| Duck hunting is one of the most popular hunting | | | | and duck call. The essence of duck hunting is |
| sports in the world. It is as much a social calling as | | | | based around the trickery of using the decoy and |
| it is a hunt, in fact, representing a whole set of | | | | the duck call in tandem to lure the ducks out and |
| cultural standards and etiquette rules that many | | | | into the air towards the decoy. After this takes |
| people do not even consider. It has a whole | | | | place, the ducks are in open range for the hunt |
| culture all its own, from a proper dress code to | | | | and the firing begins. These hunts take place |
| duck hunting dogs and assistants. The world of | | | | around rivers, streams, lakes and any other |
| duck hunting is ripe with cultural significance, but is | | | | bodies of water where ducks can be found. |
| also has a dark side and represents a less than | | | | There are many aspects that stand in contrast to |
| desirable aspect of human nature. Regardless of | | | | duck hunting, of course. Most waterfowl |
| the point of view, there is something to be | | | | conservation experts agree that the hunting of |
| learned about duck hunting that may shed some | | | | any type of waterfowl does little to help any |
| light on either side of the ethical quandary. | | | | situation. In fact, most marsh and wetland areas |
| Duck hunting is mainly a sporting activity around | | | | are shrinking at tremendous rates, giving rise the |
| the world now, as commercial duck hunting has | | | | the criticism that duck hunting effectively |
| since been banned in most of the developed | | | | diminishes an already diminishing habitat. There are |
| countries. Duck hunting is, in fact, as old as time | | | | several organizations that constantly spar with |
| itself. There are early indications that ducks and | | | | duck hunters over this reality. |
| geese were somehow hunted during the Ice Age. | | | | One organization is the popular Ducks Unlimited. |
| Cave drawings indicate that duck hunting was a | | | | Ducks Unlimited is an international organization that |
| sound practice early on in human existence, giving | | | | stands as the leader in non-profit marshland |
| way to ducks and swans appearing on cave | | | | protection and the protection of waterfowl. Ducks |
| paintings in Ice Age Europe. There is also evidence | | | | Unlimited sometimes works with hunters to |
| of duck hunting in Egypt, as a mural on the tomb | | | | protect the marshlands and protect the hunter's |
| of Khum-Hotpe displays a man capturing ducks in | | | | way of life. The main goal of Ducks Unlimited is |
| a stream. Ducks were also likely hunted by early | | | | the conservation of localized habitats where ducks |
| man in the Americas, as early Peruvian art | | | | can be found, enabling hunters to continue |
| indicates. | | | | protected and logical hunts of ducks and enabling |
| With this international history, duck hunting enjoys | | | | the survival of more ducks by creating better |
| a popularity that spreads around the world. It is | | | | places for them to live. |
| especially popular in North America, where the | | | | Still, some hunters ignore this philosophy and have |
| largest number of localized ducks can be located. | | | | no interest in any protection of habitats. They, |
| Most ducks use the Mississippi River as a | | | | instead, pillage the duck areas and hunt ducks that |
| migratory guide, so many duck hunts take place | | | | should not be hunted. Duck hunting remains a |
| along the river to use it as a guide for finding | | | | controversial sport because of this aspect, |
| ducks. Arkansas is a major hotbed of duck | | | | unfortunately, and will continue to have a dark |
| hunting, with Stuttgart being considered the "duck | | | | side as long as hunters remain blissfully ignorant as |
| hunting capital of the world". | | | | to the realities of organizations such as Ducks |
| Duck hunting is often considered popular because | | | | Unlimited. Without the cooperation of hunters and |
| of its simplicity. The tools of the trade are | | | | marshland protectors, duck hunts may be a thing |
| simplistic enough, from a decoy set to a shotgun | | | | of the past. |