Team Brodie Charters

Captain Robert L. Brodie has spent nearly five decades hunting diving ducks on the Mississippi Sound—long enough to understand the migratory patterns and the best tactics for morning gunning. Team Brodie Charters brings that experience to hunters new and experienced alike.

The Mississippi Sound is a major migratory route and wintering ground for thousands of diving ducks. The primary targets are redheads and big drake bluebills, but hunts also connect with greater scaups, lesser scaups, buffleheads, mergansers, canvasbacks, and occasional sea ducks like scoters. Puddle ducks such as blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, widgeon, and gadwall show up from time to time.

Each season, before ducks arrive, Captain Brodie rebuilds an offshore blind large enough to fit a 19-foot G3 Jonboat powered by a 90 hp 4-stroke Yamaha. The boat carries an Avery Pop Up Blind for flexibility if conditions change. The decoy spread runs 175+ decoys including Green Head Gear, G&H brands, and hand-carved cork buffleheads rigged old-school on Doctari Longlines. A MOJO Floater Bluebill (converted to redhead) rounds out the setup. Decoys are stored in XL Rig Em Right bags for quick deployment and retrieval.

Hunts may run to noon or later—diving ducks often fly late on the Mississippi Sound.

• •Neoprene chest waders (essential—most hunting is in thigh to waist-deep hard sand)
• •Your blind bag with standard hunting gear
• •Shotgun ammunition: 12 gauge 3-inch magnums recommended (Federal Premium Black Cloud or Winchester Blind Side in #2 or #3 shot—bring at least 2 boxes)
• •Nontoxic shot required; automatics must be plugged to 3-shell capacity

Mississippi's regular duck season runs for 60 days, typically starting the day after Thanksgiving and closing near the end of January. Book your charter through Team Brodie's website to view rates and availability.