I have never hunted with a dog and have put the following restrictions on myself:

- NEVER EVER EVER try to shoot a double. When you hit a bird watch it all the way to the water/ground, then don't take your eyes off of it until you are 100% sure it is dead. If it isn't, shoot it again.

as for places to not hunt, I try to restrict my setup to where I can try and control where the ducks will land when shot, I try not to shoot them out over swamp grass or lots of weeds, or any other place that will make them hard to find. If they do get into such a place, get on them right away.

--Bob