Free: Contests & Raffles.
Shoot at close range. 20 - 35 yards.
Pattern your gun with different shells and see what's best for the yardage you shoot
I think a lot of duck hunters don't really know what 30 yards actually looks like. Most of the time when I'm hunting I will pace out 30 or 35 yards and either put my flutterwing there or a noticeable decoy, so I have a good idea what's in range. Plus you have to take into account their elevation above the ground. And ducks always look closer than they are until you pull up to shoot and you're like oh crap that's further than I thought. For most adults, a good long step is about a yard.
Quote from: Curly on November 23, 2016, 04:17:59 PMShoot at close range. 20 - 35 yards.That's about how far we've been shooting them. Maybe we are leading them wrong and hitting them with the edge of our pattern
Shoot them in the face.
My guess would be the ones you lost were buffleheads. Those were the hardest ducks for me to kill outright. Most had to be swatted.
Yes they were I chased a crippled one across the pond in a kayak and wasted 4 shells
Mallards use to dive to get away from my old dog, couldn't shoot them when they surfaced cuz the dog was way too close
Quote from: JJB11B on November 23, 2016, 08:43:24 PMMallards use to dive to get away from my old dog, couldn't shoot them when they surfaced cuz the dog was way too closeI depth charged one once. It was about two feet down and heading into the river current. I think I disoriented her a bit with a shot straight down at her.
Go with a tighter choke that way if you miss it will be a clean miss, when you hit them you will hit them hard
All sorts of suggestions for this guy. Tighter choke, closer in, aim at the bill.... Kent Fasteel shout pattern pretty tight out of a modified choke. Most mfgrs say to not use their factory full choke with steel. He's already using Modified. I have a dozen #6 shot that may get tested out tomorrow morning. Where we will be is mostly puddle ducks and they are easier to kill than divers. I may be able to pass on the results if we have to swat anything.
All of the above and the fact that no matter what the eviro liberals say.....steel does not kill like lead.