Nova Scotia Duck/goose Hunters

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Barnard308

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I am gonna put this post up for a few weeks and see what happens. I am an avid deer, small game hunter and target shooter all of which I have been doing since I was a kid, however over the last few years my interests have moved towards sporting clays and skeet rather than paper targets which got me thinking that duck and goose hunting may be fun to try. Issue is no one I hunt with does this type of hunting and I have no idea where to start. I do not have a dog and I don't want one so I am thinking field duck/goose hunting is the way to go? I do have a light small canoe I can carry to small lakes and ponds but I am not sure this is the way to go since I hunting alone mostly. I have shotguns that are suited for hunting ducks and geese just don't know where to hunt, types of set ups to use, or anything about calling them in. Any help at all guys will be appreciated.
 
Hopefully someone local will chime in...
But I hunted ducks for many years back in the maritimes with no dog. Field hunting is great where you can get it, but I hunted lakes, ponds, rivers & the Bay of Fundy. Spend some time off season and see where the ducks congregate and watch how they behave. Find some Crown or accessible private land with access to the water. The canoe will serve you well. Get a couple bags of decoys and a duck call (calling isn't required, but can help sometimes) Without a dog, the main lesson I learned is DON'T SHOOT DUCKS OVER THE TALL GRASS. Make sure they will fall in the water or on open ground or rocks. A dead duck in the tall grass can be nearly impossible to find. Also, if you've dropped one and it looks like it might still be alive, BLAST IT AGAIN! They are amazingly adept at getting away, even when they appear to be mortally wounded. And lastly, find a hunting buddy or two or three. Most of the appeal of duck hunting is the comradery...not so much the cold, the wet, the dark....
 
badgreenbird said:
Hopefully someone local will chime in...
But I hunted ducks for many years back in the maritimes with no dog. Field hunting is great where you can get it, but I hunted lakes, ponds, rivers & the Bay of Fundy. Spend some time off season and see where the ducks congregate and watch how they behave. Find some Crown or accessible private land with access to the water. The canoe will serve you well. Get a couple bags of decoys and a duck call (calling isn't required, but can help sometimes) Without a dog, the main lesson I learned is DON'T SHOOT DUCKS OVER THE TALL GRASS. Make sure they will fall in the water or on open ground or rocks. A dead duck in the tall grass can be nearly impossible to find. Also, if you've dropped one and it looks like it might still be alive, BLAST IT AGAIN! They are amazingly adept at getting away, even when they appear to be mortally wounded. And lastly, find a hunting buddy or two or three. Most of the appeal of duck hunting is the comradery...not so much the cold, the wet, the dark....
Click to expand...

This!! And I will add, a duck call is NOT an essential tool in hunting ducks here in Canada. The ducks do not tend to be very vocal until winter pairing takes place. As well not knowing how to call will put more birds on the other side of the pond than in your game bag. Geese on the other hand are very vocal and I consider a goose call as an essential tool. Maybe not so much early season but once the birds have survived a few rounds of shot thrown at them you best know how to talk goose. The most important tool in a goose hunters inventory to me is a goose flag. I have several stashed in various places so I never forget one. There are lots of good instructional DVD's out there on goose calling, tactics etc. Watch, listen and learn.
 
Not sure where to point you in the right direction to start in your Province but I would talk to local club and seek other hunters in your area for advice.

Talk to fishing buddies and ask them if they ever hear gun shot in the fall (Sept to December) to see may be certain parts of water bodies are more productive for certain species.

Check your local hunting regulation for open season, limit and other regulations as well.

Steel shots are mandatory for any migratory birds but magazine limit should be no more than 3 shells in total and I know there is no magazine limit State side during certain period for snowgeese but don't hold me to it check your Provincial regulation and may be municipal bylaws on discharge firearms.


Check duckhuntingchat and refuge forum tons of info there.
 
Scout scout scout and then scout some more. Take early morning drives and watch for flights of birds moving between feeding areas and roost sites. Don't get complicated. Be where the birds want to be and make sure you are hidden, everything after that can be learnt on the go..(within reason)
 
My brother and I have been duck hunting with just an 89 dollar box of decoys from crappy tire, a canoe, and a pack of hotdogs. Aside from the obvious guns and ammo. We have a call but they seem to decoy without it alot of the time.

We hunt a harbor most of the time but wind can be a hassle sometimes. We've had to abandon ship and walk home with the guns and ammo. If it's too windy we have a couple smaller harbors and lakes to hunt.

I don't pretend to be any sort of expert but maybe pm me where your from and we can do some scouting or even go hunting next season.

Goose hunting is something I never bothered with but I'd like to find a farmer who likes goose so I can go lay in his field.
 
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