December 7th, 2011 — Duck, Gear and Equipment
The duck hunt is something that you must plan for and something that’s very hard to do spontaneously. That’s because there is a certain amount of equipment that you need to do a proper hunt. You can’t just wake up one day and decide you’re going to go duck hunting at night. Of course you need the proper duck hunting license and a permit for your gun. But even if you have those, you still need to do some preparation work before you go on the duck hunt.
Duck hunting gear seems to improve with each passing year. Take, for instance, the type of ammunition used. Duck hunters used to use lead shot. Today it’s common to simply use shotgun shells. While some purists still insist on using the old methods, shells will travel farther at a faster speed. So you can be farther away from the bird and still get the shot.
An important advantage of shell ammunition over lead shot is that there is no lead in the shells. Lead shot would actually leak a small amount of lead into the flesh. When you use shells, you don’t have to worry about eating lead when you enjoy your duck dinner.
When you’re planning for the duck hunt you also want to make sure you have proper camouflage. Unlike the type of camouflage hunters wore 20 or 30 years ago, today’s camouflage hunting outfits are lightweight and moisture absorbing. They’re also waterproof on the outside. This serves a few purposes. Being light weight means that if you need to wear thermal underwear beneath them you won’t feel like you’re wearing 10 layers of clothing. And if it’s warm out, you’ll stay cooler.
The fabrics absorb your sweat and pull it away from you so that you’re more comfortable while the waterproof outside keeps the rain out and keeps your sweat in. Camouflage gear like this is ideal for hunting deer and other mammals because it can help suppress your scent. This is less of a concern with duck hunting but you still want the waterproof camouflage gear to keep you comfortable.
You’ll need decoys for the duck hunt. You can get very expensive decoys that are practically photorealistic or you can get inexpensive decoys. As long as they resemble ducks and float, you should be fine.
Next comes the choice of the hunting boat or a duck blind. Duck boats are designed a little bit differently than other types of boats. They’re very flat and low to the water to give the hunter a low profile and draw less attention. Some people choose duck boats that have been painted in a camouflage manner and have all the amenities aboard like a box for gun storage, a cooler for sandwiches and beverages, and even special places to store duck decoys. Others are very basic and cost considerably less.
If you opted for a blind instead, you can find someone who already has a blind and is willing to rent or loan you time in it or you can simply get some wood and build your own.
Photo Credits: peteSwede
Originally posted 2010-04-10 09:41:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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December 6th, 2011 — Duck, Hunting
Hunting ducks is typically either done in a blind or in the water or next to the bank, or in a boat. Boats for hunting ducks are set up differently than typical fishing boats or pleasure boats. These boats have a flat hull that gives them a very low profile against the water. This makes the boat and you much less noticeable to ducks and passing animals.
But when you’re hunting ducks, the type of boat you use does not determine how many ducks you get. What you do in the boat will make much more of a difference than the boat itself. First of all, you have to learn to be quiet and still. You’ve set your duck decoys and you’re ready and waiting for a shot. If you fidget very much, just the noise of your clothes brushing together may disturb nervous birds and keep them from coming near.
Don’t expect ducks to flock in as soon as you set your decoys. Once you’ve done that, you have to play a waiting game with them and simply be quiet and still is much possible to allow it to happen. If you plan on calling ducks, do it with restraint. Don’t try to out bellow the ducks thinking that the loudest call will attract them more. Try to sound like them with soft, short quacks and sounds. This will attract them much better than an unnatural sounding call.
Boats for hunting ducks do keep you very well camouflaged. Because you want to get flat in the boat, and the best time for hunting ducks is in the cold weather, be sure and bundle up. When you’re on cold water in a boat and lying in the belly of it, you can very quickly get far too cold. Flat bottomed John boats can also be used because of their flat profile and their width which makes them more stable in the water.
These type of boats let you go through high reeds and into places where traditionally shaped boats would scrape the ground. Many avid duck hunters build their own boats for hunting ducks or they do purchase a wide jon boat. Others use a traditional fishing boat to go to the blind where they lay in wait for the ducks rather than in the boat itself. Then they simply use the boat to retrieve the ducks.
Either way, you need to dress warmly and plan to be very patient. Just like the type of football or golf ball a sportsman uses won’t determine how successful he is at the sport, the type of boat or blind you choose will not determine how successful you are at duck hunting. The right kind of boats for hunting ducks can help you lay in wait in the center of the water near the decoys without being as noticeable to the ducks. But ultimately, your calling technique and your patience as well as the trueness of your aim will determine how many ducks you get more than the boat’s shape or size.
Photo Credits: Jo Jakeman
Originally posted 2010-04-05 03:50:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 30th, 2011 — Duck, Hunting, Hunting Trips
Duck hunt trips aren’t for every hunter. Even hunters used to hunting other animals may find duck hunting a bit different and less desirable. Much depends on the hours you like to keep. Most people who duck hunt get up long before the sun and are on the road before many of us are awake.
If you’re new to duck hunting, do yourself and every other hunter in the area a favor and hunt only with a very experienced person. There are few things worse than a new hunter coming to an area for the first time and being generally disruptive without even realizing it. There are rules and etiquette to everything and that includes duck hunt trips. So go on a guided hunt or take an experienced friend with you to help you learn the ropes. That will prevent other duck hunters from being aggravated with you and will give you a much more pleasant experience.
The idea that anyone who’s ever hunted anything can just grab up a gun and go on duck hunt trip is a false idea. There are skills and knowledge that are required for successful duck hunt. Your experienced friend, mentor or guide can help you learn these things.
If you don’t personally know anyone who duck hunts on a regular basis, simply find one. The Internet has a wealth of information about everything you could want to know about including duck hunt trips. Try looking at different message boards and forums at duck hunting sites. Even if you don’t find someone to go on a trip with you can glean a lot of knowledge from people this way. Look at duck hunting magazines for information and check with local hunter associations in your area.
It’s far better to get a guide or a mentor in your local area because they’re familiar with how things are in that spot. Duck hunting it might generally be the same but in different areas that are different techniques that seem to work better. You might as well learn the techniques that are used in your local area instead of something used several states away.
Duck hunt trips are also not cheap. If you’re looking for an inexpensive hobby, then you may want to look for something else. You need a variety of equipment, not the least of which is a decent shotgun. You may already have that if you’re hunter. But you want to wear camouflage clothing and clothing that keeps you warm enough, and you may perhaps invest in a duck call. There’s also the matter of a duck boat or duck blind. Purchasing a boat for duck hunt trips is a considerable expense. Building a blind isn’t as expensive but it does take a little bit of time and knowledge about how to properly build one. This is one area where having a mentor or guide can really come in handy.
Many decoys are fairly expensive, too. Follow your guide’s advice about which decoys seem to work best on a local duck population.
Photo Credits: peteSwede
Originally posted 2010-04-03 09:12:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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