Retrieving Ducks With No Dog
 

Hi, Im a young hunter whos mother wont let him buy a good retriever, yet I love to go duck hunting on farm ponds we own just about every chance I get. I would apperciate some ideas, and Im sure some other people in my situation would as well, on how to go about retrieving downed ducks without a dog. I personally use a fishing pole with a huge oversived lure with treble hooks, wich does okay but cant really get ducks that are far out. Any ideas would be great!

Well to help yopu any duck that lands on the water after you shot - simply swat. No problem with that at all.

One thing is be carefull with your shots and use the wind on the pond to help you. Yo are doing the best if you are using a fishing rod and the treble hook need not be sharp and you can remove the barbs.

The other thing to use is waders and only hunt water you can wade easily to retrieve your downed game.

This is a very ethical question and I hope others have some better ideas for you.

JW

That way or a boat of some type

John

hey dude just use a fishing pole with a spoon like lure,,,if he aint too far out there you can cast over him and walla..make shure the wind is in your face ,,that way the wind will do some of the work for you,,good hunting

You said "farm pondS" so I assume that you hunt more than one location, probably go around and jump shoot.

Maybe get yourself some knee high rubber boots from Orchelns. That way, you can at least go out into water that's about 12" deep.

You can also take those same rubber boots and use some plastic sheeting or black tarp, and some black duct tape and make yourself some hip boots. Just make a cone shaped extension to tape onto the top of the black boots, and tape it all up really good. Don't laugh, I've done the exact same thing before and it lasted me more than one season.

Post your question on the other duck hunting website, there are several people from Thayer, St. Paul and Parsons that could help you out.

Sorry can't help ya.... All I know how to do is retrieve a dog with no ducks!:happy0001:
Live it up! Doug

If the water is not wadable you should have a boat. Hunting small farm ponds where if a bird floats out of reach and you can walk around an get it when the wind blows it into range is acceptable, but larger bodies you need a boat.
IMHO it is border line unethical to hunt waterfowl where there's a good possibility of not retrieving a downed bird without the use of a boat. In some states like N.J. I've seen wardens watch some that didn't have boats where having a boat would be expected get fined for not including an unretrieved bird in thier limit and thus getting fined for over limit and "wanton waste"

instead of wasting time making hip boots you can get them for like $30 at most sporting goods places and they will last a lot longer and also the fishing pole would work well too

Take the money you want to spend on a dog and get on craigslist. You will be able to find a canoe, kayak, or small john boat on there for about $200. Then just camo it up and your ready to go.

Won't help you later in the year, but while it's still warm you could were a swimming suit under your camo and place a towel in your pack.

be glad you didn't see this
 

I've gone down to my undershorts in COLD water to swim after a duck. I'm not about to let a dead duck float away.

Here is what I use when I'm puddle jumping;

Still have to use the wind and/or the tide................

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...equestid=78598


BTW - the fishing pole does work also.

If you have access to ponds ducks frequent, it should not be too difficult to team up with a duck hunter who would love to have access to ponds where ducks frequent that has a retriever. Just make certain that they understand the only access is with you along.

I meet a guy who took a remote control jet-sky removed the top cut a decoy in haft and put the top half on to the remote control jet-sky he then took a small plastic basket cut the side off and them zip tides it to the decoy he use;s this to retrieve his duck and even shells on the lake he hunts works grate i was thinking of doing this my self

i second what vermont hunter said. for example, i hunt without a dog and when i dont have a boat i simply carry a fishing pole with a shallow diving topwater lure. works like a charm for snaggin the birds. just make sho ya conceal the pole real good

We bring an inter tube that you would use to go sledding with or use in a pool. Doesn't keep you 100% dry but if you have good boots and gloves then you should be in good shape. If you hunt with a buddy have him bring one of the floaties that the girls layout on, its good for putting multiple ducks or geese on.

I have duck hunted in the past with no dog to get the ducks. I hunt in small farm ponds so some are shallow and a boat is not an option. I now have a dog but before that, I would carry a fishing rod with a lure with several hooks on it in the hunting vehicle. This worked for me everytime. Just throw it over the duck and careful snag or drag the duck to you

I don't have a dog either... well i do, but he's still got a little work to go... so as of now i dont use a dog. and as everyone has said, fishing pole with some treble hooks, i usually throw a bobber on and let the hooks fall about 8inches below the bobber.

or just get some waders and walk out to them.

We have had to throw rocks in the water and let the ripples push the duck to the side of the pond. Works really well but takes a little time. Will help your pitchin arm out alot.

Is it that your mother won't let you have a dog, or is it she doesn't want or have the $$ for a good dog ? If it is the latter, you can find a dog for little or nothing often times at either a local shelter, thru classifieds in the paper or on the net for little or nothing. When I was in high school, I had two labs that I got that way, and both turned out to be great dogs for waterfowl.