What size shot for both ducks & geese?

[Mfowl]

I shoot Kent 3" BB's  for everything, ducks and geese. I hate chasing winged birds through cattail patches and ankle grabbing mud. I prefer to hit them hard and drop them close. The only time I drop my shot size down is if I know there won't be goose opportunity, then I will go with a 3" #2 shell.

[Duckgtr]

The area we're hunting you can't shoot geese until 30 minutes after you can shoot ducks. So I can definitely start out with some smaller shot. Probably will load up with 3's for that first half hour.

Were you out there last Saturday? I was in the same zone as you are going this weekend.

No, I was nearby but wasn't hunting the fields.

Aight the guys on the property to the south of me weren't very happy because I kept bringing in all the geese

[Sneaky]

3" #3's for all birds and all distances. From quail to geese.

[bobcat]

3" #3's for all birds and all distances. From quail to geese.

I like that. Nice and simple.

[bobcat]

The area we're hunting you can't shoot geese until 30 minutes after you can shoot ducks. So I can definitely start out with some smaller shot. Probably will load up with 3's for that first half hour.

Were you out there last Saturday? I was in the same zone as you are going this weekend.

No, I was nearby but wasn't hunting the fields.

Aight the guys on the property to the south of me weren't very happy because I kept bringing in all the geese

Duckgtr, let me know if you ever need a partner.   

[h2ofowlr]

For years I shot BB's for everything.  I switched to 3", #2 about 2008.  Last year I picked up a few case of 3", #3 and that is now my go to for ducks.  It patterns very well out of my gun and flat smacks the ducks.  More pellets on target.  All ducks are shot under 50 yards.  Most at 30 yards or less.  All ammo I shoot is 1550 fps as well.  Unless shooting 3-1/2" it may vary slightly.  But if you stay consistent with the speed, you don't have to change your point of aim or correct your lead.

Big geese I shoot 3" or 3-1/2" BB's and for snows I still stick to 3" or 3-1/2" #2's.  Been a great round for them. 

[EWUeagles]

If you're truly decoying birds 3" 2 shot is a great all around shell. I shoot plenty of big geese with 2's and never have a problem. I used to think you needed a 10ga and 3.5" shells to kill geese till my brother in law got a deal on  2 3/4 4 shot. He hunted geese with them for almost two years and his goose numbers never dipped with the smaller shot.

[Stein]

If you're truly decoying birds 3" 2 shot is a great all around shell. I shoot plenty of big geese with 2's and never have a problem. I used to think you needed a 10ga and 3.5" shells to kill geese till my brother in law got a deal on  2 3/4 4 shot. He hunted geese with them for almost two years and his goose numbers never dipped with the smaller shot.

I watch a Youtube channel from a guy in Canada that stacks up ducks and geese like nobody's business.  He shoots 2 3/4 and has no problem stacking snows and honkers.

I used to carry a couple of BB shells for the occasional suicidal goose but since I got a good deal on a case of 3" #2, I feel comfortable shooting anything with that.

[Duckgtr]

The area we're hunting you can't shoot geese until 30 minutes after you can shoot ducks. So I can definitely start out with some smaller shot. Probably will load up with 3's for that first half hour.

Were you out there last Saturday? I was in the same zone as you are going this weekend.

No, I was nearby but wasn't hunting the fields.

Aight the guys on the property to the south of me weren't very happy because I kept bringing in all the geese

Duckgtr, let me know if you ever need a partner.   

Sounds good my spread is easy to set, I'm pretty confident I'm one of the few that run a spread like it over there.

[krapmit]

3" 2's for everything for me. head shots ( :

[lokidog]

For what it's worth we shot a lot of geese with 1's (2 3/4" shells) and I've dropped a fair number with 3's. If less than 30-35 yards your 1's will be fine.  When pass shooting geese, I like BB.

[vandeman17]

3" 2's for everything for me. head shots ( :

Don't discount the value of breaking wings

[C-Money]

My favorite for geese is BB. That said, I have killed geese with authority with #4 shot all the way up to T. Just gotta bust a wing or get some shot in the head & neck...I would not worry one bit under decoys with what you have.

[Whitenuckles]

3 in # 2

[HaydenHunter]

If we are going out for geese only field hunts it's BBs.  If targeting close-in decoying ducks and the wind isn't savage, it's 3s.  Decoying and pass shooting ducks it's 2s.  2s will also kill a decoying or closely passing goose so if I am expecting both geese and ducks I usually load up 2s. 

It's easy on a semi-auto to switch loads for the one that is chambered but I usually don't empty all the shells out of the mag and switch.