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Waterfowling is full of terminology that many people will never understand. Here are a few of the common ones, a few old school ones, and a few that are commonplace amongst the GHHC and BWDC. Also listed are a few definitions and descriptions you may find useful next time you are in the duck boat or layout blind. AFC (n) - Amateur Field Champion, a title earned by a retriever in AKC field trials by winning Amateur event and accumulating an additional 5 points in amateur competition. AKC (n) - American Kennel Club AKC Albino (n) - Due a a genetic flaw, a bird that cannot produce pigment. Has red eyes and a pale or "white" body Aleutian Goose (n) - A rare variant of the Cackling Canada Goose. These birds breed in Alaska on 8 different islands but winter in Northern California and Oregon. While the population is currently stable, at one time they were listed as endangered. (Click HERE for more info) Aleutian Teal (n) - A sub-species of the Green-Winged Teal only found on the Aleutian Islands. They are a larger but nearly identical to the Eurasian Green-Winged Teal Aleutian Teal Ankle Bracelet/Anklette (n) - Duck/Goose leg band American Scoter (n) - Black Scoter Apple Head (n) - Redhead Duck BL (n) - Black Lab Back (n) - A verbal command given to a dog to send him straight away from the trainer/handler Back Over (n) - A verbal/visual command given to a dog to send him left/right and away from the trainer/handler Baldpate/Baldy (n) Drake Widgeon/Wigeon Bar Belly (n) - Greater Whitefront Barrel (n) - The large end of a duck/goose call. Also could be called the mouthpiece Bastard Broadbill (n) - Ring-Necked Duck Battery (n) - Another name for Sink Box (see Sink Box below) Bib (n) - A rubber style neck collar that is no longer in use Bitch Whistler (n) - Hen Goldeneye Blackhawk Down (n) - A term used to describe when a hunter has killed a spring gobbler Blackheads (n) Lesser or Greater Scaup Blackjack (n) - Ring-Necked Duck Bling (n) - Duck/Goose Leg Band Blocks (n) - Duck/ Goose decoys Blonde Mallard (n) - A genetic defect that causes a Mallard to have a lighter color or "Blonde" appearance Blow (n) - Wind Direction (ex. South Blow = South Wind) Blue Goose (n) - A "Blue" or dark plumage morph of a Lesser Snow Goose. Rare amongst Greater Snow Geese Bluebill (n) Lesser or Greater Scaup Bowed Up (v) - Birds coming into the decoys with their wings Cupped Up Box (n) -Layout Boat Body-Booting (v) - Hunting while standing in waist deep water either in chest waders or a wet suit. The hunters surrounds himself with decoys and gets down into the water as low as possible to conceal himself behind his decoys or Stick-Up (see below). Brewer's Duck (n) - A Gadwall x Mallard Hybrid Broadbill/Broadies (n) Greater Scaup Butterball (n) Bufflehead Butterbill (n) - Black Scoter Buffalo Head (n) - Bufflehead Buffie (n) - Bufflehead Bull (n) - Refers to a Plumed Drake (ex. Bull Can/Pintail/etc.) CBR (n) - Chesapeake Bay Retriever CL (n) - Chocolate Lab CC (n) - Collar Conditioning (see Collar Conditioning below) Cago (n) - Canada Goose Call Ducks (n) - A small duck used when Live Decoys were legal. They were used to call ducks into range and were typically tehered into the water during the hunt. They are almost identical to Mallards, but are much smaller. Chucklehead (n) - Drake Mallard Chicken (n) - Lesser Canada or Snow Goose Chin Strap (n) - The white patch/band that goose around the face and under the chin of a Canada Goose Cinammon Head (n) - Drake Pintail Clean (n) - Refers to the condition or pluamge of a bird being very nice and full Clown Ducks (n) - Harlequins Chicken Bill (n) - American Coot Collar (n) - Neck Collar (see Neck Collar below) Collar Conditioning (v) - Training a dog to understand the meaning behind the nicks/pressure coming from an E-collar Coot (n) - Black Scoter Cotton Top (n) - Drake Widgeon Creek Broadbill (n) - Lesser Scaup Crushed (v) - Making a good shot on a duck or goose and killing it cleanly or "Crushing" it Cupped Up (v) - Arched or curved wings allowing ducks/geese to slow down and land in a desired location Death Glide (n) - When a bird that is dead in the air locks its wings and glides across the field Decoying (v) - Birds coming into the hunters set/location where the decoys are placed Deep (n) - A long distance. Can either describe where birds are landing in a field or how far away they are in the air Drake (n) - Any Male Duck (ex. Drake Mallard/Bluebill) Dropper (n) -A loop used to hold a duck/goose call and is attached to the hunters Lanyard Dipper (n) - Bufflhead Double Reed (n) - A type of duck call consisiting of two reeds Dusky Duck (n) - Black Duck E-Collar (n) - An electronic collar used for dog training Eaglehead (n) - Adult Blue Goose Ear Pinch (n) - A type of pressure used during FF training Eider Duck (n) - Long-Tailed Duck (see also...Oldsquaw) Eurasian Green-Winged Teal (n) - The Eurasian counterpart to our Green-Winged Teal. Similar in appearance, except for a horizontal stripe rather than a vertical white band. Sometimes found in the Eurasian Widgeon/Wigeon (n) - The Eurasian counterpart to our American Widgeon. Some are found on both coasts due to errant migrations, and are know known to be breeding in the state of Washington Eurasian Widgeon Eyes (n) - Goldeneye FC (n) - Field Champion Retriever FF (n) - Force Fetch Fakes (n) - Duck/Goose decoys Farm Duck (n) - A name given to all white and tame ducks such as Pekin, etc. Feed (n) - An area where ducks/geese are found feeding. A good place to hunt the next morning Feet Down (n) - When birds are committed to the decoys and drop their feet to land Flute Call (n) - A type of goose call that is about 8-10" in length. Known for its deep sounds Fish Duck (n) - Common or Red Breasted Merganser Fooled (n) - Birds that have committed to land in the decoys have been fooled by the hunters/calling/decoys Fooling (v) - Decoying birds into the decoys by making the ducks/geese think they are landing with live birds Force Fetch (v) - Training a dog to fetch or pick-up any object on command GE (n) - Goldeneye Game Hog or Game HoggTM (n) - A derisive term in waterfowl hunting for a waterfowler who tends to shoot more fowl than the others in his or her group or area. This behavior can be damaging to the morale of his or her peers. For this reason, "game-hogging" is generally considered unacceptable waterfowling behavior at any level, especially by the waterfowlers hunting party or other waterfowlers in their area. However, game-hogging is not a violation of the law, so shoot fast or shoot last! TM Gangster or Gangster Longbeard (n) - A large adult male turkey (gobbler) that is large in terms of weight and beard German Duck (n) - Gadwall Gray Bird (n) - Immature Swan Gray Duck (n) - Drake Gadwall Greenhead (n) Drake Mallard Grind (n) - A flock or group of geese Ground Blind (n) - A device where hunters laydown inside on their back with a cover on top of them to camoflauge themselves from incoming birds. (ex Avery Finisher/ GHG Ground Force) Ground Pound (v) The action of shooting a duck or goose on the water or ground Ground Swat (v) The action of shooting a duck or goose on the water or ground HRC (n) - Hunting Retriever Club HRC Hairy Head (n) - Hooded or Red Breasted Merganser Hammer (n) - An adult spring gobbler that is very vocal Hand Signals (n) - Used in dog training to direct a dog to a downer bird or bumper Hang Glider (n) - A Sailed bird that is gliding across the field Hardware (n) - Duck/Goose Leg Band Hatch Year (n) - A first year juvenile bird Heavy/Heavies (n) - Large Canada Goose/Geese (aka Honker) Hero Shot (n) A photo taken of hunters with their ducks/geese from the days hunt in the field. Usually consists of hunters, dogs, and possibly decoys or blinds Hide (n) - Refers to a blind or location where waterfowlers hunt from Hogg Heaven (v) - It is what we use to describe shooting a full limit in the field or on the water, and something Game Hogg's shoot for on every outing. We aren't out there to see pretty sunrises, plain and simple its about the birds. You'll see a lot of this on the Hogg Shots page, so brace yourself... Hole (n) - A spot set-up by the hunters for the birds to land by using a specific decoy pattern Hoodie (n) - Hooded Merganser Honker (n) - Large Canada Goose Hybrid (n) - A bird that has parents of a different species. (Ex. Mallard/Black - Mallard/Pintail - Etc.) IFC (n) - International Field Champion Incoming (n) - Birds coming into the decoys Insert (n) - Small end of a duck/goose call. Contains the reed, or reeds, and wedge. Also called a Stopper Jack (n) Ring-Necked Duck Jack'n (n) - When a large group of mallards are approaching you spread wings cupped, flipping positions, and feet down Jet Motor (n) - A type of motor that uses pressurized water instead of a prop to propel a boat. Good for shallow water Juvie (n) - A Hatch Year bird, or young of the year. Typically refered to when hunting snow geese Jewlery (n) - Duck/Goose Leg Band Joker (n) - Duck/Goose working the spread Kill Hole (n) - A spot set-up by the hunters for the birds to land by using a specific decoy pattern King (n) - Drake Bufflehead Knot (n) - A group of ducks/geese (Ex. A large knot of birds was at the east end of the lake.) LST (n) - Legal Shooting Time Lanyard (n) - A woven loop that has droppers attached to it to hold calls around a hunters neck. Also used to hold a hunters collection of Leg Bands. Comes in a variety of colors and styles Lawn Dart (n) - Hooded, Common, or Red Breasted Merganser Layout Blind (n) - A device where hunters laydown inside on their back with a cover on top of them to camoflauge themselves from incoming birds. (ex Avery Finisher/Ground Force) Layout Boat (n) - A fiberglass or wood/fiberglass boat that is transported out into open water an achored and then surrounded by decoys. These boat are un-powered and have a very low profile concealign the hunter partialyl under the surface. Use mostly for sea ducks and divers. Layout Hunting (v) - Hunting from either a layout blind on dry land; or in a layout boat in water Lease (n) - Land a hunter pays to have sole access to hunt on Leg Band (n) - A crimped round piece of Aluminum or Stainless Steel placed on a birds leg to track migratory movement. These bands can be read with binoculars up close and reported, or reported by a hunter that harvests a banded bird. A "trophy" amongst waterfowl hunters that are commonly places on the hunter's lanyard. Leucistic (n) - Reduced pigmentation in a bird. Caused by a genetic deficieny similiar to albinism, but can vary in its effect on a particular bird, from full to partial Leucism. These birds still have normal eye color. Lizards (n) - Hooded, Common, or Red Breasted Mergansers Locked Up (n) - 1- When birds are cupped and commited coming into the decoys 2- When a body of water is completely frozen MH (n) -Master Hunter, a title earned by a retriever in AKC hunt tests by passing 6 master level tests Market Gunning/Hunting (n) - Outlawed many years back. It was the practice of hunting waterfowl for the markets in places such as New York City. These hunters made a living by either drifting into large rafts of unsuspecting birds and using a punt gun loaded with various types of projectiles to takes multiple birds with one shot or using large spreads of decoys, sometimes numbering as many as 500, and their shotguns to take birds. One of the most sought after bird was the Canvasback. Marsh (n) - 1- A wetland subject to frequent flooding and comprised of grass and low herbs. A marsh differs from a swamp as it has less open water and no trees. 2- Marsh can also stand for Mallard Mojo (n) - A Battery Powered Spinning Wing Decoy (Typicall; a MOJO brand decoy, but many refer to all spinning wings as a MOJO) Mudhen (n) - American Coot Mud Motor (n) - Type of motor deisgned to run in skinny water and muddy bottoms (see.. Short or Long Tail) Mule Duck (n) - 1- A Pintail x Mallard Hybrid 2- A Muscovy Duck x Mallard or Rouen Hybrid NAHRA (n) - North American Hunting Retriever Association NAHRA Nasal Saddle/Marker (n) - A plastic tag clipped through the nostrils of a bird. Used to identify birds withing a study area. For more info click HERE and scroll down Neck Collar (n) - A plastic circular numbered ring around a goose's neck that is used to track migratory movement Neckie (n) - A neck collared goose Nick (n) - A type of pressure provided by an electronic collar while dog training. It is a correction given to a dog which disobeys or misses a command given by his trainer Oldsquaw (n) - Former name for the Long-Tailed Duck Old Wife (n) - Long-Tailed Duck (see also...Oldsquaw) On the Deck (n) - Birds coming into or towards the decoys and being very low to the water or ground Over (n) - A visual command given to a dog to send him left/right from his current position Park Duck (n) - 1- A wild Mallard 2- A tame duck released into the wild and found at many local parks, the beach, etc. Often interbreeds with wild birds creating odd lookign off-spring or Hybrids Pass (v) - Birds swinging over the decoys. Birds sometimes make several passes before Decoying Pied Shell Drake (n) - Red Breasted Merganser Pit/Pit Blind (n) - A hole dug into the ground with a sliding cover overhead to conceal hunters from incoming birds. Some of these blinds include seperate rooms and even small kitchens for hunters to use while they are in the field. Pochard (n) - Redhead Pressure (n) - 1- Different forms of correction given to a dog in training (ex. Ear Pinch/Nick/etc.) 2- The amount of hunting in a certain area. Hunters are "Pressuring" birds Punt (n) - A small flat bottomed boat used to to mount a Punt Gun on by Market Gunners/Hunters Punt Gun (n) -A commercial shotgun of sorts mounted onto small boats called punts, and used to take multiple waterfowl with a single shot. Typically loaded with black powder and up to 1 lb whatever projectile was available. These guns could take as many as 50 birds with one shot, and were outlawed entirely in the US in 1918. Very often used by Market Gunners/Hunters. Quill (n) - Quill Lake Canada Goose. This strain of Canada Gooose is caused by a gentic defect, and is very rare. Found typically on the MO river. Best identified by a large white patch or bar on its chest. This patch or bar varies from bird to bird siginificantly. Some other indicators are splocthy white marks on the birds neck/head, white wing tips, a white V under its chin, and/or a lack of pigment in the birds feet. Radio Transmitter (n) - A device atatched to the back or Neck Collar of a duck/goose that allwos a bird to be tracked over short and long distances. For more info click HERE and scroll down Red Leg (n) - Name used for a late season American Black Duck with red legs due to a change in hormones Reed (n) - A piece of shaped mylar pinched between the tone board and wedge used to make sound Ringbill/Ringer (n) Ring-Necked Duck Robber (n) Widgeon Run and Gun (n) - A type of hunting where a turkey hunter moves throughout the woods calling in search of a gobble from a spring longbeard SRS (n) - Super Retriever Series SRS SOB (n) - Snow GooseSail (n) - When a Duck/Goose is hit/crippled and flies off to another part of the field Salt Goose (n) - Brant Salt Water Teal (n) - Ruddy Duck Sawbill (n) - Hooded, Common, or Red Breasted Merganser Scop (n) - The ratio of anchor line length to depth. Important to ensure a solid anchor for a boat, especially a layout Scruncher (n) - Banded Mallard realesed by a hunt club for private hunting. Very common on the Eastern Shore Scull/Sculling (v) - Using a very low profile boat to drift into rafts of birds on the water Sea Pintail (n) - Long-Tailed Duck (see also...Oldsquaw) Setting Up (v) - Birds moving to a spot to allow them to land in a desired location or the Kill Hole Setup (n) - Decoys, blinds, and gear placed out by the hunter in a specific location where the hunter wants to hunt. Typically, on the predetermined X in a field or on the water Shell Drake (n) - Hooded Merganser Shoal Duck (n) - Long-Tailed Duck (see also...Oldsquaw) Shortreed Call (n) - A type of goose call that requires backpressure to break over the sound. Much more versatile than a flute call, and much more popular amongst today's goose hunters Short Tail (n) - Style of mud motor with a more outboard like apperance Shuck/Shucking (v) - Ducks/Geese dipping their wings and dropping air as they approach a landing spot Silver Mallard (n) - A genetic defect that causes a Mallard to have a silver or lighter color appearance Single Reed (n) - A type of duck call consisting of one reed. Has a larger range of tones than a double reed Sink Box (n) - A hunters hide which is towed out into the water by a powered boat and is submerged beneath the surface of the water by the use of cast iron weight. These hides are illegal in most states. Commonly used to hunt sea ducks and divers. Sippy Hole (n) - Any spot that causes a waterfowlers to sink into the mud/water momentarily Skinny (n) - Term used to describe very shallow water Skunkhead (n) - Drake Surf Scoter Sky-Buster (n) - A hunter who shoots at birds out of range Sky-Busting (v) - The act of shooting at birds outside of effective killing range. (Looked down upon by most waterfowlers) Sky Carp (n) - Snow Geese Smack Down (v) - Shooting/Killing a duck or goose Smiling Mallard (n) Northern Shoveler Speck/Specklebelly (n) - Greater Whitefront Spike Tails (n) - Ruddy Ducks Spinning Wing Decoy (n) - A wind or battery powered decoy that is staked in the water or in the ground and has rotating wings used to attract ducks. The rotating wings create a flash which emulates birds back-peddlign and landing in a certain spot. Splashed 'Em (v) - Shooting a duck/goose over the water Spoonbill/Spoonie (n) Northern Shoveler Sprig (n) - 1- The tail of an Oldsquaw/Long Tailed Duck or Pintail 2-Drake Pintail or Widgeon Squeeker (n) - A small Canada or Cackling Goose. Given this name due to the high pitched or "squeeky" call this bird makes. Stacking (v) - Shooting a pile or limit of ducks/geese Stickbill (n) -Hooded, Common, or Red Breasted Merganser Sticking/Stuck (v/n) - When a duck or goose call locks up and will not produce sound Stick-Up (n) A stand with a large spike that is driven into the mud or sandy bottom below the waters surface. It is used to conceal hunters that are body-booting and typically has decoys attached on the top and a shelf in the back for the hunters to stand behind and rest necessary items on. Stooling (v) - Ducks or Geese decoying Stopper (n) - Small end of a duck/goose call containing the reed, or reeds, and wedge. Also called an Insert Storm Widgeon/Wigeon (n) - A drake with an abnormal amount of white on his face Storming (v) - When you see group after group of geese just piling into a field with out care Stuffer (n) - Mounted Duck/Goose used as a decoy Suicide Swimmer (n) - A bird that swims into the decoys Suicide Row (n) - An area of a field where a farmer has accidentally knocked down some rows of grain or corn. This area typically will be the area of a field where geese heavily feed and can be seen in rows Summer Duck (n) - Wood Duck Suzie/Suzy (n) - Hen Mallard Swamp (n) - A wetland subject to temporary or permanent flooding and comprised of woody vegetation and trees Swamp Collie (n) - Golden Retriever Sweet Spot (n) - A location on a duck/goose call found while tuning, which creates the desired tone/pitch of the call. Tamie (n) - A non-wild duck or goose Tank (n) - A large adult male turkey (gobbler) that is large in terms of weight, beard, and spurs Tarsus Band (n) - A plastic circular numbered ring around a goose's leg that is used to track migratory movement Tender (v) - The act of utilizing a tender boat to pick-up hunters and downed birds while hunting from a layout boat Tender Boat (n) - A boat used to run a layout hunt from. The tender boats transports the layout boat, decoys, and hunters to the location and is used to pick-up downed birds and switch hunters. Typically a large boat with a deep-v style of hull powered by a large motor. Tight (n) - 1- When most bodies of water are frozen or freezing 2- When your decoys are to close together 3- When birds come in very close together like Teal, Bufflehead, etc. Timber Barron (n) - Common name used to refer to a Spring Gobbler Timber Monarch (n) - Common name used to refer to a Spring Gobbler The X (n) - A location found by the hunter where birds are eating/loafing/resting. Hunter will then Setup his gear in this location to hunt ducks/geese Toad (n) - 1- A very large duck/goose 2- A very prime or clean duck/gooseToll/Tolling (v) - Ducks decoying, originated with the use of a Nova Scotia Tolling Retriever Tone Board (n) - The area of a duck call in which the reeds sit on and has a channel for air to be passed through Tunnel Hull (n) - A boat with a channel in the underside. Common on boats with Jet Motors UKC (n) - United Kennel Club UKC Velvet Duck (n) - White-Winged Scoter Warts (n) - Bumps found on the top of a Ross's Goose Bill Water Chicken (n) - American Coot Water Dove (n) - Teal Water Swat (v) The action of shooting a duck or goose on the water Water Saw (v) -The action of shooting a duck or goose on the water Web Tag (n) - A small Aluminum piece of metal applied or clipped into the webbing of a duck or goose foot. These are used to identify birds by banding, but done at a young age where a band will not stay on the birds foot. Typical in Snow Geese, Brant, and Welsh Drake (n) - Gadwall Wedge (n) - A part of a duck/goose call used to pinch the reed against the tone board Whiffling (v) - Birds descending rapidly in preparation to land. Birds can be inverted, twisting, or side flipping Whistle Sit (n) - One shrill on a whistle to get a hunting or searching dog to stop and face his handler. Given before an Over or Back command Whistler (n) - Common or Barrows Goldeneye Whistling Ducks (n) - Fulvous or Black Belly Tree Ducks Whistling Swan (n) - Tundra Swan White Brant (n) - Snow Goose White Devil (n) - Snow Goose White Winged Coot (n) - White-Winged Scoter Wing Marker (n) - A vinyl shape/tag attached to the leading edge of a bird's wing. Good for identification from afar. For more info click HERE and scroll down Wing Spur (n) - A bone at the end joint of a goose wing. Used for fighting Winter Duck (n) - Pintail Woodie/Woodrow (n) - Wood Duck X (n) - A location found by the hunter where birds are eating/loafing/resting. Hunter will then Setup his gear in this location to hunt ducks/geese YL (n) - Yellow Lab Copyright © 2008 Game Hogg Hunt ClubTM. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission from the author is prohibited. |
