$10 says you're using too large a shot size. Go to number 5 Matrix (not steel). One pellet of #2 through the gut, the duck is down and lost, without a dog. One pellet of #5 thru the gut, one thru the chest, and one thru the throat, the duck is down and dead.

On a recent trip to Canada, no dog, three of us using matrix 5's in potholes,shot 71 ducks, retrieved 60. A dog would have gotten them all (well, mayber not the 2 crippled redheads).

In the fields, using Matrix 4's for geese, weshot 23, retrieved 22, and never had to shoot a cripple over.

Try that with steel.

Years ago, when we shot several hundred ducks a season, mostly divers, lead #6's were the norm with lead #8's for cripples. Deadly.