Reading a guide on the best way to hunt duck? Then, the chances are this is your first time going out to bag yourself some waterfowl.
If hunting for deer is the only experience you have with shooting at a moving target, you might find duck hunting very different. But if you are ready to rise to the challenge and want a freezer full of delicious meat on hand at home at the end of your trip, learning how to hunt waterfowl is an important education.
Trying to find the right hunting gear can be a hassle at times, questions can easily sway you from one product to the other. In that case, make sure you visit great review sites like pointoptics to inform yourself about hunting gear equipment you’re interested in.
If you aren’t sure what type of gear you’ll need to go duck hunting, don’t be misled by some of the long lists of “duck hunting essentials” you might encounter out there.One of the most important pieces of gear is duck hunting waders. The best thing would be to go shopping for gear with someone who has previous duck hunting experience. They will be the best guide for what you will need, what you can share with other hunters in your group, and what is unnecessary.
Guide to Buying Your First Duck Hunting Starter Kit
This basic waterfowl hunting equipment will be everything you need to feel comfortable in the backwaters and creeks. Forget about costly float tubes and expensive, multicolored decoys. Prepare yourself with useful advice for your hunting trip.
While there is nothing wrong with accumulating some specialized waterfowl loads and shotguns if duck hunting is something you want to do every fall, you won’t need a full-fledged, completely professional setup when you are about to dip your toes in the water for the first time.
This starter kit is designed to set you up as an all-in-one, self-contained duck hunter who can still walk to small water areas, such as potholes and creeks, without being weighed down by gear. This is known as being a duck hunting “potholer.” Your primary targets will be puddle ducks like spoonbills and teal. Leave the diving ducks (sea ducks that dive deep for food) for when you have more experience under your belt.
Shotgun
You won’t need a specialized shotgun for waterfowl hunting. Also, don’t think about trying to repurpose your hunting rifle for the task. The key to hitting a moving object successfully is being able to swing your aim ahead of the target while simultaneously firing. It’s all about instinctual repetition, not precision. This means any type of action and model shotgun will do okay, with pumps and semis being marginally preferable to double-barrels.
Federal law limits you to three shells, so make that third shot count. You could get away with using a 20-gauge on wood duck and teal at close range, although 12-gauge is best for broad duck hunting. If you believe you can aim in front of a moving target with a shotgun that you already own, don’t feel pressured into buying something else until you’ve given your current shotgun a try.
If this is your first time going out after duck, it might be best to find a group of experienced waterfowl hunters for company, so that you can watch their techniques. Often sitting and observing is the fastest way to learn.
Shotgun Chokes
More important than the shotgun model and action is the choke. The choke is what shapes how the shot spreads after you’ve pulled the trigger. It enables you to have more accuracy and better range with your shots. A choke is placed in the bore of the shotgun’s barrel (the muzzle end).
Choke Tubes Pattern Chart
Image used courtesy of hunter-ed
An improved cylinder choke is best for duck hunting because of the types of shells that are most recommended.
Don’t forget that having a sling on your shotgun will free up your hands, if you need them to keep balance while plugging through the reeds and muddy riverbanks.
Shotgun Shells
Federal law also requires you to hunt ducks and waterfowl with non-lead (also known as non-toxic) shot. However, this doesn’t mean you need to rush out and buy purpose-made heavy loads containing tungsten, bismuth, or any other composite metals. A modern steel load with be suitable – and also save you the $3 to $4 dollar price tag usually charged for expensive heavy loads.
Number 4 or 6 steel loads will be ideal for bagging early-season waterfowl and wood duck hunts. When the season has progressed and the early waterfowls have moved on, changing to number 2 or 3 steel shells is fine. It’s a good idea to stock up on purpose-made waterfowl loads that are both fast and effective. Keep in mind that steel shots shoot tight, and the improved cylinder choke will open up your range as was mentioned previously.
Top 5 Duck Hunting Accessories
Sure, you need a shotgun and shells with which to have a successful duck hunting trip, and if you are going out in a group you will be able to take advantage of their rigged decoys and duck calls. But once you have the basic strategies down, you’ll need your own duck hunting accessories before you can become a successful potholer.
Duck Calls
Duck calls are not something to buy online. This is because you need to try a few out before you find one or two you are happy to hang around your neck. Every waterfowl trusts a mallard, so only get a mallard call that you can blow easily, and is also loud enough to get other birds’ attention.
Wood ducks are the most popular bird to bag for potholers who want to fill the freezer. This means it won’t hurt to add a whistle call to your kit as well. Wood ducks and teal respond to whistle calls in flocks.
Decoys
The first rule of duck hunting is that it might be fun to collect multiple species of decoy duck in a variety of colors, but that can get expensive really quick. If you plan on making duck hunting an annual activity, investing in a dozen or so mallard decoys will attract waterfowl of every kind to your pothole.
Make sure to rig out the decoys with lead weights first, and attach around 10 feet/3 meters of decoy cord for pulling in and out. If a dozen decoys ducks are too much of a financial outlay for you in the beginning, try buying old, secondhand ones and painting them up. Don’t forget to buy a potholers’ mesh bag to tote your decoys around.
Waders and Jacket
You’ll be sitting in watery conditions for most of the day when out duck hunting, so a jacket and some waders will make it easier.
Waders:
You need to wear waders when you are walking to the pothole or creek, setting up your decoy ducks, and collecting birds and decoys afterward. You’ll have to do a bit of research before committing to a pair of waders, because a leak can ruin your day. Look for a booted-foot pair of waders with a deep tread for extra stability. Neoprene material is puncture-resistant and durable, so keep that in mind if you are shopping for your waders online.
There are two schools of thought when it comes to waders breathability:
- Better to sweat early in the season, and be warm when the cold weather sets in.
- Go for breathability and just layer on the clothes underneath when it gets colder.
You know your likes and dislikes best, so make your decision based on that. It’s a good idea to buy your waders off-season when they’re on sale. Only go for camouflage waders.
Jacket: Your camouflage waders will be doing its job on the lower part of your body, but a matching jacket will be a good investment as well. The best buy would be a multi-layered parka or jacket that will take you from fall through to winter. Make sure that the camo-pattern is all-around and the material is dual-season.
Additional Tips for Duck Hunting
- Having a gun that fits well can be the difference between a hit and a miss. Sometimes a standard stock will be too long for you, especially if you are wearing bulky clothing. Try getting a shorter stock, and see if it is an improvement.
- Don’t take anyone’s word for which choke you should be using, try them all out and decide which one is the best fit for you. Some people recommend extra-full chokes, and others swear by a modified choke. It’s really up to you.
- Some rules from deer hunting do transfer to a duck hunting scenario. Every rulebook recommends you don’t shoot a target head-on or from behind, and it’s better to wait until the target presents themselves broadside. This rule stands true for waterfowl hunting as well, even though you will be aiming slightly ahead of the target.
Hunting for duck is an outdoor pastime for everyone. If you are keen to just get out there and start hunting, don’t let a long list of requirements hold you back from doing it. Get the basics, find some water, and start potholing.
