Getting started on waterfowl gear

[genesis273]

I ordered a dozen big four geese decoys with a couple decoy bags, a layout blind with a snow cover.

Rogers had a great sale.

I want some different duck decoys and some calls as well.

I don't necessarily NEED a waterfowl shotgun but, I definitely WANT a dedicated waterfowl shotgun. I don't really want to pay for an auto loader but, a pump would be nice.

[marshallco]

Like Featherduster said, you’re hooked. You’ve already shot more birds than me this year, but here’s my 2 cents anyway:

Stick with mallards and woodies for decoys to start. Maybe a set of teal if you’re really itching to spend more $. That’s probably most of what you’re going to see, and what you have around your area.

Autoloaders are nice, but not one thing wrong with a pump gun. I have a Browning gold hunter that’s over 20 years old. And a Remington 11-48 that’s older than me. They both have scuffs, scratches and dings, but they work. Anytime I switch back to a pump now, I forget to pump. Get something functional, not pretty.

You’ve already proven to yourself that you can be successful without any more than you have now.

[esshup]

I have a 1976 or so Model 1100 that is a 3" magnum that I use for waterfowl and it works great. If you want a pump, I don't think you can get a smoother action than a Winchester Model 12 and they did make them in 3" mag versions. You just have to make sure that someone sent it out to have the barrel threaded for removable choke tubes, or send it out to someone like Briley.

I'd put that up against any 870 every day of the week. Do you need to shoot 3 1/2" shells? NO. I have had just as good results using Kent Fasteel 3" at 1560 fps as a buddy that was shooting 3 1/2" shells. Biggest thing I can say is to pattern your shotgun with the choke and shells you will be using at the distance you expect to be shooting the birds at. That may open your eyes to what works and doesn't work.

If I was going to buy another shotgun with waterfowl in mind, I would have to go get a Benelli SBE3.

[featherduster]

Mallard decoys only, anchor lines no longer than the height of your chest waders.
Big Foot goose decoys hot glue the heads on.
Lead strap anchors the largest size you can get, forget about flocked heads to hard to maintain.
A good water proof pack for your stuff.
Don't go crazy buying stuff till you see how long your interest lasts.

Learn how to cook waterfowl it's very difficult and your wife may not like it.
Learn how to use a call, practice while driving your car alone that way you won't upset folks.
Your spot on the river should be used sparingly it's most likely a roost for birds when everything freezes over.
Look for a real cheap small boat that you can leave at your spots for retrieving decoys and downed birds.
I would recommend one of those suspender looking water activated PFD's especially when wading unknow waters or in a boat.

[genesis273]

I'll probably get a few mallard and wood duck decoys. Although I have seen some green winged teal in the area, it has been very few. Not enough to want me to get any decoys.

And I'm perfectly fine with getting a used, pump action shotgun for ducks.

I have access to a small job boat to keep down by the river. I was thinking of building a blind down after the owner gave me permission to. But, I really enjoyed standing in the trees so, I'll probably disregard the blind.

I definitely won't want to burn out my river spot and I'll probably hunt it sparingly. I do have two other permission pieces that get ducks on the ponds. My main permission piece where I deer and turkey hunt gets a lot of geese during the early season in the fields. That was my main reason for getting the big foots. That and being able to contribute something for when my buddies take me out again.

I appreciate all the advice! I welcome all the information I can get!

[esshup]

From my limited hunting experience (mostly field hunting late and nuisance goose season) is it's better to be on the "X" where the birds want to be than be 300 yds away where they were 3 days ago and trying to call them over, no matter how many decoys you have.

[duff]

Ditch the ducks. Just use your goose decoys. Mallards and most other ducks will dive right in. If you just have to have ducks...paint half gallon milk jugs black and white....or get mallards. Lots of marketing ploys to sell more decoys. I get suckered into them too.

My very unpopular opinion is woodduck decoys are a waste, same with the call. They decoy in but I bet most were pass shot as they buzzed the spread.

Get a spinning wing decoy with a remote. Turn it off when geese are in the air. Mess around with location. Sometimes birds sink to it like a magnet, others flare from a mile away, some like it partially hidden or right in the open. Used to have a pond where we would put a spinner behind us in a puddle on the road around the pond. Pulled ducks from long ways away and they would end up working the decoys in the pond.

[featherduster]

DUFF said:
My very unpopular opinion is woodduck decoys are a waste, same with the call.


I second that on the WOOD DUCK decoys and calls.

[genesis273]

Thanks for the info!