If there’s one thing duck hunters know, it’s that no two seasons are ever the same. Weather up north, water levels here at home, and migration patterns all play their part in how things shake out. With that being said, I’ve got a good feeling about what’s ahead for us in West Tennessee this season.
Last year we battled some tough stretches — low water and then quickly high water in the bottoms, warm spells that kept birds sitting north longer than we liked, and a lot of hunters working hard for every greenhead. But those cycles don’t last forever. Realistic reports already show good breeding numbers coming out of the prairie pothole region, and if we get the right mix of cold fronts and timely rains, we should see steady pushes of ducks all season long.
Here in the Forked Deer bottoms and across the flyway, I expect more consistent hunting from mid-December on, with the kind of late-season action we all dream about. Mallards, gadwalls, and pintails should show up in good numbers, and I think we’ll see better teal opportunities too with more birds using the abundance of millet now.
At WillowTail, we’re keeping the blinds brushed, the decoys fresh, and the coffee hot. No matter how the migration unfolds, one thing’s for sure: we’ll be right there in the timber, doing what we love — calling ducks in close and making memories that last a lifetime.
Here’s to cold mornings, big flights, and a 2025-26 season we won’t soon forget.