New to waterfowl

[Star1pup]

After more than a half century of hunting everything but waterfowl, I'm about to give it a try. How about some tips on what I need etc. Any recommended books or videos?

I'll be going with experienced waterfowl hunters, but I would like to be prepared.

[Darron]

for one get your check book out, it's a very very expensive sport. Boats, blinds, decoys, guns, shells(non-toxic). To start out you need a good quality 12ga. Then pattern it with a variety of steel and other non-tox loads. I would recommend hevishot, but it's a little pricey, but worth the extra $. If you're going to hunt over water you're going to have to buy a boat. Doesn't have to be top line, I hunted with a beater(1960 model) for about 5 years and it served me well till I switched over to a newer decent sized jon boat. Decoys, I would start off with a dozen mallards and a dozen goose floaters. You'll want to increase your spread more, but that will do you fine starting out. Just remember, if you buy cheap decoys, you will be buying more in the near future, I like G&H, they're a good decoy. I have been waterfowling for over 10 years now and I have around 4 dozen water decoys and 6-7 dozen field decoys. If you're going to get into field hunting(harder because most field are private and tough to gain access now a days) you'll need a couple dozen goose decoys(silos, shells, full bodies) and a good blind. I would first go out with someone who knows what they are doing and see if you enjoy it before you invest in thousands of dollards in gear. If you don't like hunting in the rain, snow, or below zero temps, you won't like waterfowl hunting. When the snow and rain blows is when the birds fly the best.

[10Gauge]

Only thing I'll add to Darron's comments.......is find a friend or "ol-timer" willing to take you on a couple of waterfowl hunts before you "jump"! Aside from the equipment, scouting and learning what the birds are doing is key to success. An "ol-timer" once told me "hunt where the birds want to be, not where you want to be", and that seems to work for me!

[The_Duck_Hunter]

10, you must have talked to the same ole timer me and my friends did.
We said," Mr. Welldy? Where's the deer at?".......

......and he said,"Boys, the deer are where the deer are. And when ya find 'em, thats where they're at!"

We all laughed and thanked him for his profoun imput!

LOL, but he was right they were right where we found them....lol

[Star1pup]

Since the guys I'm going with know their stuff, I guess I'm just looking for advice on what I can do to keep from looking like a total dunce. My clothing for instance is designed for small game, or deer both bow camo & gun orange. Can I get by with any of this? Obviously not the orange, but how about regular woods camo when hunting from a blind?

[10Gauge]

If your hunting from a blind, any camo will be effective. Take a face mask or camo paint your face if you don't like a mask. If your field hunting in the open you will need Shadow Grass or other "Grass" pattern camo for best concealment. Don't be afraid to ask your buddys what you will need, espeacially in terms of ammo.

My comments regarding "hunt where the ducks want to be....." was not a flip remark.....a lot of guys see a pond, or field that they want to hunt and some guys believe if they put out enough decoys the ducks and/or geese will come! It's not that simple, scout, scout, scout just like you are "big" buck hunting. Ask farmers and wildlife officers where they are seeing birds and what time of day. I have a farm near me that only bets geese on extremely foggy or rainy days. I only hunt it on those kinda days! I could waste a lot of time if I wanted to hunt it any other time but I don't have the time to waste on birds that won't show! "Hunt where the birds WANT to be NOT where you want to be."

[Darron]

I second what 10ga said. I scout a lot during the season. If I see a field holding birds I will ask for permission. Now, I also ask for permission in the summer time, June/July. What I do and it works for me, is I will go around and locate as many roost areas as I can. I will then proceed and ask EVERY farm around the roost. If I can't get access to farms backing right up to the roost I will then move to the farms backing up to them and so on and so forth. Most of the fields I hunt are in very close proximity to roosts. Some as close as just a couple hundred yards. Do they use these fields every year? No. But I am close enough to the roost to where I am the first spread they see when they fly out. I have access to 6 very good fields, all but 2 of them are within 200-300 yards of the roost, one is closer than that, probably too close, but I picked it up this year so I'm going to give it a shot(literally right across the road). The other 2 are flooded fields about a mile from a well known roost. I still kill quite a few birds out of them as well. A lot of guys like to be on the "X"(where they are feeding). That is great, but you're only going to get one or two hunts then they are gone. If you have a field close to a roost that they use on occasion but more importantly they fly over it on a regular basis you will be better off because you will always have geese. And always remember, DON'T SHOOT THE ROOST.

[The_Duck_Hunter]

Star,

Dont wear anything shiney. I even go as far to wear a face mask and those brown jersy gloves that I use for deer hunting. Cover thy watch completely.

When taking a shot swing through the bird. Dont point and shoot at it like its a rabbit.

If you wound one and it starts diving under when you try to dispatch it, dont aim at the birds head. Aim at the base of it where it meets the water. I've watch guys chase a duck or goose half wy across the lake and use half a box of shells before the thing finally died on its own. Its sorta like when a deer ducks an arrow from a noisy bow.

I hunt a canal, and also jump Woodies on the river and creeks. My shots in these locations are generally less than 35 yards, so I use improved cylinder for a wider pattern.

As is the case with everything else. The best wat to keep from loooking stupid is to ask questions if you arent sure. Believe me, I'm hard headed and have looked stupid alot in my life....lol

Above all else...........hold your mouth right!

GOOD HUNTING

[Hougan]

If you are going with experienced hunters then do exactly what they tell you to do to the letter. After a few hunts you will get the picture and start to add to the hunt. Be willing to set out decoys and pick them up. Ask as many questions you can about the set ups and calling, flagging, guns, loads etc. A thermos of hot coffee goes a long way and maybe a snack or two when the temps get really low.