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Holiday season meets duck season, and we’re leaning into both. We invited our buddy Pete to swap honest hunt stories, share the gear that actually earns pack space, and weigh in on the unspoken rules that keep a crowded marsh from melting down. From car-camping at refuge lots to slow-burn grassland days and a rice pit that exposed bad habits, we connect the dots between smart motion, better setups, and the mindset that turns “average” conditions into steady birds.

We build a practical gift list for waterfowlers—personalized tumblers that don’t quit, modern blind bags that cut clutter, and motion that matters. If you’ve never seen the Mojo Mallard Machine boil a pond, consider this your sign. We also break down decoy spacing and family groups, the jerk string vs. splasher debate, and why a dependable wading shell beats trend gear when the sky opens up. On guns, we compare the feel of a 20-gauge semi that’s deadly in the tules to a 12-gauge workhorse that shines on wind days and goose flybys. Thinking ahead? We also talk mud motors, club buy-ins, and the comfort that comes with a place to cook breakfast and talk birds.

Then we go there: sky busting, crowding blinds after setup, late arrivals squeezing in, overloaded hides, and loud dog handling. We call it fair but firm—leave buffers, shoot ethical windows, train at home, and earn your spot without wrecking someone else’s morning. Finally, we thread the needle on holiday balance. A dawn hunt can become a family tradition if you’re dependable with time and generous with the wild game platter—tell them what it is after they’ve had a bite.

If you love straight talk, field-tested gear picks, and the kind of etiquette that keeps the marsh friendly, you’re in the right place. Follow For the Fowlers on Instagram, subscribe wherever you listen, and drop a review to help more waterfowlers find the show. What belongs on your naughty-or-nice list this season?