15 replies to this topic

[JagerBulldog]

Ok, just took a Waterfowl class from the DFG and I'm hyped up. I'm on a budget because I spent all my money on my Deer and camping stuff this year. Looks like the basics are:Shotgun - CheckWaders - breathable? Probably hunting San Jacinto and Wister to start with.Decoys - Mix of different types?Calls - What should I start with?Ammo - Steel, Hevi-shot....?Please enlighten me with your knowledgeThanks!!

[JagerBulldog]

HAHAHA trying on the Lotto, no go on the bank. I know I'll spend a fortune on stuff, just need a few basics to get me out there.

[Hookum]

You'll need duck straps to haul them out. Gloves and a face mask along with the best camo jacket you can afford (shadow grass works well) Flashing decoys in a spread are effective (check the regs). A portable tule seat comes in handy inless you have a blind to hunt from. As for calls, start with widgon and teal. Also the Commander drake call is excellent for sucking in birds that start to shy away once close. The Commander also doubles as a good Teal, Widgen and Wood duck call. It's hard to learn for some people. I hesitate to recommend any mallard calls because that's what every duck hunter gets first. Buy some calling and hunting videos so you can learn about setting up for wind direction and decoy spreads. And if you hunt refugees you will soon learn what I mean about the Mallard calls. The ducks have heard them all and inless you practice (A LOT) they are not always effective and can do more damage than good. That's my two cents. I'm sure theres lots more out there in the group. Good luck.

[meatgetter]

Ohhh boy...Quit while you're behind...Here are my suggestions in addition to the above...Waders - do you get cold easily? if so, 3mm neoprene. if not, breathablesDecoys - buy 6 spoonie decoys and 12 gw teal decoys. maybe 6 mallards/4 pintails if you want.Calls - morwhistle (roller) for pintails and haydels teal whistle for teal/widgeon/drake mallards.Ammo - Kent Faststeel (good rounds, not too pricey)Gear - decoy bag, blind bag, duck strap, bird ID guide, binos, blind chair, facemask or paint, good jacket, waterproof gloves.Did you apply for reservations? Message me if you get a low number!!!

[Gunorea]

A hunting buddy. Sure you can go out and do it all yourself and many hunters do it every year. But more sets of eyes in the blind are very helpful. A good cart to haul all the dog poop to the blind is helpful as well. Maybe in the future a dog. If you get any ressie on any day, PM me I have everything and can usually go on a moments notice.

[Jeff]

My first season, I purchased a Synthetic Remington 870, shells, waders, boots, and a jacket. Grabbed a hydration pack and shoved in a sandwich. Every season since then, I've bought the right gear where something else has failed. The little things. The right hats, the right jackets for each type of weather, the right gloves for each condition, a real waterproof backpack, etc. In my opinion, everyone is going to need the basics (gun, waders, shells, license, etc) but you will figure out individually what works for you, and how things change as the season progresses and weather patterns change. I'll be damned if I'm going to have a heavy burdensome jacket on on a bluebird day because it's my only camo jacket. Get the essentials and worry about the details after you try your first season. Another reason, like my brother found out after buying all his gear, some people just are not waterfowlers. We are truly a different breed. You may not even like duck hunting. I would also recommend against calling in the field and using dekes as a new guy. Calling and the use of decoys are generally an art (especially on a refuge). If anything, bring a few dekes (6, max) and put half of them on a homemade jerk spread. As for calls, I didn't even start buying calls until I had been hunting for a few years. Then I starting calling seldomly until it sounded right, now I'm typically the guy calling in the tanks or calling along with my buds.Anyway, good luck, and I hope you love waterfowling as much as I have grown to love it. If you do end up loving it, then I hope you will also take pride in the conservation aspects of the sport too.

[JagerBulldog]

Thanks for all the advise, I really appreciate it! My head is spinning from all the options. It's nice to have good advise for the beginner.

[Hipshot Percussion]

Jeff gave the best possible advice--don't even consider a call until you have hunted a few years and with some people who know how to call. First off you do more damage to your waterfowl hunting and you won't make any friends if you blow a bad call. Basic equipment is all you need, gun, waders a few dekes-- if you hunter in the south areas like Wister you won't even need a $300 jacket, early in the season you can hunt in your tee shirt. I started hunting ducks in my early Teens and by the time I was twenty I knew more than most guys in their 40's. All we had were the basics and a great desire. We started hunting refuges and learning all the tricks of how to do that. Hook up with someone willing to teach you or if you go to the refuges listen to the guys who have done it. Duck hunting can be addictive and expensive because the best days afield are the worst possible weather days you can imagine. I have spent the morning breaking ice, so the ducks can have a place to sit down in my decoys, you go from very cold, to hot, to extremely cold just to pick-up some birds. Getting up early, when you rather stay warm in bed next to your honey, fighting the wind,rain snow who would do such a thing? The answer is it's all worth it when those birds turn to your decoys, and start to put down their landing gears.

[Jeff]

I have spent the morning breaking ice, so the ducks can have a place to sit down in my decoys, you go from very cold, to hot, to extremely cold just to pick-up some birds. Getting up early, when you rather stay warm in bed next to your honey, fighting the wind,rain snow who would do such a thing? The answer is it's all worth it when those birds turn to your decoys, and start to put down their landing gears.

Ahhh, it's a thing of beauty. It's hard to describe, but it's an amazing feeling.19 days left to count.

[JagerBulldog]

WOW, great description!

[clampdaddy]

Waders- GET A PAR OF BREATHABLES!!!!! There is nothing worse than sweating your but off in a pair of neoprenes. With breathables you can adjust your clothing layers undernearth to make up for weather conditions.A lose fitting breathable rain jacket is nice to have. It'll keep you dry on rainy days and it will keep the wind from blowing thru you on cold days. Again, you can adjust the layers underneath to match the weather. I picked one up at wal mart a few years ago for about twenty five bucks. It is made by Hodgman and has worked perfectly for me.Duck strap- Get one with individual loops that can go around the neck or legs. I had a one of the wire type that you slide their necks into but if you accidentaly pull a head off when ringing their necks that style will no longer hold the bird.Water proof day bag. Something that'll keep your shells, gloves, or anything else dry. Duck calls- For a beginner I'd say that the only call you absolutly have to have is the Wingsetter E-Z Flutter. It works great pintail and teal, and it's super easy for a beginner to make realistic sounds. Any regular duck whistle (I like the duck commander or haydels) work well for for widgeon and drake mallard. Then get two mallard calls of your choice. If the reed sticks on one it's nice to have another ready to go. I keep a double and a single reed call on my lanyard. A cheap double reed call that sounds good is the duck commander green mile. RNT makes a single reed call that comes with a duck calling instructional CD. It is a really nice sounding call too. Just stick to basic qwacks until you really know what you should be trying to sound like.AND DON'T FORGET THE MOSQUITO SPRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bzzrd feedr]

You've gotten some great advice. Some conflicting opinions but that is understandable. One thing I would buy that is fairly inexpensive. Go to windwhacker.com and buy a simple unit from them. They work in a very slight breeze, like 2 mph and you can use all season due to it being wind powered. I used them last year and while other spinning wind decoys are dead these are spinning. Shhh!!! Don't tell anyone. grin

[JagerBulldog]

Thanks for the suggestions. Looks like Waterproof is the key word here for obvious reasons. I think breathables might work best. SoCal doesn't get that cold. I could wear more layers underneath if its really cold. I also read that neoprene might not last that long.Thanks for all the advice on the calls as well. I will practice like crazy before I go out there and scare the ducks away. DVD and CD's for my truck ride to work might be the ticket. I would love to get my own Black Lab one day also. I could use him for Upland as well. Those wind powered decoys look pretty cool. Seems like a good mixture of ducks seems to be the idea, not all Mallards. All you guys have helped alot. I joined DU and want to join CWA as well. Hope I get my rezzies this year. I'm sure I be hooked on Waterfowling.

[Gunorea]

Just to let you know SoCal can get cool to cold in the wee hours of January duck hunting mornings. But dressing in layers in the key. One thing to get if you plan on hunting the State refuges a lot is the season pass, it will save you a lot of money in the long run.

[bzzrd feedr]

I mainly shoot the Grasslands in central cally, near where Clampdaddy shoots. I agree 100% with him about the breathable waders. They are great in warm weather and cold. it's just a matter of a few layers of the right stuff under the waders that will make you comfortable which takes some experience. If it's really cold I use polypropelin ? spell longjohns then a pair of heavy microfiber wader pants with straps under ankle. I haven't worn my neoprenes in 10 yrs. They are for the mid-west cold not here. IMHO Remember walking out to the blind, setting up decoys, and bringing everything off the marsh will make you work up a sweat. Good luck!!