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Growing up in Alaska, hunting was more than just a pastime—it was a way of life. I spent my youth chasing moose, caribou, bears and later in life, musk ox, and mountain goats across the vast, untamed wilderness of The Last Frontier.  The thrill of the hunt, the patience required, and the deep connection to the land shaped who I am today. But despite my love for hunting, there was one pursuit I never explored—waterfowl.  Looking back, I’m not sure why I never hunted ducks or geese. Maybe it was because waterfowl hunting just isn’t as popular in Alaska as it is in the lower 48. Or maybe it was the fact that duck and goose seasons overlapped with moose and caribou season, and my focus was always on those big-game hunts. Whatever the reason, waterfowl remained an unknown world to me.

That all changed when I joined Shoshone Adventure Consulting. The company’s owners, Jay and Jonathan Roberts, are avid waterfowl hunters, and their enthusiasm for the sport was contagious. They invited me to their ranch in Kansas for my first duck hunt, and that trip changed everything.  From the moment I stepped into the duck blind, I realized just how much I didn’t know. Waterfowl hunting wasn’t just about sitting by a pond and waiting for birds to fly in—it was a complex and strategic game of chess. The amount of preparation and thought that went into each hunt amazed me.

From setting up decoy spreads to mastering duck and goose calls, from considering blind placement and wind direction to training and working with retriever dogs, every element played a crucial role. The first time I watched a group of ducks circle, commit, and then drop into our decoys with their landing gear down, I felt a rush I never expected. It was a different kind of excitement from big-game hunting—faster, more social, and filled with action.  What surprised me most was how much my kids enjoyed it. My son, Asher, and my daughter, Taylor, took to waterfowl hunting almost immediately. Unlike big-game hunting, where silence and stillness are critical, waterfowl hunting allows for conversation, laughter, and even snacking in the blind. It made for the perfect way to introduce them to the world of hunting without the long, grueling hikes and hours of silent waiting that come with pursuing moose or caribou.

Every hunter remembers their firsts—the first deer, the first elk, the first successful stalk. For me, my first goose will always standout because I shot it with Asher by my side on a hunt with Jay in Alberta. It was a crisp morning, and as we watched the geese pour in, I felt the same sense of anticipation I had on big-game hunts. When the moment came, I took the shot, and Asher and I celebrated together—a memory I will cherish forever.

Not long after, I shot my first duck with Taylor in Kansas. She was just as excited as I was, and seeing the joy in her eyes made the experience even more meaningful. Since then, I’ve enjoyed countless waterfowl hunts with the Shoshone crew in Kansas, and Asher and I have even done some duck hunting together in Idaho, close to home.

If you’ve never hunted waterfowl in Kansas, you’re missing out on something truly special. The area around Hutchinson and Great Bend, particularly between Quivira National Wildlife Refuge and Cheyenne Bottoms, offers some of the most incredible duck and goose hunting in the country. When the migration is in full swing, the skies are filled with birds, and the action is unbeatable. On a recent goose hunt with Asher, we saw upwards of 25,000 geese in a single day. The sheer number of birds was almost unreal, like a swarm of locusts stretching across the horizon. The sound of thousands of geese calling at once was deafening, and the sight of them descending into our spread was something I’ll never forget. The combination of great habitat, excellent blind locations, and skilled guides made for some of the best hunting I’ve ever experienced—big game included.

Big-game hunting will always be my first love, but waterfowl hunting has become something truly special to me. It’s a different kind of challenge, one that requires a deep understanding of bird behavior, weather patterns, and calling techniques. It’s also a social hunt, one where camaraderie and shared experiences make it just as rewarding as the hunt itself.

For my family, it has become a way to bond in the outdoors. Hunting ducks and geese with my kids gives us a chance to spend time together away from video games and distractions. We share laughs, tell stories, and celebrate every successful hunt as a team. I never thought I would be a waterfowl hunter. If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be just as excited about a flock of mallards cupping their wings over a decoy spread as I was about a moose stepping into a clearing, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. But here I am—an Alaska big-game hunter who’s hooked on ducks.  Waterfowl hunting has given me a new appreciation for the sport and a way to stay active in the field between big-game seasons. More importantly, it has given me priceless memories with my children, friends, and co-workers at Shoshone.

If you’ve never given waterfowl hunting a shot, I encourage you to try it. You might just discover—like I did—that there’s more to hunting than you ever imagined.

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Peyton Merideth is the CEO of Shoshone Adventure Consulting.

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