Arkansas Duck Hunting Blog

Population estimates for many goose groups are encouraging this year, particularly for light geese and the Atlantic Population of Canada geese. Coupled with average to above-average spring productivity reported by banding crews across much of the Arctic, the data points to good prospects for hunters this season

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) today released its 2025 Waterfowl Population Status Report. The estimate for total breeding ducks in the traditional survey area was 34 million, unchanged from the 2024 estimate, and 4% below the long-term average (since 1955). Mallards were estimated at 6.6 million, similar to 2024, and 17% below the long-term average.

Deep in the heart of Arkansas, Cupped Wings Guide Service has become more than a world-class destination for duck hunting—it's a community that's empowering women and children through the ancient tradition of waterfowl hunting with it's unique dedication to inclusivity and education, welcoming families and individuals, women and young hunters in particular, to take up the sport with confidence and reverence for nature.

For decades, those in and around the Arkansas duck hunting industry have heard or quipped that duck season has a $1 million-a-day impact on the state’s economy. The origin of that impact is beyond dated as it’s never been adjusted for inflation. On top of that, the growth of goose hunting hasn’t been included nor has the rising prices of land, leases, gear and the like.

The Dakotas were extremely dry this year and we expect to see poor waterfowl production overall from the region. The summer of 2024 saw below average precipitation throughout the region and snowfall was below average during the winter of 2024-2025.

At Cupped Wings Guide Service, a trusted name among Arkansas duck guides, the Beretta A400 shotgun has become more than just a piece of equipment, it’s their ultimate waterfowl hunting companion. Renowned for its reliability, innovative features, and superior performance, the Beretta A400 stands out as the shotgun of choice for navigating the challenging conditions of Arkansas wetlands and timber.

Arkansas has long been a premier destination for duck hunting enthusiasts, boasting rich wetlands and abundant waterfowl populations. As we step into the 2024-2025 Arkansas Waterfowl Season, the landscape of duck hunting in the state is evolving, influenced by shifting regulations, environmental changes, and emerging trends in hunting gear and techniques.

The number of ducks in the fall flight in any given year relies primarily on the conditions and occurrences the birds encounter on the breeding grounds. The science clearly shows that nest success, hen summer survival, duckling survival and other events of the three-month breeding season are 10 times more important to duck population growth or decline as anything that happens during the other nine months of the year — including hunting season.

Captured near Delta Beach, Manitoba, in August 2023, a hen mallard has wowed researchers with one of the most extensive migrations ever recorded for the species using a geolocator. Recovered in Arkansas in January 2025, the duck traversed thousands of miles.

The Mississippi River Basin Initiative is one project that is making a huge difference. It is focused on enhancing surface water irrigation and minimizing soil and nutrient runoff by building fields with berms around them, drained by pipes with flashboard risers to hold water for ducks.