Duck hunting is the practice of hunting ducks and other fowls like geese and waterfowls, just for sport or food. Generally, in most western countries, duck hunting is an outdoor sporting activity and its commercial exploitation is prohibited by law. Most ducks and also other types of geese share the same habitat and the hunting seasons also coincide. So, it is very common practice to hunt down different species of ducks and other water fowls in the same duck hunting outing. Duck hunting is a very ancient sport and practice. Paintings related to duck hunting appear in the caves found in Europe dating back to the Ice Ages. Even the ancient Egyptian tomb of Khum Hotpe, dating back to 1900 B.C has a mural depicting an episode of duck hunting. The recent rise in the popularity of duck hunting is related to the invention and popularity of the shotgun. The shotgun is a very reliable gun, which can kill with precision from a greater range, than any of its predecessor rifles. In the beginning of the 19th century, the duck hunting industry was a great success in the USA. There were countless ducks and fowls available in the Atlantic and the Mississippi flyways. With the introduction of the punt guns, which were capable of firing massive half pound lead shots and were also boat mounted, the duck hunting industry grew. At that time, each shot from the punt guns killed more than a dozen ducks and fowls. With the increasing popularity of duck hunting and the invention of advanced hunting weapons, the population of ducks and geese has decreased considerably. The authorities gradually realized that if duck hunting goes on like this, then there will be no more ducks to hunt. This led to the formulation of numerous laws regarding the conservation of the ducks and fowls. The natural habitats of the ducks and fowls were also taken under the National Wildlife Refuge act. Now, in countries like America, only a few months are reserved for duck hunting. During this period, licensed hunters, using proper equipments are allowed to hunt ducks and other fowls. The stipulated period is generally winter, since during this time the ducks and the fowls finish the raising of their young chicks and start migrating to warmer places. Generally, duck hunting is done using a shotgun, a hunting blind and the decoys. Dogs are also used to retrieve the dead or injured ducks after they have been shot. There are several species of dogs, which are trained to do these retrieving activities. The common dog species include Labrador Retrievers and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.