I'm a life long duck hunter, my number one thing especially with wings. I'd rather hunt ducks than deer any time! It's more action, more shooting, less feeder watching.
I hunt public areas here in Texas. I have a boat, but rarely use it anymore for ducks, mostly for fishing. The area I hunt require check in and check out, just show up about 4:30 AM pick a spot, drive to the parking area and walk to the pot hole. There are no blinds. I have rarely had the luxury in my life of hunting from a blind. On a marsh pothole with enough reeds, grass, and cover, blinds are not necessary. Good camo and a good hat IS necessary. A 12 gauge is necessary, though you can hunt with a 3" 20. I use decoys and they're necessary for pot hole hunting, normally. Helps to learn to use a call, part of the fun of hunting the critters for me is talkin' to 'em. After I've limited, if the birds are thick, I often unload and just sit there callin' 'em for an hour or so just for the fun of it. I'd shoot with a camera, but I don't wanna mess up a camera in the water.
I had a dog for a while, decent dog, got stolen. Good labs are hot items in duck country and there are thieves everywhere. Mostly, though, I've hunted without a dog. Lose a duck here and there, but oh well, save on dog food.
It don't cost that much in coastal Texas to get into some excellent duck hunting, but it does take some learning, how to set up, how to call, etc. That was part of the fun of it when I was a kid. A friend copied an 8 track tape (remember those?) of a "how to call ducks" for me and I'd drive my '67 SS Malibu around listening to duck calls when other kids were listening to Led Zeppelin
I think I have something like 7 dozen deeks around here. Bought most of 'em used from a guy. I never set, but a dozen out on a small pothole, though, all you need unless you're hunting open bay, then the more the merrier. There are weighted keel deeks for choppy water, open bay. There are water keel and inflatable types for carry into marsh areas (I have a dozen carry lite inflatables that get used a lot). When I first started, I'd read an article in Outdoor Life where a guy suggested how to hunt with paper bag deeks. In the early morning or overcast day when the visibility is low, the birds just see a shape on the water and bags actually work. But, I bought deeks soon as I could afford it and one Christmas, my parents got me a dozen Victor mallards and boy I was set up!
Florida, as much water as is around there, should have some public marsh areas for hunting, but I know nothing about waterfowl in that state. I know we have lots of freebee duck hunting down here and that's how I got into it as a kid. We were a rather poor working class family and my step dad didn't hunt. I picked that up from my grandpa and uncle early on. Waterfowl is something I got into on my own, though, had no mentors. Grandpa wouldn't do it anymore, said they couldn't pay him to be wet and cold.
Now days, with all the goretex and stuff available, wet and cold ain't that bad, though I still use an old M65 field jacket. On really cold mornings, I have 5mm neoprene waders. Waders are a necessity, though in Florida I doubt you'd need neoprene too often, cheap Red Ball waders from WalMart work find down into the mid 50s. I don't put the neoprenes on unless it's in the 30s. Nice, though, on the rare days you have to stomp ice holes to get across open water.
Other things in my hunting I use is a GOOD flashlight. Need a good shell belt that will handle a couple of boxes. I rarely shoot a box of ammo anymore with a 6 bird limit, but old habits, you don't wanna run out. Usually, though 15 rounds is plenty for a 6 bird limit. 3 inch 12 gauge rounds in that Mossberg put the hurt on me, so that's probably a good thing.
I shoot 12 gauge #4 3" mags in steel in either improved or modified choke and it works at 40 yards + some. Decoying ducks will be inside 40 yards. If they ain't, I let 'em pass and work the call. I wouldn't mess with any high dollar ammo unless you're after geese, then you'll need 'em. I use Federal Tungsten Iron on geese, lightening kills at 50 yards on those very tough birds. They're cheaper than most of the magic shotshells, about 14 bucks a box of 10. Remington heavy shot is about 20 bucks a box of 10. Steel has actually gotten cheaper over the years, 8 or 9 dollars a box of 25. I haven't shot a 20 in years and have no desire to use one on ducks. 12 is the standard and no one shoots 20 down here, some 10 gauge, but few 20s.
