Beginner Questions??


ilhnter

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I went duck hunting for the first time last year and really enjoyed it. I want to get my own gear for next season, but i would like some advice before i do so. Just to give you a little info, I hunt in SE Missouri. In a decoy spread, is it ok to just have one type of duck decoy in the spread? Is it ok to have an all mallard spread or should you always mix in some other type of ducks or even a few goose decoys? Also i'm looking to get a call that is easy to blow and sounds good, because i am a begginer. I've heard that the Rich-n-Tone Quack Stacker is a good call for beginners and i have also heard that the Haydel calls are good for beginners? So please any advice on decoy spreads and beginner calls would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

ilhnter

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Hey good luck. I am going to hunting ducks for the first time this year as well, I am trying to learn this on my own, because I don't really know anyone else who does. Where in SE MO do you hunt. I live around KC and am trying to find some good places to go. I know there are some public areas pretty close, but I don't know if I would stand a chance there.

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I hunt public ground around the Dexter, MO area. There are 3 public place to hunt in that area and they are good hunting. The public ground down in this area is very good hunting. I also went out on the Mississippi River with some buddies and we saw a few ducks but none close enough to shoot at. The public ground is probably your best bet though, unless you know someone that has some flooded ground that would let you hunt!

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My buddy and I have been using a mallard and about 6 goose floaters spread for the past few years, it has worked pretty well. We set the geese about 30 yards away from duck spread and in the early morning just before legal shooting light the birds land with the geese about 70 percent of the time. I guess they stand out more in the dark. As far as calls the quack head line of calls are pretty good, if there is any way you can get with someone who knows how to blow a call right that would be the best way of learning or some dvd's on calling. No matter what call you pick you need to get it now and start practicing as soon as you can, a good rule of thumb is that no calling is better than bad calling. hope this help you out

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Lets see...

Decoys: Yes, one species is fine. Go with Mallards. If you are carrying them in or taking a layout boat then you may want to go with water-keel decoys as they are lighter.

Call: Go with a quality double reed. Double reeds are more forgiving than singles. Get a tape of video and learn how to call correctly. I agree with the earlier post in that, "no calling is better than bad calling."

Missouri: Missouri does a super job on their public areas. The KC area has a few very good areas. Look here: http://mdc.mo.gov/hunt/wtrfowl/reserve/arealoc.htm

Hope that helps, good luck.

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