Alabama duck season opens in late November, so the best time to get your gear sorted is now. Here's how we get ready each year, plus a heads up about Duck Day at Mark's Outdoors on Friday, October 23. 🦆
1. Check your waders
Waders are the one piece of gear you really don't want to find a problem with at 5 am, and the sooner you check them, the more time you have to fix or replace them. Turn them inside out, hang them up and look for pinholes, worn seams and cracked boot soles. A quick test is to fill them with a few inches of water in the tub, or shine a flashlight inside in a dark room and look for light coming through. Patch small leaks with a repair kit made for your wader material, and make sure your belt and suspenders still work.
2. Go through your decoys
Lay everything out and check heads, keels, weights and lines. Tangled or missing lines and cracked bodies are the usual suspects. Replace what's worn, touch up chipped paint and sort your spread into bags so setup is quick in the dark. A mix of species and a few extras for different water will give you options on the day.
3. Get your dog ready
Dogs need to build up for the season just like we do. Start with short training sessions and swims in cooler weather, and work up to full mornings. Check collars, tags and any gear for wear, and ask your vet about vaccinations and a preseason checkup.
4. Restock the blind bag
Calls, lanyards, gloves, spare batteries, a first aid kit, a headlamp and a few spare layers all add up. Go through your bag and replace what's missing now, not on the morning of the hunt.
5. Handle the paperwork
Before you head out, make sure you have everything the law requires for waterfowl. In Alabama, that means a current state hunting license, an Alabama duck stamp, a Federal Duck Stamp if you're 16 or older (sign a paper stamp in ink) and your free HIP certification. If you plan to hunt a Wildlife Management Area, you'll need a WMA license too.
Remember that lead shot is illegal for waterfowl in Alabama, so stock up on steel or another approved nontoxic shot, and make sure your shotgun is plugged to hold no more than three shells.
Season dates
Alabama's 2026 to 27 duck season runs November 27 and 28, then December 5 through January 31. Youth, veteran and military days are November 21 and February 6. The daily limit is six ducks, with limits on certain species, so read the full guide before you hunt, especially if you'll be in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta or on public land, where hours and rules are different: Alabama 2026 to 27 Waterfowl Hunting Guide
Most of this is easier to sort out in person, so stop by anytime and we'll walk through it with you.
Where Duck Day fits in
You don't need to wait to get started. The crew at Mark's Outdoors is always happy to help you check waders, build your decoy spread and find the right gear for you and your dog, so stop in whenever it's convenient.
Duck Day is Friday, October 23, a day we're setting aside to celebrate the start of duck season with the people who make it special. We'll have deals in store, and we'll share the details the week of the sale, first on Facebook and Instagram at @marksoutdoors.
Duck Day details
Date: Friday, October 23
Hours: [9 AM] to [6 PM]
Location: Mark's Outdoors, Vestavia Hills, Alabama
Deals are in store only and first come, first served.Â
Tap Interested on our Facebook event for a reminder: Marks Outdoors Duck Day Event Facebook
See you on Duck Day, or sooner.