Getting Into Duck Hunting........

[JRJBfishing]

Check out the Cabela's LightMag 800 waders.. Most of the guys I hunt with, including myself have them. In my opinion 5mm is to much for NC. These are armored from the waist down, and have 800gram in the boots.

I tend to spend just a bit more on shot just b/c I hate to see crips fly away. The Hevi-Metal has worked great for me. Its around the same price as the Blackcloud. Size 3 for the small-med birds, and a #2 for the divers and bigger ducks.

If hunting swamps, your decoys will be limited to what you can carry. Cabela's makes a plastic decoy sled, they are nearly indestructible, and make getting gear in and out a breeze compared to lugging it on your back. The best $40 I have spent in duck gear!

Back to decoys, I would grab some teal decoys for sure, and a few woodies if in the swamps. For the swamps I would say a half dozen teal, 4 woodies, and 6 mallards would work fine. But it is hard to say without having seen the area you will be hunting.

Normally shoot a IC choke in the swamps, and a M out in the open. Pattern your gun and see what works best though. Sometimes if the woodies are flying down our throat, we will all switch out to a Cylinder choke and smoke em; just depends.

Just let me know what other questions you have..

JRJB

[austin ensor]

clothing= river west gun=benilli decoys=greenhead gear choke= kicks or pattern master

[Tenacious]

You stole my avatar!!! What kind of gun are you shooting? How big is the ponds are you hunting? Do you have a dog or pirouge?

[calebw]

You stole my avatar!!! What kind of gun are you shooting? How big is the ponds are you hunting? Do you have a dog or pirouge?

Sorry abut that tenacious, didn't notice that anybody else had this avatar, I'll take it down. I shoot a reminton 870 supermag. Most of the land that I will be hunting are just beaver ponds and swamps. I don't have trained retriever.

[N2theBlue]

nothing against everything said above, but if you are hunting beaver ponds and swamps you don't really need any of the above. I have hunted farm ponds/beaver ponds/creeks/swamps my whole life. Generally, you don't need decoys because the ducks have already decided whether they are coming in or not. Decoys and calls don't really make a difference. Just find out where they are going, then sit on the edge of the pond and wait for them. Build a blind if you feel industrious. Get some #2 hi velocity steel shot, (the remington sportsman high speed steel and the kent have both been good to me the last couple of years), a modified or improved cylinder choke and have at them. Waders are only necessary if you can't get to where they are landing by sitting on the ground. Beaver ponds can get deep so be careful.

Be sure to have a small boat or a fishing rod to get the ducks you knock down since you don't have a dog. Waders work too as long as the water is shallow.

[onejacker]

I think it was the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius that said, "To be a good and honorable duck hunter, you need a strong back and a weak mind".

You have already been given a wealth of information in this thread, Clark. More than enough to confuse you for the entire season this year. Now your task is to put some of these tips into practice, and figure out what works and what does not. Much like fish, no ducks have ever been killed while sitting on your couch playing xbox.

I will only add this advice, Charles. Find yourself a good duck hunting partner. In your situation, a good partner will be an older guy with lots of experience, but who has a weakening back. Offer to carry all the gear in and out of the woods for the hunts. Make sure you clean up your truck before each hunt, because invariably you will be driving every time. His truck is always "making a funny sound" or "the wife is driving it today". Old guys like clean trucks. Stay in good physical shape. Remember, you are the brawn of the team, not the brains. A good way to stay in shape during the off season is cutting your duck hunting partner's grass every weekend.

By the way, send me a pm if you can't find a suitable partner. I'm availible.

[gottaflylee]

I think it was the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius that said, "To be a good and honorable duck hunter, you need a strong back and a weak mind".

You have already been given a wealth of information in this thread, Clark. More than enough to confuse you for the entire season this year. Now your task is to put some of these tips into practice, and figure out what works and what does not. Much like fish, no ducks have ever been killed while sitting on your couch playing xbox.

I will only add this advice, Charles. Find yourself a good duck hunting partner. In your situation, a good partner will be an older guy with lots of experience, but who has a weakening back. Offer to carry all the gear in and out of the woods for the hunts. Make sure you clean up your truck before each hunt, because invariably you will be driving every time. His truck is always "making a funny sound" or "the wife is driving it today". Old guys like clean trucks. Stay in good physical shape. Remember, you are the brawn of the team, not the brains. A good way to stay in shape during the off season is cutting your duck hunting partner's grass every weekend.

By the way, send me a pm if you can't find a suitable partner. I'm availible.

Priceless...absolutely priceless...
Oh ya, I would use 3" shells at the most, but this is coming from a guy that still shoots 2 & 3/4". In the blinds, I am amased at how many ducks are missed with in 25 yards with 3 & 1/2" shells, seems that the pattern does not open quickly enough in tight...

[JRJBfishing]

I second the 2 3/4"-3" comment... I normally shoot three inch, but the 2 3/4" will get the job done! 3.5" is overkill 90% of the time.

[Dave Sikorski]

I agree that 3.5" shells are simply a marketing ploy. Sure there's more shot, but more shot can miss just as bad and not as much shot.

Learn your gun, learn what patterns, learn where the ducks like to be, and learn how to deal with being wet, cold, and miserable and you'll do just fine.

Any gun that fits you and you can afford will kill ducks. I like Kent Faststeel #2's for almost everything. Throw a mod choke in your bag for days when the birds aren't quite as close. I'd rather miss with a tight pattern than cripple them with a wide open pattern.

Have fun, be safe, and learn that when you do the work you'll be successful. Chances are you'll become addicted. Don't worry there's plenty of us out there if you need a "support group"

-D