Delta Waterfowl’s Spring Issue Digs Into Pintail’s Dramatic Shift in Breeding Range
If you're a member of The Duck Hunters Organization™, the next issue of Delta Waterfowl magazine is headed your way!
The Spring 2026 issue of Delta Waterfowl magazine tackles some of the most pressing topics in waterfowl hunting today — federal land access, the shifting breeding range of prairie pintails, and Delta’s innovative work to produce more ducks. It starts with a look at one of the most important, and least understood, regulatory processes affecting where and how you can hunt on federal land.
The Hunt-Fish Rule governs hunting and fishing opportunities across every federal refuge in the country, and every year it's subject to formal review and approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Award-winning journalist Paul Wait breaks down how that process works and takes you inside Delta Waterfowl's ongoing efforts to expand waterfowl hunting access on federal land.
Pintails have been a hot topic among waterfowl hunters from coast to coast, especially after daily bag limits expanded to three birds for the 2025-2026 season. But why have their breeding grounds shifted so dramatically from the traditional prairies to Alaska and northern Canada? Dr. Todd Arnold, Delta’s senior scientist, has spent the past decade working alongside waterfowl biologists to examine the causes, and shares what we’ve learned.
Join Delta Waterfowl today to ensure you receive access to this must-read issue! Call (888) 987-3695 or visit us online.
Even before ducklings hatch on the prairie, they're facing perilous odds across much of the breeding grounds. But once they do, they're a sight all their own. In "The Fight for Flight," explore the challenges ducklings face from egg to wing, featuring stunning photos of broods of multiple species from renowned photographer Mark Atwater.
No spring breeding season is complete without a conversation about duck egg-eating predators. In "High-Tech Tools Make More Ducks," associate editor Christy Sweigart explores the technology modernizing Delta's Predator Management program, how those tools maximize efficiency across the prairie pothole region to produce more ducks, and how Delta is working to train more trappers as the program continues to expand.
Of course, all those ducks must end up somewhere come fall. Field editor Brad Fenson heads north in “Canada’s Sippy Pond Sloughs,” where he reveals tools and tactics for the small watering holes that are easy to overlook on the Canadian prairie, but are often goldmines for hunters who understand dabbling duck habits.
Looking for something to fill the offseason void in the meantime? The article, “8 Reasons to Travel to Des Moines This Summer,” lays out exactly why Delta’s annual Duck Hunters Expo should be on your radar.
Finally, don't miss Last Pass columnist Nate Corley's "Mysterious Mornings," where he reflects on the unknowns of waterfowling that remain beautifully unresolved in a world of supercomputers and constant information.
As always, the Spring Issue is packed with informative and entertaining columns including Duck Dogs, Shotgunning, Strategies, and Waterfowl Chef to help you get the most from your waterfowl season.
The only way to receive Delta Waterfowl magazine is to join The Duck Hunters Organization™. If you are a member, thank you for your support. The Spring Issue is on the way!
To join Delta Waterfowl, call (888) 987-3695 or visit us online.