[NewBeeDuckHunter]

Hey all I am new to the world of duck hunting, I just started because I have recently got the right to hunt some land with a nice creek on it. But we have been haveing troble finding the right combo of choke/Shellsize /how many IN shells. The creek is banked on ether side by 10 foot mounds to protcet the crops from floads. The way we have been hunting them is the 3 of us spread out in front of one side of the bank in a line of about 100 yards then slow creep over the hill and spooke the brids. We have yet to bring down any brids and I am thinking it may be because we arnt hitning any vital areas because the are flying away from us. We get the frist shot of at about 30 yards. I dont want to be wounding any brids so any help would be greatly appriated.

 

[dldavis3]

First I would say try to get closer. Try coming down inside of the creek. As far as choke and shell I think a Mod would be fine and try using a smaller shell like a 3 or 4. It will be kind of like throwing a net around the duck. Good Luck

 

[DUKHTR]

How ould wading the creek work? I'll bet you could be closer than a hundred feet as long as you move slowly and quietly. Not sure of this since I do not =know the creek's layout, but idf there are corners and brush you should be able to get close.

With steel, MY advice, is to use improved cylinder or modified for a 'regular' factory choke tube. Some aftermarket or some factory are for steel so you may consider them, but not on the same plane. As for shot size, on mallards and other big puddlers I would suggest 2's. For woodies and teal, 4's.

I do not pattern my guns, but would suggest you toss a couple rounds at some paper to see what load works best.

 

[DuckDude88]

New Hunter,

I hunt the same way you hunt except w/out the big mounds. i dont know aboubt getting in the creek but i love to sneek up on some woodys on the creek. :twisted: I use #2 steel shot 2 3/4" and that works fine for me.

 

[Huntinracer]

The reason you are missing is probably because the birds are rising and you arnt leading high enough. I have a poly choke on my Winchester 1200 and I use 3 inch Expert Hi Velocity #3 for ducks and BB for geese.

 

[hunter18372]

The only way to find what's good for your gun is too spend some time at the patterning board to see what choke shell combination works best in your gun.
You and you friends can chip in and everybody can get to see what works and what doesn't.

 

[birdgunner04]

if you are shooting at 30yrds w/#2s and nothing happens then you are not hitting them! See if you can grt permission to flood a small part of the crop lands after harvest and you will have more shooting than you can believe if not try some binos from a distance so you know rxactly where the ducks are in the creek and stalk right to that spot. you'll be closer than 30 yrds I'll bet. dont shoot all the hens.