Waterfowlers who wish to remain mobile will use camouflaged boats with folding or detachable blinds. Photo by R. Michael DiLullo

Late-season waterfowling can be extremely productive. Storms and cold fronts will force ducks and geese farther along on their migration south. When waterways and small ponds ice over, any open water will become honeyholes full of resting waterfowl.

But by the holiday season, many hunters have hung it up for the year, which means fewer crowds and plenty of action for the more determined and prepared waterfowlers.

However, late-season hunting is usually synonymous with cold, raw weather. Hunters who venture afield during the "late season" must be prepared to deal with extreme weather conditions. You must remain aware of the dangers that cold, partially frozen waters can hold. Prolonged exposure to cold, wet weather can very quickly become life-threatening, not only for your dog, but for you as well.

Care should always be taken when hunting over frozen waters. Late-season hunting can have unseen dangers that you must be prepared for, particularly cold-related injuries and conditions such as exposure, frostbite and hypothermia -- an insidious, but deadly ailment. Common sense should also decide whether to hunt in adverse conditions. Some simple precautions will help to reduce the chances of having a problem while out hunting at this time of the year.

The real secret to late-season hunting is being prepared with the proper clothing to keep you warm and dry in extreme weather. Cold hands and numb toes are usually the price you pay for skimping. But properly outfitted, late-season hunts can be very productive, since birds usually receive little hunting pressure after the first few weeks of the season.

Another special consideration to the late season is gunning over big water. As is often the case at this time of year, waterfowl will move to larger bodies of water out of necessity. Hunters need to be specially prepared to hunt these unique bodies of water. Waterfowling in large tidal saltwater marshes is very different than any other form of waterfowl hunting.

Little or sparse vegetation often makes creating natural blinds nearly impossible. Other locations may contain tall, thick reeds or grasses that can be difficult to cut, or regulations may not allow any disturbance of natural cover. Most marsh blinds are constructed in open areas on poles to compensate for changing tides; others are often made on floating platforms anchored to the bank or shore.

Many waterfowlers who want to remain more mobile use camouflaged boats with folding or detachable blinds made from lightweight material, to which they add natural local vegetation and beach against banks or anchor off rocks, jetties or pilings.