Brand New Waterfowl Hunter Looking for some Advice

[kodiak10]

This is my first season ever hunting, and I have been having lots of fun with it. I have been having success far out in Eastern Washington jump shooting ducks in public land. The two successful trips I have had have been some of the most memorable experiences of my life.  I am very interested in hunting the west side of the state as I live there and cannot afford to drive 4 hours out whenever I want to go hunting.

Here are my priorities as far as getting myself up to speed.

1. I learned quickly that my short barrel shotgun with my IC choke is not the best tool for the the job. I have only been taking very short range shots only, but I spent the money on a modified choke and a 28 inch barrel. I am very excited, I think it will help my success greatly.

2. I also learned that my blaze orange vest I wear is a very poor choice as the ducks have been having a very easy time seeing me. I will stop wearing that and pick up some more camo.

3. I have the feeling that decoys are going to help me greatly especially out West where there is much less cover to hide behind, and the land to hunt is much more limited. What are the essential first decoys you guys would buy?

I have waders and some calls too. Am I headed in the right direction as far as what I need to increase my success? If you were starting today with your wealth of knowledge and lack of equipment, what would you attempt to acquire?

Thanks in advance!

[RJW]

Some kind of boat, even a little layout boat. Doesn't need to be very expensive. This will open up a tremendous amount of area and you can hunt without a dog with a layout boat.   

[WSU]

Get a dozen cheap floaters and a spinning wing. That will cover a lot of scenarios you’ll run into.

[EWUeagles]

First, and I know I'll get *censored* for saying this but I don't consider jump shooting waterfowling. To me it's more about tricking the ducks or geese and not about putting a stock on them. Also jump shooting can actually screw up other people hunts (had it happen to me this year). I am glad thought it did get you hooked and want to get into it more. Next getting into waterfowling is normally pretty expensive endeavor and if you can find someone else to split cost it helps a lot but here are the things I have learned.

1. Mod Choke on a 28" barrel is a good combo but your goal in waterfowling should always be to get birds close. Sometimes it's better to not get a shot than to take a long shot that will wound a bird. Only experience will teach you your range with a shotgun.

2. Camo is overrated when it comes to waterfowl hunting. I would worry more about clothes that keep you warm and dry. When waterfowl hunting you're normally in a blind of some type so it's more important to not move and cover your face.

3.Decoys do help and I would get a spinning wing decoy and a jerk cord. If you have an unlimited budget buy Avian X decoys and never rebuy your decoys. If you're like most of us that isn't the case and your first decoys will be something off of craigslist. They will work and if they are too ugly for you paint them. My first year I used cheap cheap craigslist decoys that I touched up or repainted as divers. I still use some of them as filler decoys but most I have passed along to young hunters.

4. The first thing you need to acquire is a duck retrieval tool. This maybe a boat, dog or even waders. Some areas you hunt you might be able to wade to and some you can't so you might need a boat(Kayaks can work for this). Next would be OnX or get very familiar with your county parcel website. Finding a spot is always the most difficult thing. The best thing I ever did learning how to waterfowl was get a bird ID book and then watched ducks. Duck ID is very important and is necessary to stay legal. The first time you go out let the birds work and land and don't even pull the trigger. You'll learn more by watching than you ever will just blasting away. Good luck on the upcoming season and I hope you have a blast!

[WSU]

Jump shooting is totally fine and great way to get into duck hunting. Just make sure you do it in places nobody is trying to hunt over decoys.

[kodiak10]

I appreciate all the advice guys!

I have been very careful thus far to only go to places where it seems others don't commonly go. I honestly want to stay away from people as I don't know what I am doing and don't want to get in the way of others success. The spot I found has been good for me, as the heavy brush and steep banks has allowed me to get very close, not take any long shots and understand what species before I pull the trigger.

Last trip I saw several diver ducks and refrained from pulling the trigger. I walked 200 ft up the stream through the brush, flushed a group of mallards and got my first mallard drake. It felt like the universe thanking me for my restraint, I was so happy with the chance to harvest such a beautiful creature.

1. I am thinking of getting a cheap pack raft. I have waders but I know that many spots will be deeper than wading depth. Looks like there is some cheap ones for under 200 dollars.

2.  I will try to find some cheaper decoys. I have a friend who is very interested in the ducks too and he might be convinced to help with the collection. Maybe around 6 mallards or so and a spinning wing one.

3.  I took an ornithology course in college and have a decent ability to ID ducks, but it can get loads better than it is. I live next to lake Washington in Seattle and have been spending time with the tame ducks there to try to better understand their language and mannerisms between species. There is no excuse for shooting an unknown species.

[eastsidemallard74]

Where are you located? I have a bag of inexpensive decoys I would let go. I have about 2-3 dozen I'm not using.PM me if interested. I'm in Moses Lake. Also why are you wearing blaze orange?

[kodiak10]

I was wearing blaze orange because I had no idea that waterfowl could see it so well haha. I guess as a new hunter I am still real worried about the possibility of being shot by some fool. I might just head over that way in a few weeks, I will send you a PM if I am interested.

[EWUeagles]

If you think getting a duck while jump shooting was great wait till you work your first duck over decoys. You won't want to do anything else! Also don't sleep on divers, some of them taste just as good or better than any mallard.

Unless you only ever plan on jump shooting don't get one of those cheap rafts. Safety is a big thing in waterfowl hunting and people die every year in boating accidents. You would be better off spending that money on a small aluminum boat. I also don't know that area at all so maybe a float tube would be the best.

If you have an extra 40 bucks laying around purchase bad grammar academy. It's a great step by step tutorial on how to call for ducks and geese. If not there is a lot of stuff to be found on youtube.

[CoryTDF]

I have killed a few ducks. Just a few. Here are a few tips I would give you. I am not active on the waterfowl thread nor have I ever really been as waterfowl hunters have a tendency to act like a bunch of 7th grade girls. Just a tip as it is not a matter of "IF" but "WHEN" you experience this. Not sure why it is this way but there is more drama in a waterfowl forum or hunting circle than anything else I have ever experienced so be ready for it.

I have hunted all over this country and with some of the best out there. Here are are few tips I would share with any new hunter.   

1) Do you own homework. Most of us love to help but we are not going to do all the work for somebody and you will find that most waterfowl hunters are like this.

2) If somebody takes you to a spot public or not, don't steal it from them. This will, and has, started many wars.

3) If you get beat to the blind and you are alone it is acceptable on occasion to ask if you can join the group. Just feel it out. If it feels like they are standoffish be on your way. DO NOT set up 75 yards away from them. Most states have a minimum distance law but it really comes to common sense and overall ethics.

4) Buy good gear. You can go cheap but I promise you will eventually come around and had you spent the money up front the first time you would be way ahead.

5) Find a group of guys that you can hunt with and get along with. You can make a collective of decoys and also share the work of setup and pick up. It is also really nice to have somebody to chat with when the flight is slow.

6) DO NOT SHOOT AT MILE HIGH BIRDS! You know your own ability don't be a jerk and try to sky bust birds. All you accomplish by sending steel in the air at 100 yards birds is educating birds, wounding birds, and really p!ssing off the other hunters around you.

7) The pond is not the place to practice your calling. Don't be that guy. Use your morning commute, lazy afternoons, and the off season to perfect your calling. Don't blow your call unless you are working birds. If they are not going to commit and it's obvious they are leaving let them go. FYI I like Big Sean's Championship Calls 

Get a dog if you can. A good dog can make a hunt 10 times more fun as it is always a treat to watch them work. You will also increase your recovery substantially. If you do get a dog use the same idea about learning to call. In the middle of a hunt is not the time to train your dog. Use the off season or anytime you are not hunting to do the training. Plenty of guys on here that can help you with tips on that including myself.

9) Get a good choke for your gun. I know this is a big debate but trust me it makes a difference.

10) Stay humble and remember that you always have something new to learn. Waterfowl hunting can be an absolute blast and there is no reason to be an arrogant a$$. There are plenty of those guys out there no need for another. Take notes of things like weather such as temp, wind, sky. Watch the forcast for the north. Cold fronts in the north are what feed us new birds to shoot. If you see a front coming into Canada good bet we will be getting new birds.

11)One last thing I want to add. Waterfowl hunting can be very dangerous as the cold water and bad weather that make it good hunting will also kill you. Layer your clothing with synthetic fabric, stay away from anything cotton, get good waders, use a life jacket when in transit, as mentioned above try to get a worthy boat, and do not mess around with ice over running water. People die every year in pursuit of waterfowl and it only takes one simple mistake or moment of unpreparedness to potentially end your life. Do not become a statistic.   


Like I said, you will not see me on this particular thread very often but i saw your post and wanted to jump on and share a few things. I'm happy to share tips, ideas and be overall a helpful person to a new waterfowler so feel free to PM me with any questions you may have.

[T-Bone]

Pardon the following questions from an "Old & Cranky Old Man":

#1 Are you using steel or another non-toxic shot for your waterfowling (As required by state and federal law)? If so, your IC choke will pattern like MODIFIED with steel shot and the 26" barrel is ideal for jump shooting. A shotgun is a short range weapon; so little ballistical edge is actually gained by using a 28" barrel...It's personal preference and NEVER use steel shot in a gun with a fixed FULL choke or gun damage can occur.

#2 Since you are new...Did you get the proper licenses to hunt waterfowl?....I.E. a WA State Small Game License, WA State Migratory Bird Validation and a Federal Duck Stamp?

Sorry I have to ask #2, but I've run into too many "Newbies" that were ignorant of the law or just plain ignored it.

Nonetheless...GOOD LUCK!!!

[Tundra]

Being new to waterfowl, I appreciate the question and the responses.  Thanks all! 

I'll ad to the question a bit....
What are your top 3 book suggestions for a new waterfowl hunter?
Thinking something to help with identifying species, something to make one a better gunner, and then a basic tips and strategy book?? 

Also, I have a Versatile Hunting Dog (Pudelpointer) who is a retrieving fool!  What are some good tips on training him for the blind?  He is a decent uplander now, just looking to up my game.

Thanks!

[HaydenHunter]

Get the book "Water Dog" by Richard Wolters.  Not his books Game Dog or Gun Dog.  Water Dog.  It will give you the elements necessary to train your dog for water retrieves.  There are many excellent training programs out there, Smartworks being one of them, but Wolters book is straightforward and simple and will help you turn your dog into a meat dog over the water.  The book will set you back around 20 bucks and if you can't find it at your local bookstore it is available on Amazon.

[Stein]

Here is the ID book I have in my blind bag, it has tons of good information and was invaluable when I started.

https://deltawaterfowl.org/shop/merchandise/waterfowl-identification-guide/

This will certainly ruffle some feathers, but I have no problem with the shoot and then identify method when learning.  As long as you are 100% sure it's a duck, there is no duck you can't shoot.  There are limits on some, when you get your second pintail, you need to ratchet up the care and only shoot when you can ID the birds on the wing or pond, but until then, any duck you shoot is a legal duck.  The only way I learned was to watch, shoot, and then ID.  When I started, I hunted solo 95% of the time and it was simply the only way I would have ever picked some stuff up.

I'm still not that great on identifying on the wing, but I like to eat ducks so it doesn't matter what I kill.  Last year was tricky with the 1 pintail limit and many days I had to pass shots until I was certain I wasn't looking at another pintail.  Usually, either pintail or mallard hens are what is going to make you be careful.

The above doesn't include sea ducks which are a different deal.

[h2ofowlr]

Cory had a nice write up.  Good advise.

I would also say range time in the off season is a must.  I would also encourage you to find a shell that patterns good through your gun and choke and pick up a case of it.  Stay consistent with your shells, ex. same speed, dram, etc. and you will get your timing down pretty good.  Increasing your shooting ability and minimizing your cripples or loss birds.

You can learn a fair amount of information from the internet, but nothing beats field time.  Emersion into waterfowl hunting, experience, flight patterns and learning where the birds want to be afield are hands down the best learning experience.

Another good tip.  If you can't ID birds at first light, pass on them.  Learn your bird ID's.  If you unexpectedly harvest something you have trouble IDing, look it up.  If all else fails take some pictures, but don't post it on the internet, you will typically get blown up by the hunting community as you shot something you didn't know what it was.  It may be closed to harvest and get you a ticket.  Again learning bird ID and birds on the wing are critical.  Don't be like the new guy I saw at the ramp with his 7 duck limit of 2 drake sprig and 5 sprig hens.  Good luck hunting.