Picture this: It’s opening morning. You ease your truck into a parking area before dawn, decoys weighing down your slot bag. Steam rises off the cattails as you wade in to set your spread. Your waders scrape against sharp shells, and you see a sign that warns of an aquatic nuisance species detection. Mussels, snails, and invasive plants don’t just hitch rides on boats. They can cling to decoys, waders, and mud-covered gear. Once they spread, they choke out native vegetation, clog irrigation systems, and degrade wildlife habitat. And once they take hold, they’re almost impossible to remove.
Why waterfowl hunters should care
ANS like zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, and New Zealand mudsnails can easily travel on hunting gear. Once they arrive, they:
- Attach to decoy weights, anchors, sleds, and blinds.
- Hide in wader seams, boot soles, and dog vests.
- Spread silently from one wetland or reservoir to another.
- Clog pumps, ditches, and irrigation systems that sustain wetlands.
Once established, they’re nearly impossible to remove, which is why prevention is our strongest defense.
What you can do
Wherever you like to waterfowl hunt, remembering to clean, drain and dry your gear will protect the waters that support the habitat Colorado’s game species rely on.
After every hunt:
- Clean mud, plants, and debris from your decoys, waders, boat, and dog gear.
- Drain all water from your boat, motor, decoys, decoy bags, and sleds before leaving the area.
- Dry all gear completely before heading to a new wetland or lake. Even a few drops can carry invaders.
Plan ahead
Check CPW’s cleaning station map before your trip.
Build in extra time to rinse your gear at on-site stations when available.
Follow posted signs at wildlife areas and refuges to clean gear properly.
It takes only a few minutes, but it protects the waters that make Colorado’s hunting heritage possible.
Be the eyes on the water
If you spot unusual plants, shells, or small critters clinging to your decoys or waders, report it to CPW right away. Early detection can stop the spread before it starts.
Respect the resource. Protect the future.
Every hunter plays a part in keeping Colorado’s wetlands open and thriving. By cleaning your gear and checking your equipment between hunts, you’re not just following best practices, you’re protecting the future of our waterfowl seasons.
Written by Travis Duncan. Travis is a public information officer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Denver. Video by Forrest Czarnecki. Forrest is a Colorado hunter and angler, and he is a Digital Media Specialist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.