Waterfowl hunts can take place in locations that are cold, wet, remote and often dark. They come with unique risks that you must recognize and prepare for to avoid tragedy. Six waterfowlers died while hunting last season, and that's six too many.

Look over our list of 7 safety tips and techniques just for waterfowlers. If you employ a boat in any way while hunting, use the new risk assessment tool to help you decrease those risks you can control. Let's get everyone home safe.

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New for 2018-2019:

• The daily bag limit for pintails increased to 2. 
• Waterfowl rules and regulations can be found in the Outdoor Annual.
• All waterfowl hunts at the J. D. Murphree WMA are now by Annual Public Hunting Permit (APH) only.

To hunt waterfowl, you need:

1. Hunting license
2. Proof of Hunter Education
3. HIP certification
4. Federal Duck Stamp
5. Migratory Game Bird Endorsement

Check the migratory game bird regulations in the Outdoor Annual for all the details on bag limits, species limits and other regulations.

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Whooping cranes migrate into Texas in fall, then share habitat with geese and sandhill cranes through winter. They're endangered and federally protected, so if you shoot a whooper, or any other non-game birds, serious fines and jail times can apply. 

Watch this video and learn to recognize differences between whoopers and game birds. Then read over the checklist for whooper identification. 

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How you can easily avoid the 3 most common citations issued to waterfowl hunters:

1. No proof of Hunter Ed – If you misplace your certification card, print a replacement. Then keep the proof in your pocket.
2. No migratory bird endorsement – Get this and a HIP certification when you buy your license or add them later.
3. No shotgun plug – A shotgun's total capacity can't exceed 3 shells. If your gun can hold more, it must be plugged with a 1-piece filler which can't be removed without dismantling the gun.

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Invasive species like giant salvinia can quickly grow to cover vast expanses of fresh water, blocking access to prime waterfowl hunting spots.

If you hunt by boat you must clean, drain and dry it. ANY gear that's been in the water can also carry invasive species and must go through the clean, drain, dry process. This includes decoys, waders and marsh sleds. 

Watch this short video about how to clean, drain and dry every time you travel from lake to lake. Protect the lakes you love, fight back against giant salvinia – clean,drain and dry your boat and gear each time you travel from lake to lake.

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