Duck Hunting Questions Layout Boats, Shotguns, and Others...

[Higg]

Well, being that the summer is getting revved up, I'm starting to get bummed like I do every summer because its not hunting season! I got to thinking about duck season today and thought the summer would be a good time to prepare all of my equipment for the new season.

Let me explain my situation. I have been hunting all my life, but just got into duck hunting two years ago when I went with some friends from work. For the past two years, I have kinda scrounged around for equipment. I bought three dozen flambeau decoys, a reasonably-priced set of lacrosse waders, and I have been wearing my deer-hunting coat to duck hunt in. After two years, my dekes look pretty ragged, my waders have a pinhole leak, and my deer hunting coat is just too dang bulky!!

I have also being using my dad's 11-87 12ga, all I have is an 870 20ga youth and an 1100 20ga, both used for small game hunting. I bought a Benelli Nova 12ga several years ago, was disgusted with it, and haven't bought another 12 since. All in All, I think its time to overhaul my gear and add some new items to my waterfowl arsenal. I would like to have as many opinions as possible on the items I am going to mention, and keep in mind, I want to stay as REASONABLE as possible.

1. Decoys-I'm thinking of just throwing away the old flambeau's and going with new ones same brand. I know they're not the best out there, but the price is right and I can get five-dozen for a hundred bucks. I'm gonna stick with the same kind of weights, straps, as they seem to be very functional. What line length do most people put on decoys?? I hunt mostly flooded fields and marsh on public land. Everywhere I hunt is shallow enough to walk in with chest waders. I think my dekes right now have about six feet of line on each.

2. Waders and Coat- I'm probably going to just buy a pair of Hodgman waders. Once again, I know they're not the best out there, but I can afford them and they're pretty functional. My brother hasa pair and I wore his one morning last year. They were very comfortable and have seemed to last just as good as my lacrosse (if not better!). I'm open to suggestions for a coat. I want something that's light enough to move around in, but can still keep me warm. I'm guessing one of those monstrosities with the zip-in/out liner. I can wear the liner when not as cold then put on the parka for colder weather.

As far as camo patterns, I have always been a MossyOak wearer through and through, but I'm open to suggestions. I would like either mo shadowgrass or advantage max4, and would like to hear some comments. I hunt a lot of corn fields and dead marsh grass, so these types of patterns blend perfectly.

3. Shotgun- Ok, here's one thats up for grabs. My first gun was a 20ga 870, and I love it like a member of the family. I must admit I am partial to pump guns, but would like to have a semi auto for ducks. As far as pumps, I'm looking at the 870, mossberg 500, and have even reconsidered the benelli nova. When it comes to price, the pumps have the clear advantage. The mossberg is the cheapest, but I love the way an 870 handles. Whichever one I get I probably slap a home paint job on it if its not already, this sucker's gonna have to stand up to some abuse and is gonna be a "workin' man's gun".

4. Layout Boat- I have for the last year or so been considering a layout boat. From what I've read, perfect for where I hunt, like I said, flooded fields and marshes on public land. Avg water depth of about 1' to 2'. What exactly is the tactic with these boats? Lay in the middle of the spread with some grass throwed on top of you? Lay on the edge up in the weeds? Can you lay out in open water and not be seen? What are some good brands? The one I'm considering is made by "Otter" I believe, and it is the smallest boat they make with lowest profile. On either Basspro.com or cabelas.com, listed around $600.I wont be putting on a trolling motor, just paddling or using a pole topush along.Any opinions on this boat? Also, if you do hunt from a layout boat, could you share some tips?

Thanks for reading through this long spill. Like I said, any and all opinions and suggestions would be appreciated.

[huntII]

1. i have a dozen flambeau and a dozen "green head gear"
the ghg decoys are really durable and at $25 a dozen its affordable.

2. neoprene. its warmer, durable, gives you padding on the knees as well as all around your body (i stalk some of my birds through thick brush, i have even low crawled through a field for about 70 yards to get to a puddle) i think the cabelas armor flex would be a really good choice.

3. i have an 870 express (12 ga) pump $216; remember the part about low crawling and stalking? yea, its durable. accurate. simple. functional. i'm out there hunting not making a fashion statement. its rare that gun misses...

4. can't help here. i hunt lakes and rivers. wish i could setup in 1-2 feet of water.

waterfowl is my favorite. it was my first hunting experience.
feel free to bounce any questions off me. hope you can utilize the info

les

[Brad Kilgore]

Higg,
Like you, I am partial to the 87o. I use an 870 Express for ducks, and geese. I still use the 3 inch shells because the 3 1/2's kick so darn hard. I've never had a problem killing ducks, or geese with this gun. If I have to shoot at long ranges I screw a Kick's "High Flyer", full choke in it. Works great, and has been doing it for a long time.

[DuckHuntin247]

1.We have 2 dozen flambeau water keels, seem to work pretty good, and are affordable, six feet oflineseems like it will do fine.
2. For a coat, the ones with the zip out liner seem to work good. They're extremly warm when the liner is zipped in, and either the liner or outside shell of the coats works good when weather isnt too cold.
3.I'm also a fan of the 870 12 gauge.
4.Better check your regulations on this one, I'm pretty sure that when hunting from a boat on water, you have to be tied or attached somehow to "rooted vegetation", cattails or something like that. I'm pretty sure that most people only use layout boats on large lakes and big bodies of water. Places like this, like the great lakes or other places that are mentioned in the regulations allow you to use layout boats that can be out in the water not attached to vegetation.

[Higg]

ORIGINAL: DuckHuntin247

1.We have 2 dozen flambeau water keels, seem to work pretty good, and are affordable, six feet oflineseems like it will do fine.
2. For a coat, the ones with the zip out liner seem to work good. They're extremly warm when the liner is zipped in, and either the liner or outside shell of the coats works good when weather isnt too cold.
3.I'm also a fan of the 870 12 gauge.
4.Better check your regulations on this one, I'm pretty sure that when hunting from a boat on water, you have to be tied or attached somehow to "rooted vegetation", cattails or something like that. I'm pretty sure that most people only use layout boats on large lakes and big bodies of water. Places like this, like the great lakes or other places that are mentioned in the regulations allow you to use layout boats that can be out in the water not attached to vegetation.

Thanks for the info. As far as regs go, I hunt on all Public Land, MissouriWMA's. Not sure if they do it up in WI but here, a conservation agent comes out and gives a talk on what ducks are in season, what you can and can't do on the area, etc. They do this EVERY morning before the drawing to see where (or if) you're going to hunt. I have heard the conservation agents mention several times that layout boats and sneak boats are perfect for the area and are usually a good investment for people like me who hunt public land exclusively.

Again, thanks for the info.

[SwampTHING]

1. buy some ghg hotbuys,, theyre cheap and very good for the price. Keep your flambeaus and either paint them too look like hen mallards, black ducks or diver's, or keep them as is too add to the spread,, numbers has its advantages at times! dont pitch them,, youll wish you didnt!

2. you use GOOP too fix your waders,,, 99.999999% of duckhunters patch waders! If your buying another set get some neoprene's. cabelas supermags are great for extreme cold weather. jacket, personal preference.

3. 870 either 3" or the 3.5" if your going too hunt geese. Honestly for ducks you dont need more than 3". Get good ammo, my 870 LOVES 3" Kent Fasteel, the ducks hate it!

4. We use layout boats(MLB's) on the great lakes for divers. We take them out too the spreads of decoys laying on top of the boats and set them whenwe get too location.We use huge decoy spreads(upto 300+ dekes). We put the layout at the head of the decoy mass or off too the side. No camo, just painted grey,, divers come into these set-ups by the 100's. Never used them for puddlers or in a marsh situation. We have put fastgrass on them and put them in water goose spreads and have had very good success.

[dkhunter8383]

I agree with swamp thing 100% on patching the waders. I bought a $5 repair kit from dicks sporting goods, and it has worked perfectly. For a shot gun you have to go with the 870, they dont break and always work. For a coat look at Cabelas, I found mine on there before last season clearance for only $90, and it was a $200 coat. It hasnt let a drop of water in, and it has the zip out liner that keeps the wind out in late season, but with just the shell it is perfect for early. I have hunted Max 4 almost everywhere it blends into marsh grass and corn stalks wonderfully.

[Higg]

Only one problem with patching the waders, I dont know where the leak is!! If I put em on, go hunt for about 3-4 hours, then take em off, one of my socks is always damp with cold water. A veeerrrry slow leak and I have no idea where it is.

[dkhunter8383]

Check where the boots connect to the waders, that seam around the top of the boots is where they usually leak from walking and streching all the time. I would check that and patch around that.

[msippiboy]

as you can see the 870 is way to go. i have hunted with browning to benelli. 870 never hangs and you can drop it in water and it still shoots. it is the way to go