Welcome to the THF

Welcome to the forum.

I was lucky enough to have a buddy that knew a few basic ideas of duck hunting when i first started. Basic rules to start....(not the only ones).

Scout the body of water you plan to hunt and know the regulations. (More than likely you won't shoot ducks where there arent ducks the mornings you scout.)

If hunting public water, do not set up close to another hunter who was there before you. He got up early and earned that spot. Respect his effort and move farther away than you think you need to.

Always have more cover (a better blind than you think you need)

Starting out, watch how ducks act on the water, videos or in person preferably. Build your decoy spreads based on what you see. (Ducks preferably like to land into some degree of wind.)

Know your shotgun and its spread with the ammo your using. 40yds is most of the time the max range you should shoot at ducks. Pattern your gun and ammo and know what it is capable of. Dont go blasting at ducks sky high and dont shoot or call ducks that are working or thinking of working another public hunters spread.

Get a duck whistle and a duck call. The duck blind is not the place to start learning to call. Carry your call everyday in your vehicle and practice while driving. Watch reputable videos. First learn the basic quack, then the welcome call, and the feeding call. If hunting with seasoned hunters, let them call, if you want to try, ask them. When calling ducks, a genral rule is to call when you see wingtips and tail feathers, not when they are coming directly at you. Practice is the most important thing. And watch their reaction to your calls, you will not be a good caller at first, stay with it and pay attention.

Most important rule is ... have fun and help those around you (in your blind or sorrounding hunters) to have fun as well. Duck hunting is addicting and some forget that people are trying their best and may not know all the little gray areas.
The world is full of hunters that think the only rhing that matters is killimg ducks. Truth is, killing ducks is a reward for the awesome experience of working hard to get better at something so pure that you love to do.

I hope you have good luck, and dont be afraid to go out on yoir own and enjoy a sunrise and the quiet of a duck blind.