|
|
Post by tynimiller on Jun 28, 2012 7:45:32 GMT -5
Well atleast getting my feet wet. I've grown up a hunter and a fisherman...but waterfowl hunting is something I've never even ventured to do. Well that is all going to change this year as I attempt to do some duck hunting with some good friends.
My questions are as follows for you guys:
-I am a lifetime comprehensive Indiana license holder...what stamps or licenses besides that do I need to legally hunt for ducks in IN?
-Any advice or chants to make me not be terrible at it come this season's opening would be nice as well. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by esshup on Jun 28, 2012 8:33:16 GMT -5
All you need is the federal duck stamp, purchased from the post office. Don't forget to sign the front in ink.
Tips? Make sure one of the guys is callling the shots, and don't look up until he says to shoot. Full camo, hands and face are more important than camo pants.
|
|
|
|
Post by tynimiller on Jun 28, 2012 12:27:35 GMT -5
All you need is the federal duck stamp, purchased from the post office. Don't forget to sign the front in ink. Tips? Make sure one of the guys is callling the shots, and don't look up until he says to shoot. Full camo, hands and face are more important than camo pants. Is there something called a hip tag or something like that you need? |
|
|
|
Post by tenring on Jun 28, 2012 12:32:43 GMT -5
You need a HIP number.
|
|
|
|
Post by tynimiller on Jun 28, 2012 13:56:30 GMT -5
And how do I get one of those? |
|
|
|
Post by MuzzleLoader on Jun 28, 2012 14:04:42 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by featherduster on Jun 28, 2012 15:42:08 GMT -5
Break out your credit card because the list of needs is endless.
I am a died in the wool duck hunter and other than Turkey season nothing is more exciting then being outside at 0-dark-30 on a stormy morning watching the world wake up.
The nice thing about it is........unlike deer hunting you can talk, laugh, eat and have a good time with your hunting buddies.
A good way to get started is join DUCKS UNLIMITED OR ONE OF THE OTHER WATERFOWL SUPPORTIVE ORGANIZATIONS.
|
|
|
|
Post by indianagooseman on Jun 28, 2012 16:55:39 GMT -5
2 simple things that make the biggest difference but are often over looked. 1. Pick your bird. It's tempting to just start shooting at the "flock" but you'll never hit anything unless you pick out a single bird. 2. Cover your face and hands, every inch of them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Boilermaker on Jun 29, 2012 6:37:49 GMT -5
One thing I've learned, and I'm a novice as well...just because you have a duck call around your neck doesn't mean you should start wailing on it as soon as you see a bird.
|
|
|
|
Post by duff on Jun 30, 2012 7:35:58 GMT -5
If your good friends are experience then just follow their lead for a while. Federal duck stamp, HIP #, and a shotgun should be all you need at this point. Pick up a good field guide and study the birds in flight. As a duck hunter it will be critical to know what you are shooting as they set species limits and total limits.
Sept season you can shoot teal but not mallards or wood ducks. I wouldn't attempt that without a very good mentor to point out the correct birds.
Regular season the bag limit has been 6 birds total (for a while) but can only be 4 mallards (2 hens) 3 wood ducks etc... so it is very important! Grebes are not ducks and are protected and every duck hunter has to shoot a coot or two and make gumbo with them. That way you can honestly say if like them or not.
Good luck and have fun
|
|
|
|
Post by Ahawkeye on Jul 2, 2012 13:44:05 GMT -5
II'd say the best advise I ever got was to get some waders and a good pair of socks. Cold feet make for a miserable day.
|
|
|
|
Post by DUCKMASTER1 on Jul 4, 2012 19:53:47 GMT -5
Go out and try shooting trap and skeet, to get use to swinging the gun at the target. That will help some also.
Warm clothes, and word of advice, do not go cheap on water proof clothing, when your turning blue, and everyone else is looking at you when they are dry, you wished you spent a little extra on good waterproof insulated clothing.
|
|
|
|
Post by esshup on Jul 5, 2012 12:58:04 GMT -5
Gore-Tex sucks when it's cold out for deer hunting because it's noisy, but it's a blessing in the blind. I learned my lesson the hard way in 1998, getting so soaked that the papers in my wallet were wet. I also learned that even if I have a gore-tex jacket on, if the gloves aren't gore-tex too, water will wick up under the jacket and soak the arms of your shirt.....
Some people are just the opposite, but I won't buy a jacket that doesn't have a hood. I hate getting rain or snow down the back of my neck. I know they are expensive, but I've treated mine well and still wear it. So the price per year is really, really low.
|
|
|
|
Post by smshinall on Jul 6, 2012 19:22:36 GMT -5
I too took the plunge last year. We hunt goose more so than ducks but my advice would be to get some nice waders first off. They make life alot easier. Be careful as waterfowling can get VERY expensive. I've been doing it less than a year and already have invested over $2K in it... Yikes, don't let my wife find out!
|
|
|
|
Post by duff on Jul 8, 2012 7:34:48 GMT -5
Depends on where/how you are going to do most of your hunting. Skip the waders if your friends mainly field hunt. There have been years where I never hunted water once. If you know what types of hunting you will be typically doing than you can focus your efforts on that type first.
|
|
|
|
Post by firstwd on Jul 11, 2012 15:05:04 GMT -5
Honestly, to just try the sport out, all you need is proper licenses (listed above), warm camo clothes, shotgun limited to 3 shells, and non-toxic shot. Now after the first good hunt or a couple of decent hunts, you will need all the other gear because the addiction will be so bad to will think about water fowling ALL THE TIME.
Truly it is a great sport. It can get quite expensive if you let yourself get carried away. Like any other hunting or fishing venture, there are plenty of "gadgets" out there.
The most important thing is have a good attitude. If your buddies are anything like my blind partners, there are plenty of laughs to go around when the steel starts flying and nothing is falling. We actually use an remote control skeet thrower to send birds at and over us to get used to shooting something closing the distance in your face. Dove hunting is also a good way to practice up for ducks.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnc911 on Jul 20, 2012 3:22:07 GMT -5
And how do I get one of those? Call 1 800 WETLANDS |
|
|
|
Post by tynimiller on Jul 20, 2012 14:41:00 GMT -5
thanks johnc911
|
|
|
|
Post by crisiscowboy on Jul 23, 2012 1:17:43 GMT -5
Honestly, to just try the sport out, all you need is proper licenses (listed above), warm camo clothes, shotgun limited to 3 shells, and non-toxic shot. Now after the first good hunt or a couple of decent hunts, you will need all the other gear because the addiction will be so bad to will think about water fowling ALL THE TIME. Truly it is a great sport. It can get quite expensive if you let yourself get carried away. Like any other hunting or fishing venture, there are plenty of "gadgets" out there. The most important thing is have a good attitude. If your buddies are anything like my blind partners, there are plenty of laughs to go around when the steel starts flying and nothing is falling. We actually use an remote control skeet thrower to send birds at and over us to get used to shooting something closing the distance in your face. Dove hunting is also a good way to practice up for ducks.  |
|
