A Favorite Load for Late-Season Ducks

Although the weather may be a bit frigid and the birds a bit more educated, the hunting can be truly amazing. I did a hunt in Missouri in mid-December - the hunting was excellent. The most challenging aspect was dressing to stay warm, but even with the cold it was absolutely worth the effort!

First, it’s an incredible sight to see hundreds of mallards circling into your decoys at one time.  To turn a flock of birds like that and to experience them coming into your spread is definitely worth fighting the bitter cold temps.

Next, the birds are truly beautiful this time of year and if you’re looking to mount one, this is the perfect time.  Remember to take care of your bird ensuring you don’t mess up their feathers before getting it to the taxidermist and wipe any excess blood away.

Lastly, you will be hunting educated birds so make your shots count! One thing I would highly suggest is to ensure you’re shooting Winchester Blind Side. A couple things you’ll notice that are super beneficial are the diamond cut wad and hex shot. The diamond cut wad gives you more consistent patterns and bigger kill zones. The hex shot allows for higher packing density and more trauma with deeper wound channels.

So overall there are many awesome late-season hunts to take part in, but don’t forget the fun of waterfowl once your deer season is complete!