The Making of a Mississippi Duck Hunting Guide

By Nick Sabert
January 19, 2013


This isn't an article written by me but I thought everyone would like to hear a perspective of the Mississippi Delta from a good friend of ours from up north. Hope you enjoy! - Nathan

The term Mississippi Delta is not used very much where I am from – Cincinnati, Ohio. I came to Mississippi three years ago to play for the Ole Miss football team. I do have some roots in the south through my mother who is from Charleston, South Carolina, but I knew little about the Deep South and the way of life that goes along with it. I had never worn cowboy boots, said y’all, or worn camouflage. I was soon immersed in the Mississippi culture when I joined a fraternity at Ole Miss and realized that I had no idea what I was about to get myself into.

The first time I even heard of this place called the Mississippi Delta was from Martin Fisher, son of Bobby Fisher. He told me about miles of flat land full of beans and cotton and these tiny towns where everyone knew everyone. When I imagined the Delta, I thought of something from an old movie. I had to see this place for myself. Martin took me to Greenwood three years ago to meet his family and to see where he was from. What I discovered is that the Delta is more that just cotton and corn fields, it’s a lifestyle.

I met Nathan Peden, the director of MS Delta Ducks, who is a close friend-member of the Fisher family. He drove me around the back roads of Leflore County, spit-balled stories about killing ducks over there, seeing groups of deer over here, and catching a fish bow-fishing off that bridge. I quickly gained the nickname, “Yankee”, because I had no idea about anything he was talking about, and I barely could understand his thick southern accent. I decided from that point I needed a lifestyle change if I was going to last a few more years in the Deep South without people instantly knowing I’m from the North. Nathan took me on my first hunt in a complex of active catfish ponds. From that first hunt, I was locked in to a transition from a Northern Yankee Boy to a Mississippi Delta Boy.

This past season I lived with Nathan and the field staff guides of MS Delta Ducks and only missed about 7 days of duck hunting. I learned the location of just about every duck hole MS Delta Ducks has to offer and became close with the Mississippi Delta staff duck hunting guides. I continue to learn new things from these guys every day and realize that the amount of work and effort they put into the duck hunting programs is unmatched. I try to pull some weight and help with whatever little tasks they need such as picking up duck decoys after a hunt or filming them guiding a group of duck hunters for the day. Believe it or not, some of these hunters have no idea that I am actually from a far-away place in the north called Ohio.

Today, I wear cowboy boots, jeans, and camouflage hats. Some might say I have turned “Delta.” Well, maybe, a “ wanna-be Delta.” On this journey, I have discovered that the Delta is a place for good friends, family, and fond memories. I found all of these things at MS Delta Ducks and from the families that make it all possible.