What makes a hunt successful?

A lot of ducks, for starters.

But it also takes a lot of know-how to get a hunter to the point where the shooting starts.

In the following Q&As, this year’s group of duck hunting executives share their firsthand knowledge of things obvious, like a preferred shotgun or duck call, and things less seen but just as important, like what snacks to enjoy in the blind.

And while we’re waiting for the birds to descend — preferably in great numbers — through the hardwood timbers or into the rice fields of the Grand Prairie, our execs may even have a story or two to tell.

Because memories can make a hunt successful too.