Teach me how to duck hunt

[RKCheung]

Growing up and living in Southern California hasn't exposed me to hunting much, but I would like to get into it now. Specifically, I'd like to hunt waterfowl, but I really have no idea how and where to start. I have an 870 Express Magnum 12 ga w/ 18 in barrel. Do I need a longer barrel for duck hunting? What about other equipment/training, etc.?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Smoke]

My Granddad was a rabid duck hunter. I went with him some when I was younger. 870 will be fine, longer barrel will help some.

Get up real early, go wade in really cold water. Sit in blind and freeze to death. Make silly noises with a mouth call that annoy other ducks and 12 year old boys. Shoot at the few ducks that actually show up. If you hit one and it lands int he water spend an hour trying to fish it out with a fishing pole and a treble hook cause the dog won't go get it. All this for something I deem inedible. YMMV

I don't duck hunt anymore.

BUt have fun!

Smoke.

 

[Art Eatman]

If your existing barrel is threaded for screw-in chokes, fine. If not, you can have that done. The primary purpose of a longer barrel is to help control the swing on passing shots. Shorter barrels for close-in, fast-moving upland birds like quail where you have to swing fast to get on target; longer barrels where you have more warning and can get ready sooner.

As far as using a duck call, you gotta listen to ducks or to experienced hunters as they call.

Since the hunting involves a lot of sitting still and waiting, warm clothing is important for comfort, along with something comfortable on which to sit.

Birds can see colors, so camo or dull earth-toned clothing is a must. And, something to keep your smiling little face from shining like unto a veritable beacon.

Non-lead shot for your shotgun. I'm guessing #6? #2 for geese, IIRC.

And then all it takes is finding that magic place where Mr. Duck just loves to come visit.

Art

 

[12-34hom]

quack.

Just remember too throw the dog high enough.

12-34hom.

 

[Redlg155]

The 870 Express magnum is just fine. Now all you need is a longer barrel. I've been happy with 28" barrels. Aftermarket and factory barrels can be readily had for a reasonable price. Just take a peek at somewhere like Bass Pro Shops or Cabelas to get one online. Also, make sure you get them with screw in chokes. Most factory 870s I have seen have come with a modified choke. While this is fine for close in shooting, you might want to look at a full choke. A better bet is to get some shells and test pattern your gun at 35-40 yards and see what kind of pattern that you have. I've used #4 steel shot with good success. You wouldn't go wrong with #2 either.

Mr Eatman is on the right track about duck hunting. Try to get with an experienced caller or go to one of the clinics that many places have. Check the
Ducks Unlimited website for some great information.

Next get a good species identification book. You will definitely need to know what type of duck you are shooting at whether it be teal, mallards, wood ducks, gadwall, ect..as well as knowing the difference between a hen and a drake. Know your regs in and out as well as making sure you have the proper Federal and State duck hunting stamps.

And finally, until you get a good buddy to shoot with, jump shooting ducks makes for some fine sport. A good flat area with lots of "puddles" can make for a lot of fun as well as a bend in the river. The sport is getting close enough for a shot and then "jumping" them up off of the water. Make sure you jump them now...shooting ducks on the water is about the same as "pot" shooting quail. Give them a sporting chance!

Oh..and unless you have a dog to retrieve the ducks you are going to be in a bit of a spot. I've used a bass rod with a giant topwater floating plug to retrieve my ducks. Heck..sometimes you get lucky and land a bass too!

Hope this helps,
Good Shooting
Red

 

[dakotasin]

if you hunt solo, you'll do better w/ a longer barrel. if you hunt w/ a partner and value your life, or your partner, get a longer barrel. the muzzle blast out of a short barrel is intolerable for the poor sucker standing next to you in a pit.

here, duck hunting is a difficult process. there are so many species of ducks here, each w/ their own total bag limits, and sex limits, that it has become to difficult to enjoy the hunt. i quit hard-core duck hunting 2 years ago. now i just go out and try for wood ducks and teal, and that's it.

as far as advice... seems to me the best way to start a new endeavor in hunting is to learn the rules inside and out. that's where i would start. next, i would learn sex/species identification. the rest will come fast and easy.

 

[Kingcreek]

'round here, it helps if you're a wealthy Chicago lawyer...
after that, a new Suburban or Excursion, 200 decoys including atleast 6 robo-ducks, a $1000 dog, a $1000 gun, and a total lack of directional sense while tearing around in the pre-dawn darkness looking for the legendary "lost blind".
Sorry, I just had to vent a little.
Good luck, I hope you find a kind, sensible soul willing to introduce you to a grand sport. and please get a longer barrel. try hevi-shot and use mod or IC choke.
BTW, I usually like both hunting and eating ducks.

 

[Chuck from arkansaw]

See the duck, Shoot the duck.....easy. I am sorry to say I live in what is probably the duck hunting capital of the U.S. and don't hunt them...The gun is fine, get a longer barrel with screw in chokes. Get a duck I.D. book or better yet a video and study how to I.D. them on the wing. It would probably pay to go out and find a guide and pay for a couple of days hunting to get the hang of it.

 

[C.R.Sam]

...I hope you find a kind, sensible soul willing to introduce you to a grand sport. ... Kingcreek

That's a biggie.

Sam

 

[Kingcreek]

Hey Chuck from arkansas, got any local guide recomendations?
Maybe I'll come down for a few days of duck hunting, maybe bring some lawyers too. Would it be easy for them to get lost down there?

 

[Newt]

So... Kingcreek, if I see some poor soul in a 3-piece wandering around, I should contact you... right???


Newt

 

[rock jock]

Duck hunting was the first type of hunting I was introduced to nine years ago. Around here, it is considered something of a religion. IMHO, there is nothing like the serenity or challenge of hunting ducks. It is like heaven on Earth.

My first duck gun was a 870 Express Magnum w/ 28" barrel. I converted that to a HD gun, so now I use a Benilli Nova w/ a 24" barrel and shoot a little better. Don't know if its me or the gun. As a rule of thumb, use #6 shot for teal or other small ducks, #2, 3, or 4 for most average to larger ducks (pintails should be probably be taken with #2's), geese with BBB or BB. I generally leave a modified choke in my gun all the time. For longer shots that means you will have to more accurate. You might consider a gun that will shoot 3 1/2" shells. I will often load up two 2 3/4" or 3" shells and then a 3 1/2" shell behind them for long shots as the ducks turn.

As for calling, learn the most basic calls. Call sparingly and when in doubt, don't call. I went teal hunting this morning and didn't bring a call. I set out 6 decoys and several groups came in on their own.

Dogs help a lot for retreiving but are a lot of work. I have always retreived my own ducks. I'm probably on the hit list for some dog union.

I love duck hunting. I wish I was out there right now.

 

[Kingcreek]

So... Kingcreek, if I see some poor soul in a 3-piece wandering around, I should contact you... right???

NO. leave em lost.
Sorry folks, I shouldn't be a smarta$$. But Last year a group of Chicago lawyers kept jinxing our hunt. They had a blind not far from ours in some stripmine lakes. Only problem was they always showed up a little late, tearing around with headlights on, mostly lost but in the general area, just before the "ducking hour" then they are splashing around, plugging in the robos, and generally creating more havoc when the ducks start flying, yelling at the suburban dog, etc. I know I shouldn't stereotype but gee did I have my fill of those idiots.
I switched to a different lease this year. might not be as ducky but should have more gooses. and no fancy idiots.

 

[Selfdfenz]

As a general rule starting out on woodies and teal during early teal season will give you a taste. Then you can decide if you want to get into the sport or pass.

During early season if you do your scouting you can have a sporty morning shoot without any decoys and if you pick your place right, no dog either. Just waders. And daxn sure forget any calling. Not required.
Shooting woodies when they leave the roost can be very sporty...not long lasting, but sporty. Be patient and let the guys shoot first on the other side of the swamp and flush em to you!

When 200 screaming wood ducks come ripping out of the willows the comment "shoot fast and shoot often" could never be truer.

Another option is walk creek and river banks and try jump shooting but its better if you have a dependable retriever for that little adventure.
S-

 

[Geezer]

SOCAL DUCKS

Howdy do RK. The hardest part in our area, SoCal, is finding a place to hunt. If you really want to do that, we can take a long drive to the California/Arizona border and hunt where it won't be real crowded..not too many hunters, not too many ducks.

You have to understand that the ducks are one of the least important aspects of duck hunting.

Getting up in the middle of the night, driving long distances through the night while listening to duck call tapes on the tape recorder, splashing around in the water setting out decoys in pitch darkness, getting one wader foot stuck in the mud and falling over into the water, shivering in the blind, drinking too much tea and then having to get out of the blind, peel down the waders and try to relieve oneself while shaking with cold, knocking your shoulder into permanent disability by shooting magnum loads at a duck passing overhead, THAT's what it's all about!

Duck hunting is not a sport, it is a very serious mental illness.

Wanna go?

God bless and y'all be careful out there.

 

[Chuck from arkansaw]

Hay back at you Kingcreek. It would be real easy for a lawyer to get lost or even dead down in these parts. Took a drive over to Shirey Bay/Raney Brake last week. It is supposed to be some kind of duck hunting Meca in the duck shooters circles. It is SWAMP, and full of skeeters and snakes. I dont duck hung, and dont know any guides, but It is now against the law for guides to guide on WMA lands on weekends. They threw a bunch of lawyers and politicians in jail for it last season. I may get some steel and a stamp and sneak over that way when the season starts just for grins. It is almost exactly 45 minutes from my back door. I did pick up a couple of gray squirrels and 2 limits of rainbow trout over at Spring river last week. Made the trip worth it.

 

[sm]

Art and others nailed with longer bbl for pass shooting. Practice at range advisable. Don't look up or smile, ducks have great eyesight (Art's mention of beacon). I still use wool and wax cotton...paid for , wool is warm even when wet (plus you smell like one of the dogs), wax cotton can be re-sewn if torn.

I'd check with persons at a range, or sporting goods store.Hunts for fee posted...hint for an invite, relatives, if single find "that" girl whom daddy's has a place to hunt for free ( whatta you care-your wanting to hunt, not court and spark )Borrow waders and the like to see how it goes. Cheap wool pants under waders, above waist dress in layers...walking in take some layers off...you'll get too warm, when you stop with sweat it gets cold fast. Check Army/Navy stores for inexpensive wool pants and tops. I use silk underwear and silk 1st pair of socks...wicks moisture away, and is thin. I f real cold can use the new fangled insulate. Always Always wear a wicking type sock first then the 2nd pair, be it hunting boots , or waders. Feet sweat stick, rubbing = blisters. First sock even with waders will help.

A sling is good while walking/wading in...remove for shooting ...gets in the way, and the pendulum effect screws with shooting. Let others do the calling, just listen and learn for a bit. Notes zones of fire, and where expended hulls eject [ hint: two men in a blind-get to his left ] Gotta have coffee so you can learn to relieve yourself in waders. [truism: this is when ducks will come in...always ] Actually soup/broth is better...and jerky. Oh flashlight...mini -mag is perfect.

When you set to shoot forget about anything but the head...focus on the head, swing through and then some more...better to miss in front...than back.

HTH

..."bird, belly, beak, boom"...

 

[Leaky Waders]

Hi...my name's Leaky Waders and I'm a duckaholic....

My advice is, if you plan to hunt this season...stop - go to an exorcist and have this duckhunturging demon quashed...if you cannot and must change your whole lifestyle to chase waterfowl for 60 days a year through rain and sleet and snow then...

#1 get some waders - hodgman has some inexpensive canvas one's on their website - the outlet section for 39.99 - their camo is ugly but they'll work (I bought a pair for teal season); if you're going to hunt in cold weather then plan on sucking it up and getting some 1200 gram insulated neoprenes (mine are lacross, but brands don't reall matter that much).

#2 get some dekes...they go from 10 bucks a dozen to some plastic stuff on sale at Sports Academy to 150- 200 dollars 1/2 dozen for some blackwater decoys for commercial dekes. Or, you could make your own - takes alot of time and you don't have that much before this season..or you could splurge on outrageous expensive handcarved dekes...I wouldn't, all dekes eventually get shot - usually by your damned 'buddy'. "I thought it was swimming"

#3 get a boat, marry someone w/ a boat, get a friend w/ a boat, or hunt shallow water.

#4 build or buy a boat blind...

#5 pick your nonlead shot and pattern the hell out of it whether you use expert steel shot or bismuth or heavi shot, pattern your loads in your choke so you really know what it's doing. So far this year I've used 3" heavishot #6 on canadians and teal...I too aim for the head over dekes - that stuff is lethal.

#6 get the duckcommander duckology 101 cd...bass pro and cabelas prolly carry it. Even if you don't use one of his calls, his teaching is awesome.

#7 get a call...and practice it. An inexpensive call is a haydel's dr-85. Go to the haydel's website and check it out. If you want an upper end call, it's hard to beat a Doc Hull's. Practice your call everyday going to and from work. Get a whistle too for pintail and teal.

#8 Scout for ducks. If you're not in a blind, boat, or hiding behind some shrubs...then you're always scouting.

#9 start hunting w/ what you've got. Don't be intimidated thinking that you need everything all at once to hunt ducks. If you lack a boat, and dekes, then get your call and do some timber hunting.

#10 visit the refuge and waterfowler.com and delta waterfowl - they have great info.

v/r,

L.W.

 

[grampster]

Go to the used bookstore and find an anthology of Robert Ruark's "The Old Man and the Boy" stories. Stop at the local package store and get a fifth of some really good, aged, Kentucky "tonic", pick up a couple of Cuban cigars from somebody who smuggles them through Toronto, or some nice sweet pipe tobacco for the old corncob.

Go home and light a nice fire in the fireplace (gas log is better), pull the old soft leather chair and ottoman up before the fire. Put on a comfortable pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt and some soft wooly socks. Settle in with a nice proper glass of the "tonic" you picked up and read all about duck hunting and many other adventures that will sweep you off into the wonderland of Ruark's writings of the days of his youth along the East Coast.

That way you will have a wonderful time hunting the cagy ruddy duck and not have to endure cold, sleet, ugly roiling clouds, being wet, have a snotty nose, runny eyes, and worry about how the hell your going to find your way out after dark through that nasty, log filled, muddy swamp.

grampster

 

[Geezer]

WHAT?

Grampster, what are you thinking? He'll be missing all the fun parts!

God bless and y'all be careful out there.

 

[Byron Quick]

Heh, I've got a spot that's dry with good ducks.

I stay away from waders and such. Knee boots...I find a thigh deep hole.
Hip waders lead me into a waist deep hole. I'd probably drown if I tried chest waders.

I walked into the swamp with my climbing stand a couple of years back. Wound up completely submerged with that 27 pound stand strapped to my back. I knew I put quick-release pack straps on that thing for a reason.

If you need to find the deep holes...I'm your man.