Wednesday, October 9, 2019

How to Follow your Waterfowl Passion

Learning how to become a waterfowl hunter in your local area
Are you a beginner duck hunter and very lost as to where to start? Read this following article to turn your new duck hunting experience into a lifelong passion. These tips may make you more successful in the duck hole.

Every year thousands of new duck hunters are eager to attempt the sport looking to see if it is worth their time and money. When trying to pursue a new sport you should always research about the topic so your experience will be just as unforgettable as you planned.

What exactly is waterfowl hunting?

Waterfowl hunting is the practice of hunting ducks, geese, or other waterfowl for a food resource as well as a sport. In many western countries commercial waterfowl hunting is prohibited, and duck hunting is primarily an outdoor shooting/ sporting activity.  When hunting ducks it makes it much easier when you know where the birds are, the times they are coming in, and good cover so you can stay camouflaged so the ducks will not know what hit them.

Where to start?

The waterfowl sport requires dedication, the proper equipment, and a body of water. If you do not have any private spots, public land is always an option. Public land can be very hard to find birds on because it is hunted so often and so hard. If you know anyone with land that has a water source it wouldn't hurt to ask, the worst the land owner can say is no.

Bring the proper gear

I am primarily a waterfowl hunter that thoroughly enjoys hunting ducks. I normally pack the truck the night before so I can make sure I am not forgetting any key pieces of equipment. I wake up at 4am that morning, get dressed in warm clothes, drink a cup of warm coffee, then I am ready to head to the swamp. What I bring to make my hunt successful includes:

• Duck hunting license 
• A good core layer (thermal shirt and pants)
• Warm Jacket
• Waders
• Decoys
• Shotgun and shotgun shells

I personally always take a form of shotgun cleaning tools just in case something was to happen to my shotgun while on the hunt. When cleaning your gun you must:

1. Get the ram rod out of your cleaning kit, place oil on the rag and clean thoroughly all throughout the inner barrel.
2. Once that is done you can clean the chamber/ action of your shotgun, if you do not clean your shotgun often you will realize a gunk build up in your action and your gun will not fire properly.
3. After oiling your chamber, you can proceed to oil the rest of your gun.
4. When oiling your shotgun make sure and get all the corners and angles in the gun to prevent rust.
5. Always take care of your gun so it lasts longer and you get as many successful hunts out of your gun as the money you put into it.

Know your limits

While waterfowl hunting you will have a better and more fun experience if 1) Practice your shooting 2) Bring warm clothes and 3) Find the ducks.

Practice your shooting

When hunting ducks you have to lead the bird. If you practice shooting your shotgun by shooting clays then you will be more confident in your shot. When practicing shooting treat the clays if they are a live duck or goose, the more time you take to make a clean and precise kill on the animal will save you time and money in the long run. Know your shotgun, if you are comfortable firing your shotgun it will make a whole world of difference in a positive way. The only way to make yourself better is with practice, in this sport, practice really does make perfect.

Bring warm clothes

Waterfowl season typically opens up the third weekend in November here in Georgia. It is normally anywhere from 45 degrees to 25 degrees every morning. If you do not dress properly your experience duck hunting may not be near as enjoyable as it would have been if you had worn that big warm jacket you left at home. Dress appropriate for the weather conditions that morning, now days with technology at our finger tips it takes a total of 1 minute to check the weather so you will not be in a situation where your hunting experience is miserable.

Find the ducks

I am positive that finding the ducks is a key factor to your success. When going out and scouting for birds make sure you have your eyes and ears peeled for looks and sounds the ducks make. If you know the species of duck coming in your water source you can throw out decoys that look like that duck or even use a call to lure the birds in.

Have a back-up plan

No matter where you are hunting that morning you should always have a backup plan. If you hunt public land I would advise you to get to your spot earlier than you would if you are hunting private land. Public land is first come first serve so if you have a spot you know birds are coming into the earlier you get there the better. It can’t t hurt to have a backup plan. Personally I always like having one or two backup plans because I plan for the worst.

Stay safe and gun safety 

When waterfowl hunting it is very easy to forget about your surroundings. Make sure at all times your firearm is pointed in a safe direction so no accidents happen. When the ducks start to fly and are committing to the hole make sure wherever you shoot is in a safe area. Be very aware as to where all of your buddies or friends are set up on that given morning. No duck is worth a persons life.

What waterfowl hunting has done for me

I have been very passionate about duck hunting ever since the first time I went when I was eight years old. My dad taught me everything I know about the sport, as he has gotten older, he gets more joy out of the stories I tell him about my hunting experiences. Throughout the years of hunted waterfowl i have met some great people and lifelong friends. I am now a co-owner of No-Fly Zone Waterfowl, for a brand that was established in early 2017 we have accomplished so many amazing goals. We now have three amazing sponsors, Sitka Gear. Rich N Tone Calls, and last but certainly not least Kent Cartridge shotgun shells. I have been truly blessed to have such amazing friends and partners that make our hunting experiences their first priority.