Wesley Littlefield
Duck depression is a serious matter that affects thousands of waterfowl hunters every single year. I’ve dedicated my life to discovering a cure. Unfortunately, the cure has eluded me; only duck hunting has proven effective at keeping duck depression at bay. However, there are five things I do to help mask the symptoms and live a “normal life” until duck season returns.
#5 Clean Your Gear
I started with cleaning your hunting gear, because it’s most likely to make you miss duck hunting, but it’s also the thing that has to happen. Otherwise, you risk destroying your gear for next season and not being able to hunt, which would only drive you deeper into duck depression.
I take the time I have during the colder months, when I can no longer hunt waterfowl, to deep-clean my shotgun, waders, bags, blinds, decoys, truck, and trailer. I also repair and replace gear that’s broken or missing, so I don’t have to scramble to find it the next season.
#4 Scout New Spots
Another tactic I use to ease the symptoms of duck depression is to scout new areas. I’m always on the lookout for ducks and geese, whether it’s duck season or not. However, you have to be careful while scouting in the late winter and spring because waterfowl use different areas during various times of the year.
During the spring, I see many ducks and geese on water bodies that I don’t see them on the rest of the year. They primarily use these spots to rest, breed, or nest. So my spring scouting trips aren’t always to find a new hunting spot, but rather to observe and gain a deeper understanding of duck behavior in the area. There have been times when I’ve found a new place to hunt, but that doesn’t always happen.
#3 Go Fishing
I often combine my love of fishing with duck scouting trips. I’ve found new places to hunt while fishing, but I also find it therapeutic. You know, crying when losing a giant fish at the edge of the boat, snapping a rod in half when you miss the hookset, and screaming at the top of your lungs when you get skunked is all very therapeutic, at least that’s what the therapist on TikTok told me. While fishing doesn’t bring me as much joy as duck hunting, kayak fishing is a very close second.
I love it because I can fish year-round, so it’s like taking a small dose of ibuprofen to help ease the pain of duck depression every single day. Trying to trick an animal with a pea-sized brain into biting a fake fish is like trying to trick a flock of ducks into landing next to a bunch of plastic duckies. Fishing is also something you can do while having a great time with your buddies, so really, fishing and duck hunting aren’t that different, which is why it works well for a short-term remedy for duck depression.
#2 Go Turkey Hunting
I understand fishing isn’t everyone's cup of (sweet) tea, so for those that prefer to hunt, you always have the three-ish months of turkey season if you’re able to travel the country to turkey hunt. Otherwise, you’ll likely only have about a month of turkey hunting. This is why I’m not the biggest fan of turkey hunting; the season is too short. I understand and agree with why turkey season ends quickly, but it just doesn’t scratch the hunting itch long enough to be a permanent solution for duck depression. But again, I have yet to discover the cure, only short-term fixes.
I love sitting in the woods listening to the Jakes and Toms gobble and once again trying to deceive a bird into getting too close to the end of my shotgun barrel. Turkey hunting can be truly magical and nearly as exciting as waterfowl hunting. I know many hardcore turkey hunters who prefer it over duck hunting, but I just think they’re trying to mask the true pain of the duck depression that they feel.
#1 Reminisce About Your Hunts
The best duck depression medicine I’ve discovered is reminiscing about old hunts with my buddies. Nothing beats sitting around a campfire, telling old hunting stories, even if they’re a bit exaggerated. You can relive that moment that made you fall in love with duck hunting and that feeling you pursue every year by telling your duck hunting tales. This is one reason why I love filming my hunts. I get to go back and watch exactly what happened and how everything went down. It helps take the edge off for a while.
Parting Shots: How to Overcome Duck Depression
Sadly, I believe the only people who have a natural immunity to duck depression are those who have never duck hunted. Overcoming duck depression is a near-impossible task, but by implementing the tips above, I know you can make it to next season!
