Top 5 Waterfowl Hunting 'Sleeper States'
Ryan Barnes for SPLIT REED
We all know about certain states being the hot destinations for waterfowl. Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, and others. You don’t have to be a seasoned vet to know which states are the “go-to’s” for killing ducks and geese. But what some people may not realize is there are still some states that haven’t been recognized yet as top waterfowling destinations.
So, here are the top 5 “Sleeper States” that haven’t been recognized yet as top waterfowling destinations, but still seem to be just as good of a destination as anywhere else in the US for waterfowl hunting.
5. Nevada
With birds migrating down from the breeding grounds in Alberta and British Columbia, Nevada has become a waterfowler’s secret sweet spot for teal, pintail, and mallards. While most people think of Nevada as a place to go out and lose your money on a 21 table, you can now think of Nevada as a place to go lose your money duck hunting. With 7 WMA’s in the state, the premier destinations being Carson Lake, Steptoe, and Mason Valley, Nevada is a great option for someone trying to get out and hunt on their own, without the help of a guide.
Nevada is also one of a few states that allows you to hunt swans. As of the 2019 waterfowl season, you could purchase a permit, allowing you to harvest 2 tundra swans. A bucket list event for all waterfowlers in the game.
With a daily out of state license costing $24.00 and an annual license costing $156.00, Nevada makes it very affordable to go and enjoy the untapped potential that state holds.
4. Colorado
Colorado is the epitome of a sleeper state. When people think of Colorado they think of high country mule deer, big elk, and other big game. What they don’t realize is that the honker hunting in Colorado is some of the best in the country. With extremely large amounts of light and dark geese making their way through the state, hunters have no problem cleaning up on the geese. But don’t think for a second that the duck hunting isn’t any good. With multiple major rivers running through the state, the duck hunting gets really hot late in the season when ducks are looking for open water. Not to mention the sloughs and potholes around the rivers that seem to fill up with ducks prior to the cold weather freezing the water.
Colorado is home to multiple WMA’s, which allows for people to get out and try their hand at Colorado public land waterfowl hunting. However, there are multiple guide services in Colorado that are willing to help you enjoy your time putting big honkers on the dirt, or pillow-casing big migrating mallards.
Out of state licensing in 2019 cost $61.75 with an additional $6.75 for each day you were planning to hunt, allowing you to up the cost however much you wanted depending on how long you wanted to stay and enjoy your time hunting ducks and geese in Colorado.
3. New York
Falling into our number 3 spot is New York. While some may argue that New York isn’t a sleeper state, I should probably remind you that there’s still a good portion of people who think that New York City is the entirety of the actual state. However, for people who have been to New York, you would know that outside of places like NYC, and Staten Island, there’s amazing farmland, beautiful rivers and ponds, and amazing waterfowl hunting to be had.
With wood ducks, black ducks, mallards, and on most of the bigger water all your common diver ducks, New York has proved to be a waterfowler’s dream for duck hunting. However, what some people don’t realize is that in all of that green farmland, there’s some prime goose hunting real estate as well. With over 70,000 geese harvested last year, New York has proven to be a hotbed for honkers, along with ducks.
Licenses cost $100 for an annual out of state hunting license, which allows you to get out and enjoy all the waterfowling that New York has to offer.
2. New Jersey
Coming in at number two we have New Jersey. New Jersey might not be a “Sleeper State” to those that live on the East Coast, but some still might not be able to identify New Jersey on a map. With miles upon miles of shorelines to hunt anything from scoter to brant, New Jersey could prove to be a waterfowler’s paradise. However, don’t think that it’s just sea ducks out there. Inland you can find yourself some of the best black duck shooting in the US. The snow goose hunting can be lights out there as well. While it won’t be anything like the spring migration, you can still find yourself shooting into wads of snow geese, while Canada geese are the most commonly harvested goose there in New Jersey.
The hunting can consist of anything from bufflehead to teal, and for just $135.50 for an annual license, or $36.50 for a 2-day license, New Jersey will more than pay for itself with the great hunting it’s proved to have.
1. Rhode Island
Coming in at our number one spot is a state that most people forget even exists (which makes it the ultimate sleeper state!) Rhode Island. With just over 1,000,000 people in the state of Rhode Island, it isn’t any mystery that hunting pressure would be minimal, which adds to the appeal. With under 2,000 licenses sold the past 2 years, hunters can easily find themselves some quality hunting opportunities (however we don’t recommend hunting sea ducks or going offshore without prior experience). Geese are a hot commodity for those that do hunt in the Ocean State, along with eiders, scoters, and other sea ducks. Rhode Island has a daily bag limit of 2 Canada geese, which then switches to 5 geese during the late season, (February 1-15), 25 light geese, and 2 brant. Not to mention the 15 goose bag limit during their September early season. With over 6 geese per every 1 hunter in the state, it should definitely be on each waterfowler’s top destinations.
Agriculture is one of Rhode Island’s top industries. With over 69,000 acres (keep in mind, this is the smallest state in the country) of farmland, there’s plenty of chances to find a good feed and set up in a field. Or if that doesn’t work, you can always find a way to hunt off the shore, or in the multiple different lakes and potholes around the state carrying anything from blackducks to buffleheads.
License prices are even more appealing, with a season-long out of state license costing only $45, or a 3-day license costing $16. Rhode Island is almost never a part of the waterfowling conversation, but yet presents some of the best waterfowling opportunities in the country. Hence why it tops our list of sleeper states.
Sleeper states can always be hit and miss, there’s a reason they aren’t quite at the top of anyone’s radar screen yet, but we hope that you take the time to get out to some of these states and enjoy the amazing waterfowl hunting that they offer. No matter where you go it gives you the chance to see new places, have new adventures, and most importantly- hunt!
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