[Preacher1011]

I have a canoe and Mossberg 835 Ulti Mag, pretty much the bare essentials I think. Now I need to know what else I need to waterfowl hunt.

I know I'll probably need some calls, and maybe decoys eventually. What do you guys reccommend. Keep it on the cheap side if you can, I'm a college student on a limited budget. Thanks in advance.

 

[mallard molester]

gloves
face mask or hat

decoys are very important otherwise you would just be sitting in a swamp hoping that ducks will fly within range of you.

 

[Preacher1011]

I have gloves, facemask, and a hat. I'll just hijack them from my deer hunting gear. Other than that, I'm at square one and need the stuff that's the best bang for the buck.

There aren't too many ducks here in East Tennessee. We see them, but don't have anywhere near the population of anywhere else. That's why I was wondering about decoys, it seems here that with or without them I'll just be hoping they fly over.

 

[Kiskadinna]

Definitely decoys, before calls of course if you have to make a sacrifice at this time - in my mind that's far more important. It will eventually be said, so here goes: time and money spent scouting will stack the odds more in your favor than a lot of gear will anyway. Keep your eyes peeled for people selling used decoys, also this time of year their start to be some closeouts on that sort of thing. Locally, things like craigslist can be a good resource for decoys.
You could easily start out with a dozen flambeau decoys or something similar, and build on as money warrants.
-Erik

 

[mallard molester]

decoys will improve your chances even if you only use a half dozen

just curious did you hunt at all this season or are you just getting ready for next season

 

[Preacher1011]

Thanks Erik. By the way, what part of Nebraska are you from? I have some realatives in the small town of Wallace.

After decoys, what kind of call should I get? I was looking into one that came with a DVD on how to use it so I can practice at home with the tape like I do with predator calls.

 

[HunterX]

I'd start with a single reed at any sporting good store, get something like the primos phat lady, echo, etc. You don't want to spend too much on a call, just a decent one. Practice, practice, and practice so more, then work your way up to an acyrlic (sp).

Other supply to consider: Wader, jacket, ammo, etc. It just takes time and money to get all the necessity but even harder being a college student but it can be done. Maybe your school might have a Duck club and you should check it out and meet other members who might help you get started.

 

[Preacher1011]

We don't have a duck club. I'm at a community college right now working on a transferr to the University of Tennessee. I guess I didn't give enough info on how tight of a budget I'm on.

Right now I 1000 bucks in the hole with 24% intrest :sad: . 100 bucks every two weeks goes to gas. An '88 F150 4x4 isn't too gas friendly. I'm also saving up 1000 bucks for traps for a trip I'm taking to a local managment area to trap and hopefully find some ducks and geese. Between all that stuff I usually bring home maybe 50 bucks.

So as you can all see when I say restrictive budget, I really mean it. Cheap is good, but crappy isn't. I need a meeting place in the middle between the two. I was thinking about a Buck Garner call from Bass Pro, and the Bass Pro brand of decoys. The call is about 25 and the decoys are 50 bucks for 8 drakes and 3 hens.

 

[orangefoot]

All Duck Commander calls are pertty good and they don't cost an arm and a leg. $50 bucks for 8 drakes and 3 hens :huh: you need to check out Greenhead Gear Hot Buy mallards their $25 bucks a dozen and I think they're great decoys for the price. :thumbsup:

 

[Dixie Chicken]

You're $1000 in the hole at 24% interest and looking to transfer to a much more expensive school, and you're trying to scrap together $1000 for duck traps?

It sounds to me like you might want to hold off on buying new toys and pursuing new hobbies, and work on getting back in the black and figuring out how to pay for college. The year after next might be your year to start duck hunting.

I know that doesn't answer your question, but it's a way more valuable piece of advice than you could ever get about shooting some birds.

Don't get me wrong I understand the feeling. I'm a graduate student and I get duck fever too, but I know missing a few hunting trips now when I have to, means getting to go on a hell of a lot more later.

Priorities my friend.

 

[Goosekiller06]

:dito: Man I feel your pain but you could not have picked a more expensive sport to get into . And not having anything makes it that much harder for a full time student. You will drive yourself nuts getting torn between money for that and school. You have a choice to make. I chose to go to school part time and work part time. 13 credit hours a semester and work 3 days a week to get gas money for everything. Also I have a summer job that I make around 4-5 grand during and save EVERYTHING to get me through the time im in school. You have to decide what you want to do because it is not wise to try doing both if you are already struggling for tuition.

 

[Preacher1011]

The debt won't be a problem after the summer. I'm going to pick up a second job to handle that, probably construction. As for paying for college, I have a ton of scholarship money. So college being paid for isn't an issue, it's all covered one way or another. I wasn't spending money on duck traps, it was going to foothold traps. Anywho, college money isn't an issue, and the second job over the summer will take care of the rest. That being said, I may have more money in awhile than what I posted.

 

[Dixie Chicken]

I was wondering about that, I'd never heard of anyone trapping ducks before. The way you phrased it got me confused.

 

[Goosekiller06]

Well why didnt you say so in the first place?!? START SPENDIN BROTHER :yes:

 

[Preacher1011]

I'm working on it, I just don't know what to spend it on.

 

[Goosekiller06]

Get yourself a doz hotbuy mallards(25 bucks) Double nasty(20) Shells (8-50 a box) Camo if you dont have any, Waders if you dont have any, even cheep rubber ones will work(30 bucks)

 

[Preacher1011]

I guess I could use some more camo. I've got some nice neoprene waders that have 500 grams of thinsulate that I use for trapping. They're camo in advantage Max 4. :thumbsup: What's some good duck hunting camo for a reasonable price. I know what to get for deer, but ducks are a different story. It's probably a little colder on the water in winter than up in a treestand.

 

[orangefoot]

Max-4, Mossy Oak Duck Blind, Mossy Oak Shadow Grass, and Avery KW-1 are the best duck hunting camos. :thumbsup: Drake Waterfowl makes some nice stuff but its pertty pricey. Cabelas makes smoe great stuff thats reasonable. :thumbsup:

 

[Preacher1011]

I was wondering about that, I'd never heard of anyone trapping ducks before. The way you phrased it got me confused.

I have trapped ducks though. I intern with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency on a managment area and we trapped and banded wood ducks last summer. I had a blast doing it. Too bad the area was on the Oak Ridge National Lab (The plant they made the atomic bombs), or I'd go there for my duck hunting.

Thanks for all the help fellas, I really appreciate it :thumbsup: If there's any other suggestions my wallet should be able to handle it this summer so keep them coming.

A couple questions:

When should I start scouting/"feeding" the ducks and geese? There's a park not too far where I could put my canoe in, and they're are a crap load of geese and ducks that go there. I'd just have to hunt 100 yards away in the middle of the river.

How would I set the decoys up in this situation, or should I just wait and let them fly over? Also, are there any cheap goose decoys?

Thanks again.

 

[dudejcb]

Buy a duck calling CD. Listen and practice a lot. check Craig's list, Ebay, or garage sales for decoys. After you graduate you can worry about quality and quantity.

When I was going to school, I made myself a promise to buy a really nice flyrod when I graduated. Back then all I had was a canoe and bag of decoys and calls that I knew how to use.

If you have a canoe and a few decoys, and you know how to use a call... your set. All you do then is spend time with the call this summer calling to ducks in the park, and learning how to read their wings (how they respond to various calls). Next fall scout out where the ***** are going and then paddle youself over there, build a small blind and throw out your dekes and load your gun.

Almost forgot. A dog is essential. What's the point of dropping them if you can't find them?