newbie to waterfowl hunting

[millerhunter13]

i think i want to try waterfowl hunting, now i have a couple of questions, would a 20 ga work? would a full choke work? and DO I HAVE to use steel shot? i hope these are to dumb of a questions and what is a good shot size to use.
thanks

[BigHonkers]

20ga will work. full choke will work, although some like modified. yes, you have to use steel shot. you can use #2 or #4. for geese i like 1/38 bb with a patternmaster (on my 12ga.)

[BigHonkers]

some might say 20ga is a little light for geese, but i've seen plenty taken with a 20ga. duck is no problem.

[millerhunter13]

ok, now is there certain barrles that can use only steel shot or can i shoot steel shot out of a plain smooth bore shotgun?

[BigHonkers]

you'll need to check with your gun's/choke's manufacturer, to be certain.

[millerhunter13]

well it has a fixed choke, its a H&R 12 guage single shot.

[EODLT]

ORIGINAL: millerhunter13

well it has a fixed choke, its a H&R 12 guage single shot.

So is it a 20 or a 12?
20 is fine, 12 is better.

I dont like a full choke for my type of hunting, but if you are hunting where the birds are going to be out there a little bit, thats what you want.

I hunt flooded timber mostly and the shots are close quarters and very fast moving, I use Improved Cylinder for that. With Steel though, you dont get the compression like you do with Lead, so it patterns more like a modified choke.

Yes you have to use steel by law, if the ducks eat the lead pellets, it can weaken the shells on the eggs which results in more duckling deaths.

You shoot can shoot steel out of your barrel, you only have to worry about that when you have interchangable chokes, make sure they are not lead shot only.

Shot size depends on what your hunting... I have killed hundreds of ducks with #8 steel shot, low dram/high velocity. #4's are great for bigger ducks and longer shots. #2 is good for geese.