HUNT WRITE UP BY Robert Watson

I started my waterfowl journey in Wyoming, not a top destination. When most people think of Wyoming they think of the big game but in the right areas waterfowl is abundant. Wyoming has a unique ecosystem as far as hunting goes as you can be hunting mountain lakes one day and large fields the next. Wyoming has many different species but most local waterfowlers target mallards and canada geese in fields as the arid climate really limits the water hunting especially with the wyoming waterways not being public below high-water line unless on big lakes or rivers passing through public land. You can experience stepping on caucus walking to and from the blind to dodging rattlesnakes to hit your favorite wood duck spots along with being submerged in 20 degree water when you lose you footing in the ice filled waterways. The whistling wings of goldeneye usually fills the air when the slush and ice flows down the rivers and on any given day you never know what you might be taking home with your 6 duck limit. Most people go home with their 5 mallards and a bonus ducks on a good day with some bonus geese or their limit of 5 geese killed over dozens of decoys in a frozen field. Many hunters here jump shoot the many cattle ponds that dot the state when they target ducks. Finally if you're lucky you may draw a sandhill crane permit and harvest one of those big dinos and even if you aren't lucky you can purchase a general crane tag and shoot 3 of those in the eastern part of the state! Wyoming, land of cowboys and rodeos, has plenty to offer in terms of waterfowl hunting and those who do it will be left with memories to last a lifetime.