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Posted: 5/24/2016 8:43:36 PM EDT
I'm in North Virginia and have access to blinds at Fort Belvoir and I have a 5 month old pointing lab that I'd like to start training.
I've never duck hunted or done upland hunting before, I've researched online and there's a lot to it.

I guess I need a spread and have to figure out how to set it up, I need to train my dog and there's YouTube videos but it's not the best.
I got a dove and duck decoy from Bass Pro and take him to the yard and have him fetch and return the decoy to my hand.

Uggg, is there any reasonably priced clubs or dudes who could show a newb some pointers?

I'm getting bored with archery (deer) hunting. Upland and duck hunting looks a lot more fun.
Link Posted: 5/24/2016 8:46:43 PM EDT
[#1]


Quoted:



I'm in North Virginia and have access to blinds at Fort Belvoir and I have a 5 month old pointing lab that I'd like to start training.


I've never duck hunted or done upland hunting before, I've researched online and there's a lot to it.





I guess I need a spread and have to figure out how to set it up, I need to train my dog and there's YouTube videos but it's not the best.


I got a dove and duck decoy from Bass Pro and take him to the yard and have him fetch and return the decoy to my hand.





Uggg, is there any reasonably priced clubs or dudes who could show a newb some pointers?





I'm getting bored with archery (deer) hunting. Upland and duck hunting looks a lot more fun.
View Quote
If I know one thing about duck hunting, it's if you have a spot to hunt you have no problem finding people to help with blinds training and decoy spreads. True water fowlers do crazy shit for a nice spot to hunt on once and awhile
 



Edit- so my advice would be find some buddies or some buddies buddies and have them teach you or your pup. Duck hunting isn't hard in and of itself. But it's easily to get lost with decoys, spread layouts, calling, camo, etc. the best thing to do is just go out there and do it, you will learn quick
Link Posted: 5/24/2016 8:58:30 PM EDT
[#2]
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Quoted:
If I know one thing about duck hunting, it's if you have a spot to hunt you have no problem finding people to help with blinds training and decoy spreads. True water fowlers do crazy shit for a nice spot to hunt on once and awhile  

Edit- so my advice would be find some buddies or some buddies buddies and have them teach you or your pup. Duck hunting isn't hard in and of itself. But it's easily to get lost with decoys, spread layouts, calling, camo, etc. the best thing to do is just go out there and do it, you will learn quick
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
I'm in North Virginia and have access to blinds at Fort Belvoir and I have a 5 month old pointing lab that I'd like to start training.
I've never duck hunted or done upland hunting before, I've researched online and there's a lot to it.

I guess I need a spread and have to figure out how to set it up, I need to train my dog and there's YouTube videos but it's not the best.
I got a dove and duck decoy from Bass Pro and take him to the yard and have him fetch and return the decoy to my hand.

Uggg, is there any reasonably priced clubs or dudes who could show a newb some pointers?

I'm getting bored with archery (deer) hunting. Upland and duck hunting looks a lot more fun.
If I know one thing about duck hunting, it's if you have a spot to hunt you have no problem finding people to help with blinds training and decoy spreads. True water fowlers do crazy shit for a nice spot to hunt on once and awhile  

Edit- so my advice would be find some buddies or some buddies buddies and have them teach you or your pup. Duck hunting isn't hard in and of itself. But it's easily to get lost with decoys, spread layouts, calling, camo, etc. the best thing to do is just go out there and do it, you will learn quick


^ What he said. I can't remember the last time I went by myself. It's a lot more fun with a group of friends. Even if your friends don't know anything either, you'll have stories for a life. Invest in good decoys too. I started out with a couple dozen of these https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/decoys/avery-greenhead-gear-decoys/floating-duck/greenhead-gear-over-size-series-mallard-floaters.html     and then threw some of these in as well    
https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/decoys/avery-greenhead-gear-decoys/floating-duck/avery-ghg-pro-grade-hybrid-black-duck-surface-feeder-2-pack.html      
https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/decoys/avery-greenhead-gear-decoys/floating-duck/avery-ghg-pro-grade-mallard-butt-up-feeder-decoys-73101.html        
https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/decoys/avery-greenhead-gear-decoys/floating-duck/greenhead-gear-life-size-series-mallard-no-head-feeders.html        
https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/decoys/avery-greenhead-gear-decoys/floating-duck/greenhead-gear-life-size-series-mallard-sleepers.html  
I just got enough of those to total a dozen or so. It adds a lot of realism to the spread. Helps the real ducks decided to commit or not.  
Link Posted: 5/24/2016 9:09:01 PM EDT
[#3]

Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
^ What he said. I can't remember the last time I went by myself. It's a lot more fun with a group of friends. Even if your friends don't know anything either, you'll have stories for a life. Invest in good decoys too. I started out with a couple dozen of these https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/decoys/avery-greenhead-gear-decoys/floating-duck/greenhead-gear-over-size-series-mallard-floaters.html     and then threw some of these in as well    

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/decoys/avery-greenhead-gear-decoys/floating-duck/avery-ghg-pro-grade-hybrid-black-duck-surface-feeder-2-pack.html      

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/decoys/avery-greenhead-gear-decoys/floating-duck/avery-ghg-pro-grade-mallard-butt-up-feeder-decoys-73101.html        

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/decoys/avery-greenhead-gear-decoys/floating-duck/greenhead-gear-life-size-series-mallard-no-head-feeders.html        

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/decoys/avery-greenhead-gear-decoys/floating-duck/greenhead-gear-life-size-series-mallard-sleepers.html  

I just got enough of those to total a dozen or so. It adds a lot of realism to the spread. Helps the real ducks decided to commit or not.  

View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:



Quoted:


Quoted:

I'm in North Virginia and have access to blinds at Fort Belvoir and I have a 5 month old pointing lab that I'd like to start training.

I've never duck hunted or done upland hunting before, I've researched online and there's a lot to it.



I guess I need a spread and have to figure out how to set it up, I need to train my dog and there's YouTube videos but it's not the best.

I got a dove and duck decoy from Bass Pro and take him to the yard and have him fetch and return the decoy to my hand.



Uggg, is there any reasonably priced clubs or dudes who could show a newb some pointers?



I'm getting bored with archery (deer) hunting. Upland and duck hunting looks a lot more fun.
If I know one thing about duck hunting, it's if you have a spot to hunt you have no problem finding people to help with blinds training and decoy spreads. True water fowlers do crazy shit for a nice spot to hunt on once and awhile  



Edit- so my advice would be find some buddies or some buddies buddies and have them teach you or your pup. Duck hunting isn't hard in and of itself. But it's easily to get lost with decoys, spread layouts, calling, camo, etc. the best thing to do is just go out there and do it, you will learn quick





^ What he said. I can't remember the last time I went by myself. It's a lot more fun with a group of friends. Even if your friends don't know anything either, you'll have stories for a life. Invest in good decoys too. I started out with a couple dozen of these https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/decoys/avery-greenhead-gear-decoys/floating-duck/greenhead-gear-over-size-series-mallard-floaters.html     and then threw some of these in as well    

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/decoys/avery-greenhead-gear-decoys/floating-duck/avery-ghg-pro-grade-hybrid-black-duck-surface-feeder-2-pack.html      

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/decoys/avery-greenhead-gear-decoys/floating-duck/avery-ghg-pro-grade-mallard-butt-up-feeder-decoys-73101.html        

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/decoys/avery-greenhead-gear-decoys/floating-duck/greenhead-gear-life-size-series-mallard-no-head-feeders.html        

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/decoys/avery-greenhead-gear-decoys/floating-duck/greenhead-gear-life-size-series-mallard-sleepers.html  

I just got enough of those to total a dozen or so. It adds a lot of realism to the spread. Helps the real ducks decided to commit or not.  

To start out get the flambeau cheapies at cabelas for $49 a dozen, that way if you don't care for it (highly doubtful you don't it's truly like heroin) your not in too deep with gear.



The necessities-

In water- good waders, good jacket, good base layer, floating blind bag, a dr-85 call

Not in water i.e.: in a blind or in a field- good insulation, good cover, backpack or blind bag, dr-85 duck call
Link Posted: 5/25/2016 6:12:25 AM EDT
[#4]
Check out duckhuntingchat forum.  Tons of info about every aspect and region of duck hunting.  You will easily find some guys in your area to show you the ropes if you have somewhere to hunt.
Link Posted: 5/25/2016 2:07:23 PM EDT
[#5]
The biggest thing to remember about duck hunting,

Keep it simple stupid
Or keep it stupid simple

Get some decoys, and maybe a call, unless you have no idea to use it, or don't know when to stop calling

Put on camo, as long as it's brown/green the ducks really don't care
Put decoys in water
Hide, when you think your hidden well enough, stop moving
When you see birds in the air freeze,
Don't move until they are within range
Seriously, don't be spinning your head around to see them, or even worse, point at them

Shoot the ducks, eat the ducks

After doing that a couple times you'll have a better idea on what will/won't work for you

Duck hunting is a hundred times worse than fishing as far as "gear" goes, the shit is crazy expensive, and half of it doesn't really make a difference.  

If you were closer I'd help you out, I already got one member (actually from this section) into his first ducks last fall, it was outrageously fun.
We're already prepping for opening day this year, which is still like 5 months away


Link Posted: 6/2/2016 9:19:48 AM EDT
[#6]
The posters above have touched on most of the basics except...
LEARN HOW TO IDENTIFY DUCKS ON THE WING.

Seriously, know what you are shooting at.
Link Posted: 6/2/2016 8:02:24 PM EDT
[#7]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
The posters above have touched on most of the basics except...
LEARN HOW TO IDENTIFY DUCKS ON THE WING.

Seriously, know what you are shooting at.
View Quote


My bad, I always forget to tell people that
And for the love of God, don't shoot the greebes, they are cool, funny, and not a game bird

Link Posted: 6/3/2016 9:30:01 AM EDT
[#8]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
and for the love of God, don't shoot the greebes, they are cool, funny, and not a game bird

View Quote


...and swans are 12 pounds heavier than snow geese.  Do not confuse the two.  
...and no matter how big you think a canada goose is, it is not 20 pounds.  It's not 15 pounds either.
Link Posted: 11/10/2017 5:42:46 PM EDT
[#9]
You will not be disappointed if you get into waterfowl hunting the only issue is you may find out that the hobby will steal your money pretty darn quick. However there are many ways to easy into the hunting. I started when I was in college and I had little to no money. However every year I add a little something to my gear either decoys, blinds, calls....

I have found a few articles out there that have helped get me going on hunting geese and how to hunt them. Check this article out on scouting it may save you some busted hunts. One thing you have to learn is how to scout and where. Also learning to optimize the season, duck hunting is short so taking advantage of early goose and early teal is a huge bump in your season. If you a little unsure how to teal hunt check out this article it's a great read! Hope that helps.
Link Posted: 11/14/2017 2:49:40 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
I'm in North Virginia and have access to blinds at Fort Belvoir and I have a 5 month old pointing lab that I'd like to start training.
I've never duck hunted or done upland hunting before, I've researched online and there's a lot to it.

I guess I need a spread and have to figure out how to set it up, I need to train my dog and there's YouTube videos but it's not the best.
I got a dove and duck decoy from Bass Pro and take him to the yard and have him fetch and return the decoy to my hand.

Uggg, is there any reasonably priced clubs or dudes who could show a newb some pointers?

I'm getting bored with archery (deer) hunting. Upland and duck hunting looks a lot more fun.
View Quote



I live in Richmond and would be more than willing to help! I'm no expert, but I'd love to help
Link Posted: 11/14/2017 2:56:21 PM EDT
[#11]
find some fresh woodland beaver dams, bust up the wood ducks
Link Posted: 11/14/2017 3:01:46 PM EDT
[#12]
You don't really need the dog.  A kayak or chest waders will work in a lot of places and will be far less annoying.

A dozen mallard decoys and a well concealed blind will do the job.  3" #2 steel at 1500+ fps will kill any waterfowl within 40 yds.
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