Waterfowl refuges are controversial among hunters—many believe these protected areas hold ducks and reduce hunting opportunities in nearby areas. This episode explores our large-scale study using over 339,000 shotgun recordings across Tennessee to understand what really drives harvest opportunity. Surprisingly, disturbing sanctuaries actually decreased hunting success by up to 32%, while proximity to undisturbed sanctuaries, dropping temperatures, and rising barometric pressure increased it. The findings suggest that maintaining quiet refuge areas—not dispersing birds from them—is key to creating better hunting experiences.