Want to get started duck/geese hunting

[DH_72]

I have been wanting to get started in duck/goose hunting. What are some of the things I will need. Already have the gun and camo. What else will I need. Also, what are some good places/areas to go in central MO? thanks

[hobiecat]

PM at ya.

[Hunter91]

Some Waders. A good spread of decoys. You can start out with as many or as few as you can afford. I've had awesome hunts over 4-6 decoys and also over 150 dekes. A good place if you are anywhere close is to watch Bass Pro outlet store, they always have decoys on sale. A good call and instructional tape are good. Then go out with someone who has experience and watch what they do. As far as places, you've got Eagle Bluffs, Schell Osage and 4 rivers and Grand Pass probably within driving distance.

Then there are a ton of optional items that you can add as you go. I am sure you will find out about these.

Good Luck.

[DH_72]

Back at you Hobie

Thanks Hunter91. As far as Bass pro, it's supposed to open in Columbia in February which is only 30 minutes from me. I'll check out those places you said to go to hunt.

[Marshdog]

Best piece of advice I can give you is, if you like to chase deer, turkey, or anything else don't start.

But if you must here's a list:
Calls
Lanyard
decoys
bags for decoys
Gore tex Camo (If you don't have it you will if you want to be comfortable)
Waders
waterproof everything
case of steel shot
blind bag
floating gun case
small boat(layout or jon)
plus about $1000 worth of other stuff, no sleep for days on end, and alot of uncomfortable days in the marsh. But then you'll have one of those hunts that will make you forget how much you've spent and how much time you've went without sleep and how uncomfortable you've been.

[swmoDukR]

In Columbia go talk to Troy at Missouri River Outfitters as far as you gear goes.



H91 about hit the nail on the head. First off, I would find someone that might be interested letting you tag along maybe a couple times if you hadn't gone before. It's just like every other as far as being addictive and probably the most expensive to start out with if you go full blowen. Gotta have this license, that license, end up going thru a few boxes or more of shells in a season, gas money for traveling and scouting, waders (get a decent pair of Neo's for this time of year ), decoys (if you don't have a boat and plan on carring them in go with the water keel, be easier on your back over time). If you plan on hunting CA's "GO BIG" with the spread. We usually throw up 12-14 dozen on the CA's but only 0.6-4 dozen depending on the size of the hole of water were hunting down here. On CA's there's lot of competition as compared to where I hunt down here. We've thrown the bigger spread down but doesn't seem to make that much diffence.



Getchya ahold of the Conservation Atlas thru MDC if don't have one and start looking for places in your and go on some scouting missions. It's amazing the amount of public ground listed in those that you probably never knew about. Being near the Missouri River I'm sure there's gotta be some back water places you can get to.



Join and get involved with your local MWA chapter and get to know them folks, bunch duck hunters that might be willing leak a few spots to you .



Good Luck.



swmo

[webster]

And if you like all that you will want to try goose hunting and you'll need a few dozen BF's and a layout blind, goose calls. Can't forget might need a good dog one day.

The list is endless, But what a adventure!!!!

[mygood]

Ask Bruce Carpenter, he can advise you and will even take you out a couple of times and give you help with anything you need.

[DH_72]

Looks like I'm getting a Lab puppy in a couple of weeks Webster, so I got that part covered. Hobiecat's been helping out a lot. We're heading out tomorrow to go do some hunting.

[PoisonSnake]

DH72: I would rather have a blind, homeless man show me the ropes of duck hunting if I had to chose between him and Hobie. PS

[hobiecat]

PS, don't make me break my foot off in your donkey!



BTW, you wanna go? I could show you the ropes as well.

[PoisonSnake]

I've been shown the ropes. I have found that getting them within range is not a problem. Hitting them, now that is a problem. If I wanted to be a serious duck hunter, I would go down home every weekend and hunt where I didn't have to worry about drawing a blind. But, I want to be a deer hunter. Oh, and I don't have the permits to hunt, so I can't go tomorrow. Also, I am babysitting. Thanks for the offer though.

[hobiecat]

I hates me a draw! I try to avoid it whenever possible. We ain't drawin tomorrow.

[GoGop]

webster said:

And if you like all that you will want to try goose hunting and you'll need a few dozen BF's and a layout blind, goose calls . Can't forget might need a good dog one day.



The list is endless, But what a adventure!!!!

For goose and duck calls, go to www.kwackwacker.com and get the polys.

[bullitt]

Get a call and PRACTICE. Learning to do just a nice ducky quack will put ducks in the dekes. Poor calling will run them out of the country. Which is why I don't shoot many!
Spend your money on good waders, good dekes, and a good thermos. Nobody likes their coffee and kahlua to get cold.
I don't like a draw either. I don't mind the gamble, I just don't like hunting around that many people. Tomorrow I'll pack in with 15 water keels, my camo man-purse, gun, chair, and one black labradog. Sounds like fun, huh!