First duck hunt

[araugh]

Myself and a few friends have been avid shooters for years, but never hunted anything other than the occasional private property squirrel. We're looking to go on a guided duck hunt to learn a few things about the sport and hopefully bring home a little meat.

Anyone here a guide or can recommend a guide? We're happy to pay a fair rate, but we're not looking to throw thousands of dollars at this, what is a fair price to pay per person and what should we expect to get for that?

What do we need to do re: licensing requirements and stamps? or is this something that the guide handles?

Is this something you can do with shotguns that aren't exactly top of the line (mossberg 500's, remington 870's, stoeger uplander)?

Lastly is there any particular place you folks recommend for information like this? There seems to be a lot of conflicting info on the google.

Thanks for any help you can offer a few new potential hunters.

 

[Jerry M]

Can't help you with a guide.

Buy a hunting license, a federal waterfowl stamp, and a state waterfowl stamp. Buy steel shotgun shells. Use whatever shotgun that has a 3 inch chamber and an Improved Cylinder or Modified choke (at the most). I recommend 2's for ducks and BB's for geese.

Wear layers of warm clothes with gortex or other waterproof outer layer, including gloves and hat.

Good luck

Jerry

 

[DorGunR]

 

[mudd4life88]

http://theriverplantation.com/activities_outdoor_sporting_recreation/hunting_eastern_shore_md.asp

Don't know where your located but Pin Tail on the shore is a great place! We did a 30 duck hunt two years ago. Great people and place plus you'll learn a lot if you talk with the guides.

 

[wyomingboy]

While Pintail is pricy and is NOT duck hunting, it might not be a bad place to start. Pintail duck shoots are on released pen raised mallards, as opposed to wild ducks. However, it will give you a little taste. I don't know what they charge. You can do the same thing for a LOT less money at Native Shore accross Rt 50 from Wye Mills.

For real duck hunting... right now there's not much here other than woodies on the rivers and woodlot ponds and some teal. Most are dock ducks (mallards that survived release shooting). There are a ton of guides on the shore and they either charge by the gun (anywhere from $100 to $200) or by the blind/pit for four shooters, anywhere between $500 to $800. The duck population is the highest once the cold (freezing) weather up North drives the birds South, usually December and January.

Do a little research and look for a guide anywhere South of Easton for something in late December... stay a way from a full moon.

Another good thing to do is get involved in Ducks Unlimited. There are local chapters and members willing to get involved with new hunters. DU can also put you in touch with guides. DU fund raisers include sporting shoots at many locations including PG and local dinners. You can also learn a lot from the DU website.

 

[mudd4life88]

While Pintail is pricy and is NOT duck hunting, it might not be a bad place to start. Pintail duck shoots are on released pen raised mallards, as opposed to wild ducks. However, it will give you a little taste. I don't know what they charge. You can do the same thing for a LOT less money at Native Shore accross Rt 50 from Wye Mills.

For real duck hunting... right now there's not much here other than woodies on the rivers and woodlot ponds and some teal. Most are dock ducks (mallards that survived release shooting). There are a ton of guides on the shore and they either charge by the gun (anywhere from $100 to $200) or by the blind/pit for four shooters, anywhere between $500 to $800. The duck population is the highest once the cold (freezing) weather up North drives the birds South, usually December and January.

Do a little research and look for a guide anywhere South of Easton for something in late December... stay a way from a full moon.

Another good thing to do is get involved in Ducks Unlimited. There are local chapters and members willing to get involved with new hunters. DU can also put you in touch with guides. DU fund raisers include sporting shoots at many locations including PG and local dinners. You can also learn a lot from the DU website.

I suggested Pintail since he was new to it. +1 on Ducks Unlimited.

 

[Atlasarmory]

 

[araugh]

Great information! Thank you.