Column and Photographs By DNR Warden Ben Mott/Waushara County
This article appeared in the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s March 2026 eNewsletter.
Waterfowl Hunting, Technology, Safety: It’s All Related When The Weather Pitches Windy, Stormy Curve Balls
Warden Cody Adams’ Armistice Day Blizzard column in your January newsletter was a compelling history and tragic story demonstrating how it is critical to do safety preparation for and during outdoor activities.
One thing you can never ignore is the weather. It’ll change in a flash as Warden Adams’s history lesson so painfully illustrated to those of us who treasure our time on the water, enjoying our hunts.
His column stayed with me, and I decided to build upon his excellent piece with my column.
In A Duck Blind Since Age 3
Waterfowl hunting has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I’ve been in a duck blind since I was 3. I turned my first group of geese in the fog at age 6. I spent many mornings on the Manitowoc River near Collins Marsh with my family.
I went from a blue snowsuit, oversized “old school” camo stocking hat, and bright yellow Big Bird binoculars to where I am today. Dressed in camo from head to toe and taking my son into the marsh to teach him things I learned along the way.
There were days of curling up against the blind with a steaming thermos of hot chocolate, wondering when we were going to go home because I was so cold. Or hearing my dad or uncle say: “Where did that wind come from?” or “It didn’t seem this bad at the house.” One thing that never crossed my mind was the weather.
Weather Demands Your Attention, Apps Help
As Warden Adams wrote in January, technology is readily available. With how quickly the weather can and does change in a day, we need to be on top of it to stay safe.
Wind direction at sunrise is something waterfowl hunters regularly check. But what we may not always think of is a changing wind and wind speed.
It can be minus18 degrees with a windchill of minus 30 degrees, or a sunny October day starting at 60 and dropping to 45 by nightfall, with a big wind out of the north. The lesson is we need to be aware of the changes coming throughout the day for our safety and for our hunting party.
Weather apps come in all shapes and sizes. They can be free or paid, weather-specific, or an add-on. You can choose automatic alerts or alarms, or a refresh every time you open them.
What app you use is up to you. Make sure you know how to use it and understand the information it is telling you.
Are You Strong Enough To Fight Winds?
For me, the most important part is being aware of wind and temperature changes throughout the day. I check the hourly forecast first, then a wind map if they have one. This is the information that will let me know where and how I should be hunting, and how to ensure my safety on the way out and back.
In my days of patrolling Lake Michigan, I’ve seen the lake go from glass in the morning to 6-foot waves in what felt like an instant. Days like those require attention to potential changes in the forecast, and it’s where folks get themselves in trouble by not keeping current on the weather.
How do I use the weather updates if I’m hunting the Manitowoc River? If in a skiff with a dog, decoys, and gear – I ask myself if I am strong enough to push against that wind and the current with the boat loaded? If I’m not, I’d better reconsider my hunting plan.
Am I alone, or is my son with me? Your hunting companions can and should change your game plan.
From small water to big and everything in between, the weather and the changes in the weather throughout the day aren’t only important for how the birds might respond in their migration – it’s important for your safety.
Stay safe and stay tuned to the weather. You know the old saying: “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” Then, redo your hunting plan.
