1st time duck hunt, recommended gear checklist ?

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RobSmith

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After years of practically begging my uncle and cousin (accomplished hunters with 50+ years combined experience) to please take me along to try it out, looks like it's finally going to happen this year.

My cousin came to see me over the weekend and give me the good news. So far they've secured use of a quad so I can make my way to the hunting spot, which apparently will be a ditch bordering a field which is surrounded by swamps. I tried to pick his brain as much as possible about the details (namely about if there were species I should know how to recognize since there are restrictions on shooting them, all he mentioned is cormorants and seagulls, seagulls I know what they look like, cormorants, well, I've seen them on the ground, in zoos ... :redface:) but I still have some questions.



My concern right now is to figure out everything that I will need for the day, not buy any stuff I won't need (and may never have a use for again), and generally not break the piggy bank.

Licenses (both small game and migratory birds) will be purchased in the next few days. I confirmed with both the Cambodian Tire store across from work, and the postal outlet in the same shopping center and they do carry the licenses so I don't have to worry about that part.

The shotgun used will be a well-worn 870 wingmaster with 18" barrel (IC choke) and side folding stock. It's all I have so it'll have to do ... I do shoot clays occasionally with it and can hit about 75% of them on a good day, good enough. I need to figure out how to plug the mag to 2+1 (CT doesn't carry OEM plugs), would opening up the mag tube and dropping a couple of snap caps in front of the mag spring be sufficient, or will this likely cause reliability issues ?

Blaze orange vest : not "necessary" as per regs but would you still recommended I get one anyway ?

Ammo : I know I need to use "non-toxic" shot ... Any recommended brands/types to keep an eye out for ? recommended shot size ? 2-3/4 or 3" ? How much of it would you recommend I get for a day of hunting ?

Camo : Necessary ?

You get the idea ....

I'd like to see what the old hands would carry on a typical day out ...

Thanks for any help.

Rob

While I'm at it, can anybody give me the quick and dirty on "leading" a target ? I've heard various stories from 2 (critter) body lenght, to 1 critter body lenght, to the tip of it's beak, to "it depends" as an aiming point ... All of the clays I shoot are heading away from me, so I tend to just aim for the outside edge of the clay, forward of it's direction of movement, it usually works, I'm sure there's a lot more to it however.
 
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Just use a chunk of wooden dowel to plug your mag tube. Your 18" bbl will be a bit of a challenge with the IC choke, but it will do. 2 boxes of shells should do, 3" #2's. Waders would be nice. Flashlight maybe? It's your 1st time, so just enjoy it...don't worry too much about forgeting the accessories. OH, and wear something warm and waterproof, it gets pretty cold just sitting there.:)
 
I like the Kent FastSteel's, good shell that won't break the bank. With the IC choke that you are going to be using, 3" #2's for Geese, #4's for Ducks, IMO. Steel shot flies faster than your typical gun club load.
As for lead, that is a hard one as well, but generally speaking, 25 yds and in, I just aim for the beak and squeeze the trigger. Biggest factor is keeping the gun moving with the bird as you fire the shot. Not easy to do with the barrel length you are going to be using. Anything farther out than 25 yards, expand the lead by a bird length per 10 yards. Experience will help out here.

Camo is a tough choice, depends where you are hunting. It is still fairly green out, so I would go with a darker pattern, but if all you have is one type, it will have to do. The biggest thing with waterfowl is movement. As was already mentioned, waterfowl have wicked good eyesight, and they will pick up any movement. A face covering of some type is good, cause they will pick up the shine that your face gives off.

Other than that, a good dog is very handy, a thermos of coffee, snacks, extra pair of socks is always a good idea. Just get out there and have fun, it's always a great day to get out into the field.
 
A pencil or pen will do the mah tube.

For your situation, i'd get a sleepimg bag, or good heavy blankets, cover up to your waist and cover in grass or weeds or whatever, and shoot from the ground taher than the chair. but you know what works better than me.
Warm clothes, gloves (not white) and a facemask or dirt up your face if you can) You're new and will want to be looking and you need your face darkened out.

#2 Federal has worked for me. black cloud if ya have the cash.
 
I won't be bringing the chair out, just the quad and my walker. I do have a feeling that I'll spend the day essentially laying prone against the side of the ditch, so good call on the ground tarp, probably will throw an old woolen blanket that I keep in my car over myself to break out my outline somewhat. I'll get a couple of tubes of face camo, don't own any camo jackets, but do have a couple of old winter jackets in greenish tones, will probably end up smearing some of the face cream on it and improvise.

Thanks for all the replies so far folks, keep 'em coming ! :D

sealhunter said:
A pencil or pen will do the mah tube.

For your situation, i'd get a sleepimg bag, or good heavy blankets, cover up to your waist and cover in grass or weeds or whatever, and shoot from the ground taher than the chair. but you know what works better than me.
Warm clothes, gloves (not white) and a facemask or dirt up your face if you can) You're new and will want to be looking and you need your face darkened out.

#2 Federal has worked for me. black cloud if ya have the cash.
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Mobility aid ... I'm wheelchair bound so the logistics of bringing me out is a real PITA, hence the reason why people are reluctant to drag me along in the first place.

beefman said:
When you say "walker"...are talking hound or mobility aid :eek:
And avoid the face paint...PITA Its going to be cold enough, get
a camo balaclava. :)
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My hat is off to you sir...alot of people in your situation would just give-up hunting. It's great that you have people around you that are willing to take you, although reluctantly, from what you said. Good luck to you, dress WARM, and bring a camera...I want to see pics!! :D:D
 
Ear protection

Lead is personal choice because we all see the bird and barrel differently. Just get your barrel ahead of the bird and keep swinging after you shoot.

Are they decoying or pass shooting or jump shooting?

The most common loads to use are # 2 or #3 for ducks and BB for geese.

I'm new at this too, so I'm just passing on what i learned from veterans.
 
I think you are a trooper, Robert.
Love a guy who keeps trying, no matter the limitations cause they really are only psychological barriers, as long as you have friends, or family, that can help you out.
They may not realize it, but they are helping themselves to be better hunters by helping you be a successful hunter.
Hunting is about sharing the good times, it's not about me, me, me.!

The best advice I can give, because you're shot's may be limited?, use heavy shot if you can get hold of some.
Make them count, and only shoot inside of 40 yds. They can do better than 40, but you have to be sure you can.:)

As far as leads on ducks, it's so hard to give advice on that one cause it depends on experience and what one does.
I use the (poke) method.
Judge distance, figure air speed and poke the gun out front at what I figure the bird will meet in the next second, after pulling the trigger.
Works for me anyways.

If they are flying at moderate speed(cruising) and say at 30 yds, I just point the gun out front about two duck lengths. Depending on, closer or further they are, you'll have to lead at what feels right.

Opening day or even opening week, you don't have to worry too much about camo or decoys.
You're dealing with a lot of inexperienced waterfowl. Just as long you're in a decent fly way and stay somewhat concealed, you'll do ok.

Best of luck this season Rob.:)
 
Assuming your family will bring the big stuff (decoys etc), I'd bring the following:

-towel (dry your face/gun/decoys/ammo off if needed)
-food/water
-something to keep your ammo in so it doesn't get wet and lost
-a pocket knife
-a small shovel (to dig in if concealment is an issue)

Have fun!
 
A change of socks and boots. There's nothing quite as miserable as driving home with wet feet after watching your hunting buddy change out his wet boots.

Lots of ammo, my vote goes for 3" #4's.

Put on whatever camo you own, when you get to where your going to shoot from try to use as much natural camo as possible.
 
If you have the time and the resources you might want to buy a bunch of different kinds of #2 or #3 and pattern them. You might find that your wingmaster patterns one kind of ammo tighter than others. But if your like the rest of the world you likely don't have the time or the money to do this, so just buy what you can afford, it isn't going to matter what kind of ammo you shoot, you have beginners luck on your side (totally not kidding about that either).

As for the lead to use on birds;

I've been told to use the butt, breast, bill, bang method.

1. Start off behind the bird

2. Swing through the bird, past the

Butt

Breast

Bill

Once you see a small opening in front of the bill, pull the trigger and CONTINUE THE MOTION. Don't stop moving past the bird when you pull the trigger.

The idea is that your lead is built in not matter what distance the bird is at, you are accelerating through the bird, the farther away the bird is, the greater the lead will be. It works for some people and some don't catch on to it, but it avoids trying to mentally calculate a lead.

Most importantly enjoy yourself, duck hunting is a lot of fun!
 
Don't buy any camo for the first few times, if you don't have any yet.

I used burlap sack material (it came in rolls) to hide under, and just swept it back when I was ready to shoot.

How much lead is all related to speed of target, distance, angles, and loads being used, so that's why people say "depends". They might not be trying to be coy about it.

bring sunglasses in case it is bright out.

If you are getting out there at the crack of dawn, have gloves too.

camera for pics later!
 
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