First year going after the waterfowl...


Turkeygirl

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I bought my duck stamp for 09/10 season...so come the October season, I'll be able to hit the fields. The land I deerh unt on sees huge flocks of geese and usually a huge flock of Mallards as well...we always watch them fly up out of the one field we walk across. Geese also fly low over our house and with our corn field, I'm thinking it might be a good place once the corn is cut.

My first questions is...why do duck and goose calls have to be so darn expensive? lol

Any suggestions on a duck call and goose call that are good for starting out, and not too horribly expensive.

Any tips for starting out in general?

I'll probably be hunting the fields, make a blind out of natural cover...and maybe my sister will bring her puppy along and get it trained,lol.

Thanks guys!

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My first year also.I don't have to buy any calls or decoys,my brother and his friends take care of that.Just starting out has cost me over $500.Layout blind,waters,blind bag,floating gun case,a box of bbb,a box of bb,2 boxes of #3 and a case of#2,{All on Sale!}I bought a 870 supermag with the fall flight camo a couple years ago.Used my cabelas pionts and a remington rebate and got paid $10 and got the gun for free.Good luck to you! Early goose comes in september 1st,early duck comes in september 5th.

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I'm registered with HIP and all that....but since I don't have the previous year's license, can't hunt the September season. I did get a goose and duck call combo from Cabela's when I placed my order yesterday.

You didn't hunt deer or turkey in 08/09 ?????

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if they are already coming to the field, place a few dekes out and DONT call. No need to call when they are coming in themselves.

Waterfowl is very addictive and once you are addicted it will get very expensive.

Goodluck and look forward to pics!

That is what my brother says about being addictive.If you have to be addicted to something, mine as well be the outdoors.Good luck to everyones season.
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if they are already coming to the field, place a few dekes out and DONT call. No need to call when they are coming in themselves.

Also...be very aware of your movement in the field. Ducks and geese can pick out movement just as easily as turkeys, especially if they see something they're not sure of.

Have fun!! And welcome to the wonderfully addictive world of waterfowling.

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Ruth, if they are cupping in and back pedaling while landing 20 yards in front of you, use the IC. If they are flying close to you but not landing put the Mod or Full choke in. And if they are flying and staying 30-50 yards or so out put in the full or X-full. Number 4 might be a little light on geese. When I am shooting woodies in our pond where they rain in, I shoot #3s and on big ducks will do #2s and #3s in 3.5inch shells. Geese, i will shoot BBB BB and sometimes maybe a #2, #3 if they are landing 10 yards away. If you get out there and start shooting and feel that your shots are on target yet the birds arent fallin, go bigger on the shot. Post some pics of the fields you will be hunting if you can.

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  • 4 weeks later...

IT doesn't have to be expensive at the start. My guess is you'll only need a few dekes because they are already coming into your field. Secondly, don't overcook waterfowl, if you cook it to well done it will have liver taste and be tough. Thirdly, don't let anyone tell you that a 20 ga isn't enough. That's all my brother hunts with, as long as their 20-30 yards and you make a good shot they'll fold.

Good luck and I think you'll find waterfowl is very rewarding.

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I have another question. I'll be using my Mossberg 500 20 ga which has a 26" barrel...I have a full, x-full, modified, and improved cylinder chokes....which is my best bet to use on geese with #4 steel shot?

Glad to hear we got another waterfowler! Good for you, you'll love it! It's funny you mentioned the Mossberg 500 20 gauge, that's one of the first guns I ever got, and to this day it is my go-to, do anything gun. I love it. I have shot geese with it, hunting on the water over decoys. As long as you are patient and take good shot opportunities, it should treat you well. However I prefer a 12 gauge for targeting honkers. The only thing I would add is that 4 shot is on the light side for geese, I use BB and BBB for geese. I will use 2 shot when I'm "multi tasking" with ducks and geese.

A 20 gauge can be a really good goose gun if ya get em in close. I would recomend using a full choke with the 20 gauge too, and nothing lighter than 2 shot. Good luck out there, have fun!

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