Author Topic: Tips for duck/goose hunting. (Read 9671 times)

gasman · « **on:** October 12, 2011, 05:56:04 PM »

Anyone willing to share there tips or tacktics for duck hunting?
Personally I am new to duck hunting. This will be my second season and have learned much but know there is much more to learn.

What tips would you share with others?
Not places to hunt, but how too or what not to do......

Like; dek. set up....when to call... how to call.....kind of calls work best for what ducks.... how to set up a dek. pattern........which deks. to use.......how far to place the deks. from your blind/boat, etc....best tool to break ice......chokes to use for what distance....wind direction set up....etc.....

You get the idea........

bowNarrow · « **Reply #1 on:** October 12, 2011, 06:15:22 PM »

im on my second year as well but i learned that if the birds are already coming at you DONT call....its scares them away

3nails · « **Reply #2 on:** October 12, 2011, 06:18:10 PM »

The best tip I could ever give would be to scout the day before, find where at least a couple hundred ducks are working an area, secure permission and be there set-up before light.

fast60eddie · « **Reply #3 on:** October 12, 2011, 06:22:18 PM »

$60.00 Sunday the 23rd at cabelas

But I'm gonna give thesse cats achance

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/spo/2640634080.html

270Shooter · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2011, 06:57:30 PM »

This will really only be my third full season but I have learned a ton from hunting with my buddy and killed over a hundred ducks last year.

1. From what I have seen dekes don't matter as much as people think as long as they are visible to the birds froma long distance. Yes its good to have more variety but I honestly don't think its that big of a deal if you just have mallards and pins or whatever. Although it seems the teal like to land right next to your teal deoys if you have them. We always put them in a little bunch. We always leave an open area for the birds to hopefully focus on landing in as they commit, dont know if this really makes that much difference or not though.

2. Can't help you with calling because i suck at it

3. Scouting is probably the most important thing there is, find where the ducks want to be, simple as that.

4. As far as chokes and shells it really depends on your shooting ability and what your gun likes. Personally I am not that great of a shot (I'll admit it) but I like to shoot my IC and 3's or 4's for the most part. If we know the shots will be longer I'll pack some 2's and BB's. But thats from my gun, a benelli M2, yours may be different. And I think this combo is good to 40 yards. Pass shooting, which i never really do, i'll use the modified.

Theres a lot more things too i cant really think of at the moment

seth30 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2011, 07:01:13 PM »

wait until you can see the colors clearly, that means they are close enough to shoot.

AWS · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2011, 07:10:16 PM »

Spend as much time at the range shooting Skeet and 5 Stand from the low position so you can learn to hit crossing, high overhead and incoming shots. Skip trap you don't get many shots at a duck going straight away, save that for the pheasant hunters.

Wait until they are close enough to tell a hen mallard from a hen widgeon.

AWS

h2ofowlr · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2011, 07:10:42 PM »

Don't be that guy that shows up right at shooting time and give the next group some space. Don't set up on them. Calling for an hour straight won't help you land ducks.

seth30 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 12, 2011, 07:13:18 PM »

Quote from: h2ofowlr on October 12, 2011, 07:10:42 PM

Don't be that guy that shows up right at shooting time and give the next group some space. Don't set up on them. Calling for an hour straight won't help you land ducks.

:yeah:x100 I have had many days ruined on FIR Island by those types

Turkeyman · « **Reply #9 on:** October 12, 2011, 07:22:49 PM »

Be on the X and you will kill birds. Scout,Scout,Scout

D-Rock425 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 12, 2011, 07:41:08 PM »

Quote from: fast60eddie on October 12, 2011, 06:22:18 PM

$60.00 Sunday the 23rd at cabelas But I'm gonna give thesse cats achance

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/spo/2640634080.html

I was thinking about that too.

BurleyDog · « **Reply #11 on:** October 12, 2011, 07:51:53 PM »

Waterfowl hunting is my obsession.

Here's my best advice.

1) birds have really keen eyesight and can pick out movement from far far away. Don't move. Don't follow their flight with your head - learn to look with your eyes moving and not your head.

2) learn from each hunt. enjoy the hunt but at the end question what you did right and wrong and then adapt.

Good luck! You'll never stop learning.

full choke · « **Reply #12 on:** October 12, 2011, 07:59:48 PM »

I'll second what some have said: Don't show up right at shooting time and start wandering around looking for a spot to set up. And most importantly- don't set up too close to some one else. Give them at least two hundred yards. It is always best to have the wind at your back. Sometimes you can bend that rule, but more times than not you can't!

dannysdaddy · « **Reply #13 on:** October 12, 2011, 08:16:15 PM »

I say just start hunting and you will learn. nothings gonna work everywhere so you need to learn what works where you are out. my biggest advice if your not real good a calling is to be carefull. if the birds are in your direction dont call.

gasman · « **Reply #14 on:** October 12, 2011, 08:41:26 PM »

All good advise giys keep hem comming......

D-Rock425 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 13, 2011, 07:28:50 AM »

Always use a 10 gauge never can have to much gun.

LOVEMYLABXS · « **Reply #16 on:** October 13, 2011, 08:20:34 AM »

Gasman you've asked many good questions but let's try to break it down a bit so say let's start with decoys.

Seeing that you say you are very new to waterfowling we need to know a bit more about the kind of hunting you plan on doing as in will it be mostly small lakes/ponds. big water or maybe off shore type hunting do you plan on hunting fields or flooded fields? will you be packing in then will it be what you can carry on your back or can you use a cart? Will it be mostly ducks or geese or maybe a bit of both? These things will make a big difference in the type of deks you will need.

DON'T go overboard on spending to start with

seems simple but if the addiction really sets in you can spend and update later. Guess I'll start with figuring that like most you'll be hunting mostly puddleducks (mallard, gaddies, widgeons). If this be the case and it's small water a dozen inexpensive deks can get you a good start. Remember it's not just the cost of decoys here you'll need line and anchors and a bag to carry them in. Should down the road and you find you're getting hooked and want to update you can just add to these or try to sell them and get some of your money back. Another thing you can do is give them to a youth/kid that is wanting to get started or maybe a newbee you know

.

Don't forget if you plan on hunting water you will more then likely need some waders ( yea you can just toss deks out and not have to wade but sooner or later you'll have to pick them up). Waders come in a lot of price ranges but you may not want to scrimp to much you'll want something you can get a lot of years out of and even if you don't become addicted to waterfowling you can always use them for fishing.

Hope this helps as a start.
Mike

gun-dog · « **Reply #17 on:** October 14, 2011, 08:23:44 PM »

Well It has been said a few times already but scouting is the most important aspect. Find the ducks and be courteous to other hunters. I always get up long before shooting hours and have my spot secured. As far as a decoy spread goes, I guess it just depends on where you are hunting. In my experience when I am hunting on big water I will use a large decoy spread that will be seen by the ducks from a long way away. On the ponds I keep it simple, no more than what I can carry on my back. Calling can be a bear for beginners as well. I say that tongue in cheek because I too am a beginner. This is only my 4th season hunting ducks. I have become a very good caller because I practiced almost every day!!! Drove my family crazy, but it was well worth it. If you put in the time the birds will fall from the skies.

gasman · « **Reply #18 on:** October 18, 2011, 02:43:37 PM »

Nice video I found.

http://youtu.be/taXSQJbwJBE

http://youtu.be/0uCvzUDL5H0

This is the call I picked up.
http://youtu.be/0uCvzUDL5H0

Another tip to remember. Keep the wind to your back.

Glockster · « **Reply #19 on:** October 18, 2011, 03:15:48 PM »

My tip is have fun! There are way many more ways to hunt ducks besides the traditional throw out a 2 doz spread of mallard decoys with a landing zone in the middle and blow your duck call all day style.

If things are slow or another hunter beats you to 'your' spot, go jump shooting. It's a great way to learn new areas and I find sneaking on ducks is just as challenging or more than sneaking on any big game animal. I especially like doing this in EWA where there is a lot of public land with hidden pockets of great duck water. Also, you don't have to get up 3hrs before LST to hunt this way.

My second tip is let the ducks teach you how to hunt instead of the hollywood hunters and internet experts. Watch how real unpressured ducks sit on a pond. Listen to the calls and noises they make when they're feeding, vs when they're resting, vs when they're alarmed by something. Try to immitate this with your decoy spreads and calling. They will also teach you the kinds of water they like to sit on (it varies by species and time of year).

My third tip is learn how to hide. Think about how your blind looks from above not the sides. My favorite thing is to not have a blind at all and just hide in the natural vegetation. Try hunting alone sometime.

rtspring · « **Reply #20 on:** October 18, 2011, 03:24:10 PM »

Find an area with no real easy access, and unpressured ducks!

Black Plague · « **Reply #21 on:** October 18, 2011, 04:28:24 PM »

practice your calling outside ....it sounds way different in your truck.... spend a day not shooting the ducks just to see what they really do .... go out with experienced hunters. practice , practice , practice...reading....practice ....experiment. enjoy

vandeman17 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 18, 2011, 04:34:09 PM »

Quote from: gasman on October 12, 2011, 05:56:04 PM

Anyone willing to share there tips or tacktics for duck hunting?
Personally I am new to duck hunting. This will be my second season and have learned much but know there is much more to learn.

What tips would you share with others?
Not places to hunt, but how too or what not to do......

Like; dek. set up....when to call... how to call.....kind of calls work best for what ducks.... how to set up a dek. pattern........which deks. to use.......how far to place the deks. from your blind/boat, etc....best tool to break ice......chokes to use for what distance....wind direction set up....etc.....

You get the idea........

Pete- We always have a spot open for you to join us so just let us know when you want to go and we can try to help you with what we have learned over the years.

gasman · « **Reply #23 on:** October 18, 2011, 04:37:20 PM »

Quote from: vandeman17 on October 18, 2011, 04:34:09 PM

Quote from: gasman on October 12, 2011, 05:56:04 PM
Anyone willing to share there tips or tacktics for duck hunting?
Personally I am new to duck hunting. This will be my second season and have learned much but know there is much more to learn.

What tips would you share with others?
Not places to hunt, but how too or what not to do......

Like; dek. set up....when to call... how to call.....kind of calls work best for what ducks.... how to set up a dek. pattern........which deks. to use.......how far to place the deks. from your blind/boat, etc....best tool to break ice......chokes to use for what distance....wind direction set up....etc.....

You get the idea........

Pete- We always have a spot open for you to join us so just let us know when you want to go and we can try to help you with what we have learned over the years.

You bet I will

Had a blast with you guys last years and would love to do it again. Hopefully we can get in to more ducks and geese

vandeman17 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 19, 2011, 08:42:47 AM »

I am sure we will. You were along on our slowest day of the season by far and also one of the slowest drives because of the dang snow!

We will keep you posted when the birds start showing up thick and get you out there again.

gasman · « **Reply #25 on:** October 23, 2011, 01:30:21 PM »

A few more questions came to mind.

So how do you set up your Deks.?

Keep each species seperate or bunched together?

How far in from the shore line, wich are close to shore, and wich are farther away from shore?

What pattern to set the Deks. in or does a pattern really matter at all? ( seen somewhere to set up in a "J" pattern to get the birds to land n a specific area)

vandeman17 · « **Reply #26 on:** October 23, 2011, 06:02:04 PM »

Those are tough questions Pete. For us, it depends on the location, time of year, amount of wind and direction of the wind. In general, the only actual species we keep together are the geese and we set them up off to the side of the rest of our spread. The only other one we sometimes separate are the teals.

We don't like our decoys too close to shore as we don't want the birds attention to be close to us. I also try not to put them much farther then we shoot because then it gives me a reference point to know how far I can shoot.

One thing that we try to think about is don't put the decoys where you want them to land but more where you don't and leave an open area where you want them to land.

gasman · « **Reply #27 on:** October 23, 2011, 07:27:11 PM »

Adam......Hoping to be in touch with you and possibly hook up next month to kill some birds

It seams that new questions come to mind every tie I go out. Each person has a differace of opion on how things should be done, thats why I ask questions I do. What works for one situation may not work for another, so it is good to have multiple opions for different senarieos.

I have looked up thinks on teh comp. but most info I have come across are for river ad flooded fields and I dont hunt those to often (unless I am with Vanderman17) most my hunting so far has been lakes and marshes, mostly marshes.

Hey Adam, hows the weekend of the 12th of Nov, sound for you? My wife is gone all weekend so I will be free man

And do you mind if I bring Low97ram with me, he has been my main hunting partner

vandeman17 · « **Reply #28 on:** October 23, 2011, 07:44:30 PM »

November 12th sounds good to me and you can bring him along too. I will put it on my calendar and we can figure out where we want to hunt the few days prior to the 12th. Hopefully we will be getting some new birds by then and we can get you guys some good shooting.

gasman · « **Reply #29 on:** October 23, 2011, 07:49:08 PM »

Quote from: vandeman17 on October 23, 2011, 07:44:30 PM

November 12th sounds good to me and you can bring him along too. I will put it on my calendar and we can figure out where we want to hunt the few days prior to the 12th. Hopefully we will be getting some new birds by then and we can get you guys some good shooting.

That sounds awsome

Probably gong to be stayng over in a hotel, so if guys want to do mare then 1 day trip, I am game (sat. Sun.

) up to you.

vandeman17 · « **Reply #30 on:** October 23, 2011, 07:54:01 PM »

If the hunting is decent then making a trip Saturday and Sunday would be fine by me. We can make plans when we get closer to the time but most likely we will just meet up with you guys in Vantage early Saturday morning. Will be a good time for sure!

gasman · « **Reply #31 on:** October 23, 2011, 08:14:18 PM »

Sounds good

we will keep in touch and if 2 days dont work out, We will do some chucker and hun hunting

drk9988 · « **Reply #32 on:** October 23, 2011, 09:28:19 PM »

Here are a few tidbits from my world..
-Buy breathables they are worth it. Just layer underneath..

-If you happen on a good spot keep your mouth shut. Duck hunting is very competitive.

-Loose lips sink ships
-Use fewer decoys of higher quality (ie flocked and such)
-All newbies wear face mask or paint

-Less is more in calling read the birds
- Your hide is more important then you think
-Keep the wind at your back
-Dont skybust its just a waste of Shell
-Where you have been hunting is basically over now..

Wtrfowlr62 · « **Reply #33 on:** October 23, 2011, 10:07:39 PM »

^^ never tell where you been hunting, if your hunting on a certain part of the columbia river for instance and someone ask just say the columbia or just flat out say no tell'em river

.

the biggest thing i think from experience is cover up and movement. if they dont see you and you dont move your hunting will be good. of course also be were the birds wanna be. calling, i would say also less is more.. a simple one quack can decoy birds. over time youll learn which call to use with the body language of the birds, again thats experience it wont happen over night. invest in GOOD waders now. your waders should be your longest lasting piece of equipment.. decoys, guns, calls, ect will always for some reason keep "acumulating" when you have enough money in the account

, just like big game hunting take care of your feet, without good boots you cant do anything no matter how expesive your gun, shells and deks are. Decoy set up dont have to be in fancy J's and V's and such, ducks dont plan out "hey guys when we land make a letter" watch real ducks they set up on water way different, BUT you can in some cases you COULD make like for instance a j dpending on where there flying, wind ect to make a nice pocket for them to land in, but for the most part theres not crazy science behind it. Another thing is dont get discourged. Not everyone goes out and kills 7 greenheads everyday of the season. you could be like me and go through two seasons starting out never limiting once! it takes time to find good hunting, and when you find it, itll be all worth the time and effort!

the BIGGEST thing for a new hunter is goodluck quitting, waterfowling is the easiest to get hooked on and impossible to quit!!

Black Plague · « **Reply #34 on:** October 24, 2011, 04:38:21 PM »

oh yeah ....learn your effective range ...then stay 5 yards inside of it ... its nice if you have a range finder to check how far your decoy spread is so you have an idea just how far you can shoot ... I like to have some big pockets of geese out to no more than 40 yards so I know if a bird is on the inside of that he has a chance of getting killed...outside 45 your effective percentage goes down (unless you shoot crazy expensive loads) .... if you take a course on shooting, it will save you a lot of money in he end...

bagmNtagm · « **Reply #35 on:** October 24, 2011, 05:02:29 PM »

another thing about decoy spread is on the windy days duck tend to fly against the wind to slow down, so if your wind is blowing east ducks usually will come from the west for example. the thing about the big ducks they like to land on the outside of your decoys except teal will land right in em. so figure out the wind pattern set up your decoys not right in front of you but more to you left or right so that when the ducks come in just happens to be right in front of you.

Wtrfowlr62 · « **Reply #36 on:** October 24, 2011, 09:24:09 PM »

Quote from: bagmNtagm on October 24, 2011, 05:02:29 PM

another thing about decoy spread is on the windy days duck tend to fly against the wind to slow down, so if your wind is blowing east ducks usually will come from the west for example. the thing about the big ducks they like to land on the outside of your decoys except teal will land right in em. so figure out the wind pattern set up your decoys not right in front of you but more to you left or right so that when the ducks come in just happens to be right in front of you.

i will def second this, to be honest (learning new things every hunt) i noticed my birds landing just beyond my spread to the right (wind was blowing to my right) so i started setting up where i stand about 5 yards to the right, helps a lot and less stress of my girlfriend shooting my deks

. very good tip!

Special T · « **Reply #37 on:** October 25, 2011, 11:05:11 AM »

http://www.ducks.org/hunting/decoys/
Usually have some tips. i have a user submitted book with waterfowling tips that is good.
killing ducks is wrappe up into 3 basic areas.
1 Location.. If you are on the X you can kill ducks without calling or having any decoys. I have done it and others have too.
2 Presentation How life like you decoys look. This includes everything from calling, placement, and kind of decoys/calls. (I personally think the most under used calls are the shaker call and the 6 in one call)
3 Concealment. your personal concealment, your blind, boat, movement etc.

I think if you do a good job on any 2 you will kill some birds. Location is more important than anything else.

dfarley33 · « **Reply #38 on:** October 26, 2011, 06:32:31 AM »

The best advice I have gotten, was to join Washington Waterfowl....These guys have years and years of advice, and are more then willing to share it with you. Go to a meeting, if you need info, pm me.
Dave

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Author Topic: Tips for duck/goose hunting. (Read 9671 times)

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