I was fortunate to have a father who introduced me to hunting and taught me everything he knew about the outdoors. However, I am aware of the harsh reality not many people have the opportunity I had growing up.
I was privileged as a young child to have such a great dad. With duck hunting growing in popularity again, many people want to go waterfowl hunting but do not know where or how to start.
Waterfowl hunting like other hunting sports appears to need a massive amount of gear. Surprisingly, this is a myth.
Hunting with my dad I learned 3 basic lessons that helped me get started after I moved out and had to buy my gear and find new places to hunt while attending college.
1. Start Inexpensive– In our society today we believe we had to have the latest, greatest, and most expensive things. This often carries over into our thoughts on hunting too. The thought that bigger spreads, the most expensive decoys, the latest calls, and a brand new $1100 gun kill more ducks is a lie believed by most hunters today.
The truth is I have killed a great number of ducks over a dozen 20-year-old used decoys than I can count. There is no denying the new high dollar decoys look great, and you will definitely kill birds over them if used properly. They are not needed to start shooting birds.
The same goes for a gun. Get an inexpensive gun that fits you well and is reliable.
A good sounding quality call also does not have to be the most expensive one at your sporting goods store. I have found a few great calls at a great price.
Used gear can be just as effective as new gear but at half the price. My dad had a friend who was planning a garage sale (this was just before Facebook and Craigslist were popular) where he planned to sell his old decoys so he could upgrade. He called my dad and asked him if he wanted to buy the entire spread for cheaper than he was going to sell them for at the garage sale. Of course, my dad said yes. Those are some of the decoys we use to this day when I hunt with my dad. They work great even though they have a few scratches and are slightly faded. We have killed many ducks over those decoys and will continue to in the years to come.
Remember your gear is worthless no matter how new and how much you spend on it unless you know how to use it properly and effectively.
2. Start Small– We see the guys on TV with the trailer full of 100 dozen decoys and our first thoughts are “Man, I wish I had that many decoys.”
I am just as guilty as the next guy wanting and thinking I need more decoys. Honestly, often times a small spread can work like magic. There have been days when I have helped carry 4 dozen decoys to our spot and not killed a bird; then I have had times when I have literally thrown out 4 decoys and shot a limit of birds.
Often times it is just a matter of finding where the birds want to be, rather than the size of the spread. I am in no way saying a large spread has no benefits because it has many, but for a guy just starting out there is no need to buy an enormous spread. Start small and slowly grow your spread over the years.
3. Find a Place to Hunt– When I went to college near my hometown I could still hunt the same places I had hunted for years. Recently I have expanded my hunting range.
It is extremely intimidating going into a new area and finding a good place to hunt. Having a friend to go knock on doors with usually makes it easier and less intimidating.
However, don’t forget about public land. I have permission on several private ponds and fields but I regularly find a majority of the birds on public land. Yes, public land hunting is tough and highly competitive but I have had countless awesome hunts on public land.
Don’t overlook the hidden holes on public land; often times the father you get off the beaten path, the better the hunt ends up. If you are willing to put the effort in, you are capable of having great hunts.
A good place to start searching for hunting spots is your local/state wildlife department. Many states have maps of public hunting areas or they can point you in the direction of landowners willing to let hunters on their property.
There are also apps you can purchase such as, OnX Maps that are of tremendous benefit to hunters.
Another great resource is your local Ducks Unlimited; or Delta Waterfowl Chapter. Many guys will not tell you their “honey holes,” but they are typically willing to give you a general area of where to find birds.
Waterfowl hunting can be an expensive lifestyle to live. However, these are just a few ways to help make it a little less expensive and less intimidating and yet be extremely successful and incredibly enjoyable.