Hunting waterfowl is  expensive, hard-work and frequently a miserable endeavor. I have been addicted to this “sport” for most of my life. I totally forget about the process when I am sitting in the blind or laying in the field with the sky full of motion and sound.
Ducks and geese are part of the history and fabric of American hunting. Hunting is a integral part of the Cheyenne bottoms.  Hunters were the first resource and habitat conservationists. Part of the license money and part of the funds spent on ammunition is directed toward conservation. It is great to have birders and tourists on the Scenic Byway and in the marsh with the same goals in mind. I appreciate the non- hunters buying a license and duck stamp to participate in habitat preservation.  The Bottoms is unique in that hunters and birders use the same area and there is no conflict. That speaks well of both groups. The duck stamp will get you into several national wildlife areas without paying another fee.
Waterfowl hunting became a productive endeavor when it was discovered that these birds could be tricked into thinking that decoys woven from reeds and sticks were fellow birds in a safe place. It was much more efficient than trying to sneak up and kill or catch them. That started the decoy business over a hundred years ago. Early carvers created accurate replicas of these birds.  These old decoys are now expensive art objects.  Thomas Chambers on Lake St. Clair,Elmer Crowell in Massachusetts and others  created realistic decoys that  are stunning  in color and detail.  Our wood carvers in Great Bend create decoys that compare very well to the old masters-- go to their next show & be prepared to be amazed!!
Commercial decoys are now plastic shells that float or sit. There are motorized decoys that flap or rotate the wings.
I hunted sea ducks off the coast of Mass. where the decoys were on long lines with anchors at each end to prevent drift with the tide. Our boat was tied to the middle of the decoy string and we were in a beautiful spot about 100 yards off Plymouth Rock.  It felt like a moment in time and I missed shooting some ducks because I was sitting and thinking about the gear,equipment and decoys that I was using in contrast to that of the early pilgrims. We made clean shots on individual ducks-- they used blunderbuss weapons to shoot flocks of birds for sustenance. Our boat, motor, clothing and weapons made our hunt a singular comfortable event when compared to my mental image of their equipment and effort.
My parting thought-- if woven or wooden block decoys( we still call them “blocks”) were so efficient why are we buying all these expensive plastic things?  I think we might have been “decoyed”.
Happy holidays to each of you!!!
Doc