First Annual Open House

The first MS Delta Ducks Open House this past Saturday, October 20, was a success. We had a combination of repeat groups (hunted with us in previous seasons and will again this year), new groups (hunting with us for the first time this season), and potential groups (looking over the hunting areas and meeting members of the staff and other groups). An Avery marsh stool and a dozen decoys were given away as door prizes. Barton Ramsey, who will be hunting with us for the third season, gave two retriever demonstrations. Barton is affiliated with Southaven Kennels of Eupora. He offered some excellent tips on tuning up our retrievers for the upcoming season as well as advice on how to hunt them from the blinds that will be available to the season hunters.

We have added some additional sled blinds this season and shored up our traditional field blinds. Last season we added burlap to our blinds and experimented with raffia which is equivalent to Avery Killer Weed. This season we moved away from the raffia and have added more substantial materials to the infrastructure. Five completed blinds were already in the fields for the tours. Senior field staffer, Garrett Holland, along with returning staffer, Britt Goodman, and new staffer, Dylan Peden, were available to meet the hunters and conduct tours of the hunting areas. The habitat complex areas were beginning to accumulate ducks which, at this point, consist primarily of gadwall, northern shovelers and teal joined by a number of local mallards. The hunt groups this season will have either Garrett or Britt as their primary staff member with Dylan floating among the groups. I will also take an active role in the field operations.

In this age of social media, it is our purpose and goal to be transparent and informative to potential hunters. We make ourselves available at trade shows, publish a wealth of information on the web site including FAQs, maintain a Facebook profile and Twitter following, and give tours frequently. It is always our intention that the expectations of the hunt groups meet our program. Whether you read something positive or negative about the program in a forum or chat room, I encourage you to talk directly to me and come take a look. Be direct with any and all questions and arm yourself with current, accurate information.

I was very pleased with the Open House and plan to schedule one early in 2013 following the season and then again in September 2013 after the trade shows. In the meantime, call me with your questions or to schedule a tour. I welcome the opportunity to meet you and talk ducks. Nathan Peden