Nathan Ratchford

There is simply nothing like the grouse woods in the fall. The fire of color, the explosion from thick cover, and the taste—ah, the taste—ruffed grouse rivals that of all game birds. But bringing the king of game birds to the table is no easy task. Ruffed grouse have spent thousands of years...

Ducks Unlimited recently released a roundup of the 2024 results from state agency breeding waterfowl surveys. These data provide insights into the status of regional waterfowl habitats and populations in the Pacific and Mississippi Flyways. While these state-led surveys are often overshadowed by the...

One shot rang out, causing a temporary disruption to the symphony of the marsh. Its echo was preceded by a plop in the open water, spraying the nearby ice rafts in its proclamation. In the red morning light, Massachusetts hunter Mike Wec thought he had shot a hen mallard. But it wasn’t until he...