Got to go duck hunting for the first time ever this morning. There was about five of us hunting a small flooded farm pond. We set up a duck blind yesterday and went out this morning, We had good numbers of ducks and geese but we didn't do so good shooting! We probably saw about 30-40 geese and maybe about 25 mallards. We definitely need to get out and shoot some clays cause we only got 1 mallard drake and 1 goose, only 1 of us had ever been duck hunting and he was doing the calling. I myself didn't get any (clipped one duck) but my brother in law got the goose and a friend of mine got the mallard. Even though we didn't do that good it was still alot of fun and I am definitely gonna get out there and try again.

Sitting in the blind.

Hey, ya gotta start sometime! Definitely start shooting some clays, as they make good practice. One piece of advice that new hunters should really work on is leading and following through. You have to lead them a little more than you may think. They fly rather fast and most of the time you'll shoot behind them when you miss. Be sure to follow through after you shoot. Don't stop the gun after the shot. Make sense?

Congrats on the birds. Do as much hunting as possible, gives you great preparation for shooting anything (i.e. crow hunting, pheasant/quail, dove if legal).

Yep I'll agree that clays help. I shoot clays all the time in the off season, but nothing helps more IMO than shooting live targets. Great job on the birds. Don't worry, you'll get a bird soon enough. You know how many times I went duck hunting until I actually killed one? A LOT.

congrads.. u will be hooked for life now

Thank's guys I'll definitely be shooting some clay's! I got a question for you guys who have done this before. I was told to use # 2 shot or bigger for geese and #4 or bigger for mallards. I'm shooting a mossberg 500 with a 28" fieldbarrel. It's gotan imp cyl choke, mod, and full choke. I bought #2 shot so which size choke should I be using?

I use a modified for just about everything waterfowl related. BB or B for geeseand #4 steel for ducks. Pattern your gun just to confirm your patterns though.

I use a modified for all waterfowl. for ducks i use 3" #4's
for geese i use 3" #1 or 2's

I generally use a modified as a "do-all" choke. Know your maximum killing range/ pattern so you don't skybust I only carry #2's with me... They seem to kill everything slap dead that I shoot, and they are the smallest shot legal for geese. I do however bring #4's for early teal season.