Waterfowl hunting
Hunt Bums Annual Research

The State ofWaterfowl Hunting

The first community-sourced study of waterfowl hunting in North America. Whether you crushed limits or barely got out, the data matters.

◴ ~10 min 🔒 Anonymous

This Is Bigger Than a Survey

Every year, decisions get made that affect your season. Bag limits. Season dates. Public land access. Gear pricing. Conservation funding. Those decisions are based on data. And right now, the data doesn't include your voice.

Federal agencies track how many ducks get shot. They don't track what it actually costs you to get out there. They don't know if you're getting priced out of the sport. They don't know if crowding on public land is pushing hunters away. They don't know what's keeping the next generation from showing up.

We're building that picture. The more hunters who complete this survey, the louder the data speaks. When brands see what you actually spend, they build better products at better prices. When wildlife agencies see where access is failing, they can fight for more of it. When conservation groups see who's leaving the sport and why, they can actually do something about it.

This isn't about us. It's about giving waterfowl hunters a dataset that works for them. The full results will be published free. No paywall. No gatekeeping. Just the truth about what waterfowl hunting looks like right now, told by the people who actually do it.

Had a slow season? Barely got out? That response matters just as much as a 50-day season with a full freezer. The honest picture is the useful one.

10 minutes. Anonymous. Let's go.

Section 1 of 7 — Who You Are

Let's start with the basics. These help us understand who's taking the survey and let us compare our data against federal benchmarks. "Last season" means the 2025-26 waterfowl season (including early teal, regular duck/goose, and late seasons in your area).

What state or province do you primarily hunt waterfowl in?
If you hunt multiple, pick where you spent the most time last season.
Please select your primary hunting state or province.
How many seasons have you been waterfowl hunting?
Please select your experience level.
What is your age?
Please select your age range.
Gender (Optional)
How did you get into waterfowl hunting?
Please select how you got into waterfowl hunting.
Section 2 of 7 — Your Season
How many total days did you hunt waterfowl last season?
Count any day you went out, even if you didn't harvest anything. Include teal, duck, and goose seasons.
Please select how many days you hunted.
Approximately how many ducks did you harvest last season?
Your best estimate is fine. Many hunters report zero-harvest days — that data matters too.
Please estimate your duck harvest.
Approximately how many geese did you harvest last season?
Please estimate your goose harvest.
Which species did you target most? (Select up to 3)
Please select 1-3 species you targeted most.
Section 3 of 7 — Access & Location
Where did you hunt waterfowl last season? (Select all that apply)
Please select at least one location type.
Which was your PRIMARY hunting location type last season?
Where you spent the most days.
Please select your primary location type.
How far do you typically travel one-way to hunt waterfowl?
Please select your typical travel distance.
How do you typically hunt?
Please select how you typically hunt.
Section 4 of 7 — Your Setup

Quick questions about your setup in the blind. What you shoot, what you wear, and how you hunt.

Do you hunt with a retriever?
Please select an option.
What shotgun brand(s) did you use last season? (Select all)
Please select at least one shotgun brand.
What type of shotgun do you primarily use for waterfowl?
Please select your shotgun type.
What waterfowl clothing/wader brand(s) do you wear? (Select all)
Please select at least one clothing/wader brand.
What is your primary hunting method? (Select all that apply)
Please select at least one hunting method.
What type of shotshells do you primarily shoot for waterfowl?
Please select your primary ammo type.
Section 5 of 7 — Spending

Your best estimates are fine here. Don't overthink it.

Approximately how much did you spend last season in each category?
Waterfowl-specific spending only. Select the closest range for each.
Licenses, stamps & permits
Ammunition
Decoys & rigging
Calls & accessories
Clothing & waders
Blind / boat / layout
Travel (gas, lodging, food)
Club dues / lease
Guide / outfitter fees
Dog (food, vet, training)
Section 6 of 7 — The Experience
Rate your agreement with each statement about last season:
Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly Agree
Overall, I had a good waterfowl season
I had adequate access to quality hunting areas
Crowding on public land was a problem for me
I saw good numbers of birds in my area
Regulations (dates, bag limits) were reasonable
The cost of waterfowl hunting is becoming a barrier
I'd recommend waterfowl hunting to a friend
What are your biggest challenges as a waterfowl hunter? (Pick up to 3)
Please select 1-3 challenges.
Section 7 of 7 — Looking Ahead
How do you consume waterfowl hunting content? (Select all)
Please select at least one option.
Are you a member of any waterfowl conservation organization?
Please select at least one option.
Compared to 5 years ago, are you hunting waterfowl more, less, or about the same?
Please select an option.
Household income range (Optional)
This helps us understand spending patterns relative to income. Completely optional.
Is there one brand you'd recommend to every waterfowl hunter? (Optional)
Any category — shotgun, waders, decoys, calls, clothing, anything.
In one sentence, what would make waterfowl hunting better for you? (Optional)
0 / 300
✓

You're In. Thank You.

Your response is locked in. The full State of Waterfowl Hunting white paper will be published free at huntbums.com. Drop your email below to get notified when it drops.

No spam. Just a heads up when the report is live.

Help us reach every flyway

The more responses we get, the stronger the data. Share this with your crew, your duck camp group chat, your hunting buddies. Every response matters.

Tap to copy — paste in your group chat or story

I just took the Hunt Bums "State of Waterfowl Hunting" survey — the first community-sourced study of waterfowl hunting in North America. Takes 10 min. They need responses from all 4 flyways. Take it here: huntbums.com/the-state-of-waterfowl-hunting-survey

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