Biological Relationships Explored With Extensive Research

As waterfowlers, few things are more exciting than harvesting a bird with truly unique plumage. Whether it’s the result of a naturally occurring color mutation or the product of hybridization, these birds tell a story – and today, science is helping us better understand what that story means.

That’s why we’re proud to once again donate to duckDNA, a groundbreaking hunter-assisted conservation initiative led by Ducks Unlimited and the Lavretsky Lab at the University of Texas at El Paso. Through this collaborative effort, hunters across North America are helping researchers unlock the genetics behind unusual plumage, hybridization, and the movement of game-farm genes into wild waterfowl populations.

The project relies on waterfowl hunters to submit tissue samples from harvested birds displaying abnormal plumage or suspected hybrid characteristics. Those samples provide valuable genetic data that helps researchers distinguish between naturally occurring mutations, hybridization among wild birds, and the influence of domestic ancestry. The findings will deepen our understanding of waterfowl genetics while helping guide future conservation and management decisions.

Dave Smith Decoys firmly believes in the groundbreaking hunter-assisted science behind duckDNA. That’s why we are proud to make a contribution to Ducks Unlimited in support of this initiative. To celebrate this project, we have created a Limited Series release and will host a special auction for a one-of-a-kind decoy. Together, these efforts help provide the research, tools, and collaboration needed to protect the future of North America’s waterfowl.

To learn more about duckDNA or find out how you can participate, visit www.duckdna.com.

This is a one-time drop. Conservation-driven. Don’t miss it.