What are your thoughts and comments about waterfowl hunting without a dog? I would be hunting in areas that would be very easy to wade out and get the ducks myself.

As much as I would love to get a dog; I live in NYC and find it to be cruel to have any (dont consider those pocket dogs to be dogs) dog in an apartment. Even if he would get exercise in the park I think the dog should have a yard with plenty of land to roam.

before I had access to my OWN dog, I hunted without a dog. For a couple years I hunted in rivers, ponds and did some jump shooting as well. A few things to think about. Obviously, stay shallow. Hunt slow current in rivers. So birds simply don't float down stream. Another option is set up for pass shooting on a island point or something similar to that, In between food and water. Jump shooting is also another great way to hunt without a dog. And most importantly. Don't go shoot crazy! If you shoot a duck or two. Stop shooting and recover the birds whom you've just taken. I have seen it a hundred times, people concerned with numbers, instead of the experience! Take your time, have FUN! And shoot some ducks!

i dont use a dog, anything it can do, i can do in a canoe

Don't need one, I've hunted a few years without. Definetly possible, just keep in mind where your ducks fall, and don't shoot a lot before recovering them. A dog sure does help though, see if you can find someone who has one.

I've heard someone suggest that, without a dog, take a fishing pole with a treble hook. Use it to reel in those ducks in water too deep to wade.

That's a great idea! I could use a big treble hook that is used to snag bunker for stripers.

I hunted for years without a dog. Now that I have one, I could not imagine hunting without one. More for the companionship and pride in having a dog I trained bring my ducks to hand. But although I personally consider it a necessity, I had several seasons of taking over 100 birds where I lost zero or only one or two birds fetching myself. Just make sure you aren't picky about shooting a cripple on the water, because by the time you get to it, it may well have put a lot of distance between you and it.

And contrast, I do agree that having a dog in a city apartment would be difficult and just a bit unsporting to the animal, dogs do need space to run.

I have used float tubes and fishing rods to get my birds. Go hunt, you'll make it work.

I had to go a season without a duck dog. I didn't have nearly as much fun. To each his own, but without a bird dog it's just not a much fun for me...

I agree 100% with everything swampcollie said. I now have 1 fully trained retriever and another in the works. Just be careful of cripples and thick cover. There are some places I hunt where the cattails are thicker than the grass on the nation’s most premier golf courses, and there would be no way to hunt it if it weren't for my Lab. As for a treble hook, I have used pieces of coat hanger J.B. welded andbent out in four places like some kind of cheesy weak grappling hook and ultralite spin tackle with 8-10 lb test line. The hook has a larger diameter than most treble hooks; it’s heavier, and won't give any conservation officers a reason to site you for possible fishing violations. It works great for deeks also, and without the sharp points it won't hang into your decoy rigging.

By the way, that was not a derogatory remark against our conservation officers. They are often performing thankless tasks to help better manage and preserve the animals we all love. So thank your local game warden for a job well done next time he does his job and checks your bag, and license information