newbie to waterfowl

[MRhunter]

I am brand new to waterfowl this year. I have a duck call, waders, a 12 ga benelli and that is it for duck specific gear. I have hunted big game already but am branching out into waterfowl this year and maybe upland bird next year. any advice on gear, prep work etc.. I have a place to hunt already just looking for general help as to what I need and don't need. thank you in advance.

[lokidog]

A half dozen decoys or so might be useful.

[Colin]

I think Rogers sporting goods has hot buy mallards on sale for super cheap.

[Badhabit]

You should have about 2 dozen good quality duck decoys. Since you're on the Wet side I'd have a dozen mallards, 6 pintails and 6 widgeon for a decoys mix. Get the Echo duck calling 101 CD. If you think your blind/hide is good keep adding brush and make it better. Cover your face or use face paint. Keep some cover over your head to conceal any movement if the birds are overhead. Don't put your decoys beyond your comfortable shooting range. If you're trying to decoy birds then try to decoy the birds, don't pass shoot, you only educate birds. Lastly, it's all about having fun and enjoying the hunt and the great outdoors, if you kill some birds that's a bonus.

Welcome to the madness of waterfowling...........

[MRhunter]

I have decoys i can use. What do you mean by pass shooting and decoy hunting???

[lokidog]

I think he means only shoot at them if they commit to the decoys.     It's probably better to let them fly if they don't completely commit than to take a marginal shot.

[Brad Harshman]

You have received great advice so far.  I'd add two more things;
1.Get up early ; earlier than you think.  Take your time traveling in the dark and try not to sweat.  YYou'll stay warmer longer.
2. Develop a way to add movement in your decoy spread.  Birds on the water are never still - mimic this.

I have a question - what is your plan to retrieve birds?  Dog? Boat?

[MRhunter]

Im goin with a hunting partner and he has a boat. I would like to get a good bird dog if i enjoy hunting this season.

[Badhabit]

The thrill and challenge of waterfowl hunting using decoys is to fool the birds to want to land in your decoys. "Backwinging" is a common term used. When the birds are backwinging they present the best shot. Their speed is almost at a stop and they appear to be almost stationary. Sometimes the birds will make 2-3-4 passes over the decoys before they commit. Lots of new waterfowl hunters have a difficult time judging distances on birds. They think the birds are 25 yds out  when they are 50. That's why I suggested let the birds get to your decoys. If your farthest decoy is set 30 yds away from the blind and the birds are in the decoys you will get a good reference point of what they look like at 25 to 30 yds away. So if the birds don't commit and the fly over the blind at 25yds then you have a chance at a ethical shot with a high probability of making a clean kill and retrieve. Days when the birds don't want to commit and are passing  over the decoys at 50yds up and guys pass shoot they don't have good chances of cleanly killing a bird, they educate the birds to avoid anything that looks like a decoy and other hunters in the area call that sky busting. Don't get me wrong, there are some hunters out there that have shooting skills and can put the smack down on birds at 50 yds. Above all have fun, be safe. Badhabit