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2022-2023 Duck Thread

kbetts said:
Are your rivers tidal? That can make a difference. Less water = less place for them to sit. Birds will come off a tidal flat as they lose water.
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Not up here. I'm in the northern part of our state right now so we're away from the coast.
 
Another question.

The pup is coming along nicely. He's mellowing out some and is pretty consistent with multiple retrieves and hand signals. Doesn't break, cool with gunfire and boats, and is generally tolerable. He's been on a few hunts where I went with a friend and didn't hunt so we had a gunner and a dog trainer, but each time we've (very oddly) not been able to shoot ducks. And he's been a rowdy little airhead with a stranger to try and play with.

So this season I'll be taking him with me 100% of the times I hunt solo. Really want to hunt with him.

He's a yellow lab who's practically white, and he's momma's lap dog. I bought a hose and sprayer that hooks up to the showerhead to make bathing him easier, but does anybody have tips on a cheap shampoo that can be used regularly without stripping the oils from his coat? Water does a fine job knocking the dirt off but doesn't really touch the funky smell he gets.
 
Nutterbuster said:
Another question.

The pup is coming along nicely. He's mellowing out some and is pretty consistent with multiple retrieves and hand signals. Doesn't break, cool with gunfire and boats, and is generally tolerable. He's been on a few hunts where I went with a friend and didn't hunt so we had a gunner and a dog trainer, but each time we've (very oddly) not been able to shoot ducks. And he's been a rowdy little airhead with a stranger to try and play with.

So this season I'll be taking him with me 100% of the times I hunt solo. Really want to hunt with him.

He's a yellow lab who's practically white, and he's momma's lap dog. I bought a hose and sprayer that hooks up to the showerhead to make bathing him easier, but does anybody have tips on a cheap shampoo that can be used regularly without stripping the oils from his coat? Water does a fine job knocking the dirt off but doesn't really touch the funky smell he gets.
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Look for an oatmeal based one. They work great and leave the majority of the natural oild on the dog.
 
BTaylor said:
How much and how far are you from say Princeton NJ? I know how long that drive is.
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My girlfriend has a place in Whitehouse Station. We go once or twice a month and exit near Trenton.
Let me get through the repair. We have two sitting here, a 15' and a 13'. My buddy wants to try the 13' for comparison. I'll keep you posted. It's sitting on a double jet ski trailer. Trailer is like new but has no registration as of now.....the boat is registered. Probably going to end up in the $1000-$1500 range for everything.
 
kbetts said:
My girlfriend has a place in Whitehouse Station. We go once or twice a month and exit near Trenton.
Let me get through the repair. We have two sitting here, a 15' and a 13'. My buddy wants to try the 13' for comparison. I'll keep you posted. It's sitting on a double jet ski trailer. Trailer is like new but has no registration as of now.....the boat is registered. Probably going to end up in the $1000-$1500 range for everything.
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Keep me posted.
 
Today was a day of firsts.

Amos fetched his first duck in a real hunting scenario. He did awesome. Video to come.

Screenshot_20221203_110237_Gallery.jpgScreenshot_20221203_110217_Gallery.jpg
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And, I ordered my first piece of sitka, much to my chagrin. They put their duck oven jacket at an almost hundred dollar discount and I snagged a medium timber color. Should be here next week.

Now I can shoot 2 wood ducks and 15 coot in style, dang it!
 
I made a video on my 11-48 28 gauge. I’ve been wanting to duck hunt with it for years but 28 gauge non toxic shot is not easy to find locally. I posted some links in the description that makes a good argument for the 28. Any of you hunt with anything smaller than a 12 gauge?
 
Ckwilli said:
I made a video on my 11-48 28 gauge. I’ve been wanting to duck hunt with it for years but 28 gauge non toxic shot is not easy to find locally. I posted some links in the description that makes a good argument for the 28. Any of you hunt with anything smaller than a 12 gauge?
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Been shooting ducks exclusively with a 20 gauge since 2011 ish if I remember correctly. 28 gauge and 410 since 2018.

A few guys on DHC were very pivotal on my sub gauge duck killing. Daveinaz, dagswane (Dr. Swane), derbyacresbob, toasty, and bullet225ho to name a few in no order. Bullets 28 gauge tss/steel duplex is a hammer and what I've been shooting with for several years now. Daveinaz wrote a lot of his findings down in a blog that I still reference often. Worked up some tss steel duplex last night for the 20 gauge in preparation for some icy river ducks and geese this weekend. .5 oz tss #8 under .5 oz steel #2. Ought to be able to kill ducks further than what I can effectively shoot and geese at around 45 yards.
 
Micneador said:
Been shooting ducks exclusively with a 20 gauge since 2011 ish if I remember correctly. 28 gauge and 410 since 2018.

A few guys on DHC were very pivotal on my sub gauge duck killing. Daveinaz, dagswane (Dr. Swane), derbyacresbob, toasty, and bullet225ho to name a few in no order. Bullets 28 gauge tss/steel duplex is a hammer and what I've been shooting with for several years now. Daveinaz wrote a lot of his findings down in a blog that I still reference often. Worked up some tss steel duplex last night for the 20 gauge in preparation for some icy river ducks and geese this weekend. .5 oz tss #8 under .5 oz steel #2. Ought to be able to kill ducks further than what I can effectively shoot and geese at around 45 yards.
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Never heard of TSS but I looked them up. Doesn’t look like they offer 28. So if I understand you’re reloading your own?
 
Yes, all handload
Ckwilli said:
Never heard of TSS but I looked them up. Doesn’t look like they offer 28. So if I understand you’re reloading your own?
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Yes, all handloads. Aside from a box of hevi-x II when I was short on components, haven't shot a factory duck load in 4 seasons. Look up bullet225ho on YouTube. He's got some 28 gauge and 410 handloading videos along with patterns.
 
4090Sharps said:
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First ducks of any kind. I'm going out today to see if I can find some other species. 410 with TSS/Steel duplex handload.
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First year duck hunting I had a single shot 20 gauge and no waders, decoys, or calls. I fetched them up with a kayak or a long stick on the creek.

I have spent several thousand dollars since then, but haven't really had any more fun. I'm too proud to say it, but it's conceivable that I don't kill any more birds either.
 
Nutterbuster said:
First year duck hunting I had a single shot 20 gauge and no waders, decoys, or calls. I fetched them up with a kayak or a long stick on the creek.

I have spent several thousand dollars since then, but haven't really had any more fun. I'm too proud to say it, but it's conceivable that I don't kill any more birds either.
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How most started. My first shotgun was an h&r 410. shot crows, dove, squirrel, and my first turkey with that gun. bout 5 years ago I killed a gobbler with it (brought back to life via a 13/16 oz load of #10 tss)
 
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