I take it you are not an angler or you would know that the spoon Gryan is talking about is a fishing lure. Fairly heavy with either one big hook or a treble hook on it. He's using it to cast past a dead duck and snag it for the retrieve. I myself have used a big topwater like a Zara Spook for the same thing. On ice that I don't want to send my dog on I will use a huge treble hook.

Hunting w/o a dog is easiest on small water like ponds because even if water is too deep to wade to you can either use the method described above or let them drift to the bank.

Also, hold your shots until they are close as possible to ensure dropping them dead or at least having them close enough to finish them off.