rarely filled. Warm temperatures, mosquitoes and a host of other activities generally take precedence.

This year was no exception. I hunted a couple days and I bagged less than a handful of birds.

However, That was OK. Just being afield with shotgun in hand sitting in the sneakbox is always worth it.

A view of the decoys over the stern of a Schellinger low boat

However once Thanksgiving nears things tend to get serious.

I'm talking about what most New Jersey duck gunners refer to as the "Real" duck season.

When the first cold winds of November start to blow, waterfowl to our north, in New York and Canada, start to get itchy wings.

With any bit of luck, the colder weather pushes Mallards, Pintails and Divers into New Jersey's multitude of waterways. The state is technically a peninsula, surrounded by water on three sides. Our feathered friends take full advantage of that geography.

Also those that migrate based on daylight length, like Green-Wing Teal, begin to show up like clockwork. They start arriving in New Jersey en mass at the same time.

Black Duck and Pintail Decoys waiting on the flight.

New Jersey has some of the best waterfowling on the East Coast and dare I say, for those in the know, the country.

I'm nearing my 30th year waterfowl hunting, and I'm hoping to have many more.

As I reflect over these years one thing remains the same. The excitement and anticipation of what the upcoming day will hold. For me duck hunting is much like fishing. You're heading out for a certain quarry but you never know what May show up.

Case and point. I remember one particular Thanksgiving morning. My hunting partner and myself had a group of guys from church out for ducks. Most were Deer hunters, not dyed in the wool waterfowlers. There were five of them lined up in the marsh. It was more of a social outing than a serious duck trip. They crouched behind makeshift blinds in the grass. We were deep in the marsh, hunting a tidal gut, far from and big water. It would probably be the only day they would duck hunt that year.

Shortly after sunrise a pair of Canvasbacks came ripping up the tiny channel! I’ll never forget the sounds their wings made slicing the air. My jaw nearly hit the mud. Never before or since have I seen them in this area.

It was like a scene from the movie “The Patriot” a skirmish battle line! Bang bang bang, bang bang bang, Bang bang bang, bang bang bang, bang bang bang! Suffice to stay those pair of Cans ran the gauntlet without a feather ever being scratched! My friend and I just looked at each other and laughed. That's the kind of things you experience in waterfowling.

Later that morning the guys redeemed themselves though when a flock of Teal came barreling into the Decoys. They shot well on those. After the volley was over, bunches of little legs were kicking on the water, the glimmer of bands on nearly all of them! Four of the five collected their first bands on that flock of Green Wing's.

Those are the types of days you can't plan.

A beautiful Bag of Green Wing Teal.

A More typical hunt would be just myself and a friend, plus my retriever Bree. Sitting in the Sneakbox watching the blackness of night transform into the first gray light of dawn.

Soon the sky is awash with pink and orange.

Wings whistle, teal peep, black ducks quack. Even the common is so very enthralling. This is what the "Real" duck season is all about.

Unmistakable Speculums of Jersey Black Ducks

I am very blessed to live in a place that offers everything from open water sea duck hunting, to big Bay divers, to woodies tearing through the trees. You can pick your poison.

I probably have less seasons in front of me than I do behind. One thing I have come to appreciate over the years is the companionship, Tradition, and wonderful meals that duck hunting provide me and my family.

This essay is a tip of my hat to all of my fellow waterfowlers to make the most of this season. I encourage you to find time even in our modern busy schedules to connect with the natural world. You won't regret it. Make a plan, get out there and enjoy the real duck season.

Thanks for reading, Jode

Belle with a Teal.