Clocking in Before Daylight — Real Duck Hunting Across Arkansas & Mississippi
Before it’s given away, the GUNNER team is field-testing a one-of-one setup across Arkansas and Mississippi — with real dogs, real hunts, and real conditions.
We didn’t want this boat to sit still.
Before it’s given away, we’re putting it to work the same way it will be used by whoever takes it home. Different conditions. Different dogs. Different hunters.
Clocking in Before Daylight: The GUNNER Boat Tour
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing Clocking in Before Daylight, a short video series following the GUNNER Boat Tour as it moves through Arkansas and Mississippi.
Each stop highlights how dogs are trained differently depending on where and how they hunt — and why the gear around them has to hold up in real conditions, not controlled ones.
This isn’t a how-to series. It’s a look at real hunts, real terrain, and real moments you don’t get to script.
- Early mornings.
- Changing weather.
- Dogs doing what they’re trained to do.
- People adapting as the day unfolds.
Why We’re Field-Testing This Boat
Before it’s given away, this boat is being used the same way it will be by its future owner — in the field, across different terrain, and under changing conditions.
Rather than testing gear in ideal environments, the goal of this trip is to understand how everything performs when variables change: light, weather, location, dogs, and hunting styles.
That’s what this series captures — not perfection, but reality.
Episode One — Rice Pit Duck Hunting in Brinkley, Arkansas
The first leg of our journey took us to Brinkley, Arkansas, where we hunted rice pits with our friend Luke, his brother, and his dog Sadie, along with a few new buddies.
The mornings in the rice pit gave us a strong start to the trip — a handful of birds, shifting conditions, and the kind of stories you only take home after early starts and long sits in the blind.
Hunting the Rice Pits in Arkansas
Rice pit duck hunting presents its own challenges. Visibility, wind, field layout, and light all shape how hunts unfold and how dogs are handled in the field.
Early mornings in the pits set the pace, requiring adaptability from both hunters and dogs as conditions changed throughout the hunt.
Meet the Dogs and Hunters
Sadie’s training and handling reflected the demands of the terrain — steady work, responsiveness, and the ability to adjust as the day evolved.
This stop set the tone for the rest of the journey: letting dogs do what they’re trained to do and learning from time spent together in real hunting environments.
Episode Two — Hitting the Road From Stuttgart to Weiner
Our crew logs a couple more hunts in Brinkley before heading to see some friends at Chêne in Stuttgart then moving on to catch the cold front in Weiner.
Temperatures are dropping, north winds are blowing, and birds are flying.
Christmas in Stuttgart
It wouldn’t be a trip to Arkansas without stopping at Chêne. It didn’t disappoint– we got to hang out with some old friends and hand out some Waterfowl Vests and bumpers to a few of y’all. Good food, good music, and good vibes all around.
Setting up in Weiner
Weiner wasn’t on our original itinerary, but man, was it worth hunting. We’d never seen that many ducks in our lives— when you see the footage, you’ll get it. Along with Colton, GUNNER’s R&D Manager, we put together a pretty good plan for the hunt ahead.
Episode Three — Cold Morning in Weiner and Late Start in Clarksdale
The cold front brought ice, wind, and thousands of birds swarming the field. The ducks put on a show that few people get the chance to see in their lives.
North Mississippi Oxbow
After a morning setback, we finally got the boat in the water and broke ice on the way through a long ride to the sawgrass bank, where we set up to hunt with our friend Blake and Nacho the chocolate lab. The water was still, and so were the skies.
Catching Up at Wildrose Kennels
While we were in town, we stopped by Wildrose to see Tom. He showed us around the grounds, where we got to pet some good dogs and chat about the first half of the season.
The hundreds of miles on the road, late nights, early mornings, and temperature swings were starting to catch up with everybody. Mississippi brought us a change of pace and some much-needed rest.
Episode Four — The Final Leg
The last leg of our trip took us to Central Mississippi, where we hunted with our buddy and Mallard Mischief cohost, Ben Moss, alongside his dog Buckley, whom he rescued from a local shelter and trained at home. He showed us around his stomping grounds, we had some good laughs, and rested up for the long trek back home.
Madison, Mississippi
After a long drive and a night that finally included real sleep, spirits were higher. We spent the evening scouting from the boat, working our way through different stretches of river, reading the wind, and making a call on where to sit the next morning.
Not every hunt is about fast action. Sometimes it’s about quiet water, long walks in, and waiting to see if the decision you made the night before holds up when morning comes.
Thanks For Riding Along.
This episode closes out Clocking in Before Daylight — a short video series following the GUNNER Boat Tour through Arkansas and Mississippi. Real hunts, real dogs, and real conditions from start to finish.
Why Location Matters in Duck Hunting
Duck hunting looks different depending on where you are. Terrain, crop type, weather patterns, and water levels all influence how dogs are trained and how hunts unfold.
How Terrain and Weather Shape Duck Dog Training
A rice pit in eastern Arkansas demands different positioning, retrieves, and adaptability than other waterfowl environments. Throughout Clocking in Before Daylight, each stop highlights how those regional differences shape both dogs and their people.
About the Giveaway
At the end of January, one winner will be announced to take home this boat — along with a full, one-of-one setup and gear from Benelli, Chêne, Mossy Oak, Montana Knife Company, and GUNNER.
What’s Included in the 1-of-1 GATORTAIL x GUNNER® Setup
- GATORTAIL Savage Series 1750 with custom GUNNER decking
- $500 Mossy Oak Companions gift card
- GUNNER Black Kennel with Fall Foliage Door
- GUNNER Fan Kit 2.0
- All-Weather Kit 2.0
- Tie-Down Strap Kit
- Custom Name Plate
- Cold Weather Door
- Performance Pad
- Orthopedic Bed
- GUNNER Homestead Bed
- GUNNER Bumper Package
- Benelli Super Black Eagle III — 20 ga., 28" barrel
- Chêne 2S Waders — Bottomland
- Chêne Sherpa Fleece Quarter Zip — Bottomland
- Chêne Waxed Canvas Jacket — Bottomland
- Chêne Waxed Canvas Shirt — Bottomland
How and When the Winner Will Be Selected
The giveaway will close at the end of January. Full entry details and eligibility information can be found at the link below.
ENTER TO WIN →
https://gunner.com/pages/gatortail-giveaway
Upcoming Stops on the Boat Tour
We’ll be releasing full episodes throughout January, each one focused on a different stop, a different dog, and a different set of conditions.
This page will continue to be updated as new episodes from the Boat Tour are released.
Series Teaser
Check out the series teaser below — a preview of what’s ahead as the boat continues its run.
