[Auxillary]

Ok, I'm new to Delaware (1 year) and am wanting to get back into a little ducking action. I'd like to try and get my wife involved as well. I'm starting early to get good and ready for this fall. Here's my plan so far: 1) Taking a hunters safety course some time this summer with the wife to get her hunters safety card 2) Building a blind on my 12' aluminum boat. 3) Figure out a type of shot that can drop a duck with a youth 20 gauge (can't find the wife a 12 gauge youth). After that I'm kind of lost. I don't know anything about these managed lands. I've duck hunted in Alaska and am now from Colorado. Both are pretty baron when it comes to the hunting realm I guess. I've never goose hunted of any sort, but would definately like to put in the time to learn. Any advice on land, classes, calls, decoys, the boat blind would be greatly appreciated. I just want to find out as much as I can to keep myself out of trouble. I know it's vague, but at this point I don't even know specific questions to ask! Thanks! I'm going fishing now.

 

[TommyW]

First of all, welcome to DHC. Delaware state lands have a lottery draw system to hunt their blinds. For that reason I don't hunt in delaware. I would use #2 shot out of the 20 gauge for ducks. Anymore questions feel free to ask, there are a lot of people on here that can help you. :welcome:

 

[HowIdo]

Auxillary,
Delaware is better than a lot of states when it comes to hunting and the lottery systems arent that bad. The duck hunting is pretty good especially during the early season. Living in Dover you could pretty much go north or south for a pretty short drive and hunt many different places. If you want you can come of some hunts with my buddy and I next season, no prob! The goose hunting is ok if you travel further south or have private land. Otherwise, Bombay Hook wildlife refuge is great if you can get picked in the lottery.

As for the shotgun I would also tell you to use #2 or #3 for ducks and I would go with Hevi Shot for geese. Its pretty expensive but those geese can take a lickin!!

For decoys I would just buy 2 doz GHG hotbuy mallard decoys. They are like 25 a doz and look good and from what I hear hold up pretty well. As for the goose decoys I would take a look at Real Geese silos or just try to hunt with other people because goose decoys are expensive! And lastly for the calls I would go with a Haydels DR-85 for a duck call and a Canada Hammer for a goose call ( Both Inexpensive and work great).

Let me know if you have any other questions, I would be glad to anwer them and if you need someone to show you around that wouldnt be a problem. Have a good day

 

[Auxillary]

Thanks so much for the welcome!! And thanks for the comments. I'm still kind of confused about this lottery system, the hunting book isn't out yet I guess and I can only find a little info online about DE. That's okay, I'm sure I'll just read it when the book comes out and that'll answer most of my ??'s. Like how to sign up for lottery's.

Couple things,

Tommy, you say you don't hunt Delaware, does that mean I have more options than just Delaware, and does that mean I'd have to buy an out of state license for other states?

Thanks for the comments on the type of shot as well. #2 shot! You have to be pretty on with that then, which brings me to my next question: Is there a place that I can go to get the wife some clay pigeon practice? Lord knows I could use a bunch too! I have a spring loaded thrower, but not sure if I can just go somewhere or not.
Thanks Again...

 

[TommyW]

Auxillary you have to buy a non resident hunting license to hunt in NJ. The license cost 135.00 in NJ for a non resident. I don't even buy a Delaware license anymore. NJ has a electronic licensing system (ELS). I have been in the new system since it came out.
If you choose to stay in delaware to hunt, than I would stick with somebody like HowIdo or some of the other DE residents. :smile:

 

[Daffy Ducking]

Welcome to Delaware Auxillary! :welcome: Well put by everyone! :thumbsup: Like everyone has stated if you have anymore questions feel free to drop one of us a PM! Hope to hear how you do this year.

Daffy

 

[HowIdo]

TommyW,
I also hunt NJ and to get everything you need for the license (i.e. waterfowl stamps/ permits if you want) it is around $165. It is expensive, but I have private land to hunt on so it is worth it. NJ is not set up the same way as DE, there are not lottery drawings and there are a ton of hunters in the state wildlife areas. I would suggest unless you plan on scouting a lot or have private land to just stay in DE. The hunting in DE is just as good as NJ if not better!

Aux,
The lottery system is different depending on where you go, but I will try to explain how it works for the most part. Usually the drawings are 1 1/2 hrs to 2 hrs before sunrise. You go to the check in station put your name and license number on a paper and then get a number. They will then proceed to pick numbers and when your number gets called, you get to pick a blind/stand to hunt. As long as you know what blinds/stands are good you will do fine!

 

[Auxillary]

Thanks for the help HowIdo, and thanks for the welcome Daffy. I think I'm going to stick with DE hunting since I haven't hunted at all out on the east coast. I guess I just need to start scouting and finding out where some good places are. I read earlier about doing some volunteer work on some blinds some time before fall. Any way I can get in on that?
Thanks,
Aux

 

[Daffy Ducking]

I know up at Augustine Beach @ Port Penn where they have the drawing they use volunteers to grass and repair blinds as well as Little Creek.