Ten Commandments For Safe, Ethical Duck Hunting

Conscientious, safety-minded waterfowlers follow these rules.

JEFFERSON CITY-Safety, ethics and common courtesy go a long way toward ensuring a positive duck hunting experience. The Missouri Department of Conservation offers the following tips for happy hunting.

When hunting with others, establish safe zones of fire and shoot only when ducks are in your zone.

Don’t mix guns and alcohol.

Do not shoot at ducks that are too far away for a sure, clean kill. Ducks are in range when you can see their eyes or feet.

Do not overload your boat. More hunters die of hypothermia and drowning than from gunshots.

Set a good example for less-experienced hunters. Examples last a lifetime, and poor behavior reflects badly on all hunters.

Do not set up directly downwind of other hunters. This interferes with their hunt and is a serious violation of hunting etiquette.

Practice firearms and boating safety. Wear a life preserver.

Know and obey hunting regulations. They are designed to preserve your safety and the waterfowl resource.

Respect the resource. Retrieve all downed ducks.

Identify your target before shooting.

For more about duck hunting, visit www.ducks.org/Hunting/HuntingTips/
1587/HuntingTipsLanding.html. 

-Jim Low-