SwapCollie - I agree. I didn't have a dog when I was a "youngster". I was tough. Not just getting birds that "sailed" a ways before dropping, but also, if I'd hunt around cattails. It's really tough to find even stone cold ducks that fall into cats or even sometimes wire grass and such. That nose of my "Molly" Yellow Lab is a wonder to see work. And she has a heart to go out and get birds like you can't imagine, unless you have one, too.
I know there are circumstance when it's not easy or possible to have a good retriever yourself. But if you can have a good dog between a couple of you who hunt together, it'll open a whole other dimension to bird hunting for you. I guarantee! :-)