Expensive New Hobby...

[wanderinwalker]

One of my friends and coworkers introduced me to duck hunting this year. Sunday I bagged my first duck (drake mallard at 35 yards) with my trusty 870 20-ga. (I don't know who was more disappointed in my shooting and the steel shot, me or the duck. He died on the far bank, after I hit him again on the water. At least he didn't get swept downstream.)

Today I finally cooked him up for lunch. Not too bad. I feared the worst hearing what my sister's boyfriend and several others had to say about duck. I think they just don't know how to cook! Besides nutrition, I now have a pretty good supply of flank feathers for my fly-fishing.

So after all of this I have vowed to use Hevi-Shot in my 20 for whatever duck hunting I may do this season and to be mindful of shooting past 30-yards or so. (Even on my college budget, I can't possibly shoot enough of the stuff to be reduced to eating Ramen for weeks on end.) The big Canadas that are so prolific are safe beyond 25-yards until I get a 12-gauge.

The wishlist reads like this:
-Waders (I hate skinny dipping in October in New Hampshire)
-12-gauge 870 synthetic-stocked
-a handful of dekes and a call or two
-big recipe book (this stuff is good)

Anything else I should add? Any additional comments welcome.

Oh, and I have decided already that the shot was at the fringe of what I should have done with a 20. No need to chastise me on that. I don't want to chase too many more half-dead ducks.

 

[kudu]

The Hevi-shot should add to your range for hunting. 35-40 yards would be fine for the 20ga. For the price of the shells take at least one and pattern the shell at 35 yards on a sheet of paper or cardboard, This will tell you what you need to know. Good hunting.

 

[firesafety3]

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Congratulations on your introduction to a fine sport and time honored tradition.

I'm down in Louisiana and our boys are in the duck blind around 3 or 4 years old. Not shooting, mind you. Just out there with Dad or PawPaw taking in the sounds and smells of coffee, hot chocolate, and fresh biscuits.
My son was shooting at 6 years old, 13 now and still the safest shooter I know.

As stated earlier, it truly is a sport. Take in the entire hunt...not just the kill.

That being said, sounds like you're off to a great start. And judging from your comments you seem to be a conscious hunter.

A few items I would suggest are:

Good pair of shooting glasses (amber or yellow lens)
Get that 870 in 3 1/2" for those geese
Haydel Double Reed Mallard call DRS-88 (if I remember correctly)
Cheap (but water tight) shell box
Line your boot bottom with carpet remnants (cut to fit, EXTRA WARMTH!)

Glad to hear season is open up there. We won't open the first split until mid-November. I'll be brushing the blind in a couple of weeks.

Remember that Heavi Shot is slower than steel. Increase your lead a bit and swing through the bird.

Buy whatever decoys you want but always touch up the paint yourself. Gives a personal touch and you'll know in your heart that drake decoyed because of that extra deep black you put on the curl of the mallard decoy.

Believe me, you'll be proud to pass all this down to your son or nephew one day.

Welcome to the sport!

 

[wanderinwalker]

firesafety3, kudu,
Thanks for the comments.

Regarding shooting glasses, that is out. I am one of those special people who cannot walk out the door without his glasses. No need to get any more or have any more glasses hanging around. The 3.5" is a possibility I was looking at, as the 870 Super Magnum isn't any bigger or more unweildy than the regular 3" model (and both feel porky next to the 20). And I've already learned that the marshes, swamps, ponds and general landscape of duck hunting are no place for a pretty gun (only took an accidental dunk and one swollen buttstock to reach that conclusion).

It's not the game down that makes the hunt. It is the rush of watching flights of Canadas coming off of the reservoirs in the mornings. Or the feeling of my heart stopping when I kick up a group of ducks. (Should mention that 95% of my hunting so far has been jump shooting mid-morning and afternoon.) Simply being outside and enjoying nature. I admit I can already see myself out on the water in terrible weather just to experience the thrill of incoming birds.

Again, thanks for all of the advice. Somehow I bet I will be learning more tricks the hard way as well!

Edited to add: Our season opened October 5 and we have a break coming up in November.