Waterfowl....where do I start?

[cem3434]

I have always wanted to hunt waterfowl, but I have no idea what I am doing.  I live in Pierce County, so can you guys give me any tips on how to get started and maybe some public hunting areas to check out? Maybe some good "how to" calling videos to get me started as well.   

I hunt for just about everything else, but I have just never been exposed to hunting ducks and geese. My plan is to join DU and WWA in the near future as well.

Thanks in advance for any information you are willing to share.

[duckaholic]

p.m. sent

[gasman]

Do your research and try to find someone on here to take you and show you the ropes. It worked for me last year 

I made a some trips with a couple different members on here and learned a lot from them. Hopefully I can hook up with them again this year and maybe a some other people from the forum to hunt with this year. I still got a lot to learn 

[Sneaky]

My advice: Buy the BEST equipment you can afford (shotgun, waders, clothing, decoys, calls, etc). Hunting waterfall is a matter of lots of little things adding up to something magical. There is a lot of trial and error that can be eliminated with the right equipment, saves a lot of discomfort and frustration 

[TheSkyBuster]

My advice: Buy the BEST equipment you can afford (shotgun, waders, clothing, decoys, calls, etc). Hunting waterfall is a matter of lots of little things adding up to something magical. There is a lot of trial and error that can be eliminated with the right equipment, saves a lot of discomfort and frustration 

I agree with that advice to a point,  A good set of waders and a decent jacket can be worth their weight in gold when your standing in Icy water for hours at a time.  but a good ol' remington 870 will kill ducks just as effectively as a fancy new automatic. I shot a mossberg model 500 for 4 or 5 seasons before I upgraded to an auto.  the same goes for calls, more important than buying a high dollar call would be practice. I would say start with the El' cheapo until you have a good idea of what callings is about. then you can upgrade to one that suits you best.   The call I use the most now is an old raspy Faulks I bought for about $7 bucks.  I think you should get yourself 1 or 2 dozen cheap mallard decoys, a call and an instructional cd. Practice your calling, shoot a little trap or skeet and start scouting.  You will be addicted in no time.  Probably the best thing you could do would be to tag along with someone who has been waterfowling for a while and see how it's done. You will learn a ton in the first day.    Next season if your up my way your welcome to tag along with me.  I'll even guarantee you a shot at a real live, feet down, backpedaling over the decoys duck. 

[Sneaky]

 

If you can only afford an 870 (like me) they kill ducks nicely!

My cousin let me shoot his winchester sx3 one day to finish my limit. What a difference!

As for calls decoys: yes, ducks can be killed consistently with poly calls and hot buy decoys. My experience has shown me that flocked decoys and quality calls/calling can put wary birds over the edge.

It all boils down to how much you're into it. I am a waterfowl nut! But I am also a near-broke 20 year old working part time at the feed store and going to school...So my resources dictate my gear choices!

Another piece of advice I can think of is don't be lazy about scouting. Pierce county has some great opportunity within a few hours (columbia river to the south, skagit to the north).

Good luck!

[D-Rock425]

I would start by the water .  Once you go you will be hooked.  Try to find someone that knows how to hunt them and then just start putting together some gear.  It may take a few years before you have everything you need so start of buying the basics.

 

[Blacktail135]

Learn to identify duck species on the wing.

Learn when NOT to pull the trigger.

Learn your and your equipments EFFECTIVE range.

Get a dog of some sort to retrieve birds that you won't be able to get to or find on your own.

Get an insulated, waterproof cap with a short bill (I like my Stormy Kromer).

Don't waste your money on fancy gloves. Get a couple pairs of those wool military gloves.

Get a small game carrier with the individual loops.

Learn how to not cockblock or crowd other hunters.

Don't walk on frozen ponds and sloughs unless you know what your doing.

A ducks main defense is their eyes and they can see the slightest movement on still days.

Smile in your photos. Don't try to look all bad ass, theres always a badder ass somewhere anyways.

Don't cut farmers fences.

If walking a long ways to "your" spot, a short decoy bag is better that a long one.

Respect the sport.

Theres many types of waterfowling that require many different things to know and equipment to have that, when hooked, will leave you broke, tired, scared, wet, content, cold, sore, frustrated, happy, bewildered......and a big ol' smile on your face, especially on those "magical" days.

Good luck!





   

[h2ofowlr]

Well said.

Also don't be that guy that hits the field with 6 boxes of shells and thinks he has to shoot them all.  As mentioned learn your effective range and hold back on skybusting.  If ducks are working someone elses spread show some etiquette and let them work.  No need to try to call them off there spread or blow the call all morning.

[camano gibby]

Chem3434;

Look on the Washington Waterfowlers website and find the closest chapter to join.  It will be the best $25.00 you will ever invest in this sport.  It's a good hands on org. that focuses it's efforts at home right here in Washington state.  You will meet a nice bunch of hunters that will point you in the right direction......your going to save a lot of time and money by joining the WWA.

Gibby

[vandeman17]

Do your research and try to find someone on here to take you and show you the ropes. It worked for me last year 

I made a some trips with a couple different members on here and learned a lot from them. Hopefully I can hook up with them again this year and maybe a some other people from the forum to hunt with this year. I still got a lot to learn 

I agree with Pete. If I were in your shoes, I would try to find some people that know what they are doing and ask if you can join them for a few hunts. When you are out there, observe what they are doing like you are in class, ask questions and just absorb as much knowledge as possible. I have been duck hunting for a while now and I still learn something new almost every time I go out. Most importantly, have fun, enjoy the experience and get ready to join the addiction! 

[Glockster]

Join WWA, go to the meetings and participate in the habitat and membership recruitment projects...you will find better mentorship there than any 'free" advice you will glean from strangers of the internet.

Be warned:  Waterfowling is an addiction that will aflict you to your core and you might never recover. 

As for calling...it's highly overrated as a duck attractor and in reality repels far more ducks than it ever attracts.  Learn the places ducks like.  Learn how to hide.  Learn how to use decoys and motion to attract them. 

[Wtrfowlr62]

When i lived in Montana for the first 12 years of my life i only got to experience big game no birds. Moving to Washington, alot of people i have met are into the waterfowl scene. I brought myself up for being a "waterfowl hunter" dad never was really into it. The biggest help for me was learning from experienced people. Ask around, talk to people go with them and as vandeman said if you get a chance to go with some experienced people, sit down as if you in a class room watch what they do, observe what they did and why they did it. Always ask questions, most people are thrilled to teach and answer. Starting out your gonna make mistakes to, take critisism well, dont be discouraged if you mess up infront of the guys who take you out or on your own . I mean hell the first time i went out couple years ago with my coach i shot one of his decoys :X he wasnt happy needless to say, but i learned (the hard way)!! But from being surrounded by a bunch of extremely experienced guys i learned tons and keep learning every year! Being able to take critisism, patients, and the drive to learn from trial and error will take you far  .


As for gear goes, invest in good waders now. they will save you alot of hassle. Greenhead gear decoys are pretty affordable and look good to, it really comes down to you budget. get a good three in one jacket that will keep you warm in dry from early to the late cold season. Call wise, personally i think start off with a good call and keep working on it till you get the hang of it so you dont invest 150 bucks on crappy ones when you finally get the hang of it. I use an Echo Meat Hanger, love it, little pricey though, most would say just start off with a 15 dollar calls, thats just my  . gun wise i started with a 11-87, but have nothing but good things to say about the 870. its the most common gun i see usually and great dependability, itll kill'em as good as any other gun. i would invest more on the waders clothes scene to start off then over the years build up your gear, it takes time.


Other than that, goodluck trying to quit the sport! i get so ancy all year till the season starts!! its the easiest thing to get hooked on and impossible to stop after you've joined the millions of others who hunt waterfowl!

[Coho]

 Maybe go on a hunt with a local guide. Is Meats on here?   You will get an idea of the sport and some birds to try.

  I agree, get good waders and a good jacket.

[Special T]

Sucessfull waterfowling is made of 3 important factors, and everything falls into them.  1) Location  2) Presentation 3) Concealment. I think in order to be sucessful you need to have any 2 of these down, heavily weighted to loaction.
1) If you are where they want to be you seldom need to do much else. I have been in timbered ponds at the right time with 3 ugly worn decoys and shot 2 limits, my buddie and i, in 2 hrs. This spot was only good about 2-3 weekends a year, and when it was HOT you couldn't keep the ducks out! all we did was stand next to trees....
2) Presentation is everything from the kind of decoys, where they are laid out, calling etc. You will never go wrong will more realistic spread. $$$ does matter but isn't everything to sucess. Calling is important part of presentation. Knowing what to call, when, how loud, and how much. I think the 2 most underutilized calls are the 6in one whistle and the feeder shacker call. Why?    They are easy to do well! A good caller puts in a lot of practice to sweet talk green heads into the spread. I think poor calling is worse than no calling. I'm kind of out of practice so i have been using my whistle feed call and just quacking... I have one buddy that is a kick ass caller, so i just play back up to sound like more birds... If you feel like you have to do something get some kind of motion decoy, pull kind... I think they keep people from over calling
3) Pit blinds and layout blinds are awsome! Many times however all you need is to stay still and use something to break up you outline.

I think Scouting likely the most important factor in killing lots of ducks. Where they will be and why. Keep a journal to keep track of what they are doing. It will help you see trends when and where you see ducks... Things like time day weather are very important... You can spend many days hunting that same flooded timber after a AWSOME shoot wondering what you are doing wrong... likely its just the wrong location for that day.  Hope that helps