Planning on getting into duck hunting. Been dove/ deer hunting for years. Duck is a new arena for me. I currently have beretta 300. Great gun. Question is, what other gear will I need? Yes I googled it, but wanted to hear from average real guys that duck hunt regularly. Recommended shells, waders, calls, etc are greatly appreciated

AND, if you know of a guide who won’t mind taking a newbie out, let me know.

Breathable waders - Academy will work until you decide if you like it - I then stepped up into SIMS
Calls - None - watch ducks and learn - A whistle if you really feel the need to blow on something until you figure things out
Shells - Whatever your shotgun and chokes shoot best

Shells- boss can't be beat
Waders and other gear- sitka. People on here like to make fun of sitka, but it's dang good stuff.
Calls-737.
Decoys- lifetime and lucky duck

The dude ain't about to drop 3 grand to see if he likes something. Seriously dude.


Shells 3" steel #2-5
Academy waders would be alright to do a test run.
I wouldn't worry about calling ducks yet. Grab a haydel dr85 and start practicing.
Decoys lifetime are nice. But for checking it out grab a couple dozen from academy. Build up the lifetime after you decide you like it.

I’d go to a Academy pick up some cheaper waders, I wouldn’t buy a duck call, just get a whistle, then get on Facebook market place or Craigslist and buy dozen old decoys.

Shells just get non toxic from 2-4#’s

Boom you are set.

3” 1.25oz steel 2 or 3
Modified choke
Cheap neoprene waders with boots that have at least 600 grams of insulation.Brown is fine.
Thin wool socks for early season, thick wool socks for late season
A set of wool or fleece long underwear
Any brown jacket you may have hanging around
Pants and a top that are not made primarily of cotton. Cheap is a fleece top and cotton/spandex blend pants.
If you can find a set of fingerless rag wool socks on Amazon for cheap, you will grow to appreciate them.
A jerk string setup with a half dozen cheap decoys on it and a way to carry them. Academy stop for these and the shells.

No blue jeans or cotton duck pants under your waders. You’ll sweat and be really cold when you stop moving around
No bright colors. Black, brown, and tan will be your friend.

If you don’t like it you can repurpose everything except the extra shells, jerk string a decoys.

Start cheap. Buy second hand or cheap decoys, academy waders, don’t worry about a call.

Why not?
Ýou can dang near resell sitka for what you pay for it, or but it used.

Recommending steel is just stupid too.
Academy waders suck. I bought a pair and took them back the same day. Boots aren't made for walking at all.

I wouldn't worry about calling ducks either, but I liked buying a good call from the get go.

Learn to finish ducks=steel works.

Let me know if you'd like some good tutorials probably some I can find on youtube for ya.

Yeah, don't recommend steel shot at all. Everyone knows it doesn't kill birds....

I get the whole buy once cry once but not in this case. Unless you have experienced the grind of a season or two you have no way to know if its for you. Telling the guy he should go get the most expensive gear on the market is not doing him any favors. Especially if you don't know what he can afford or not afford. People on this site state we're not helping the new guys by blasting them on some questions. I don't think recommending the most expensive gear out there is helping either. Its not realistic for a lot of folks and could be discouraging for some. I hunt both private and public (mostly). Walk in and from a boat. Agree Academy waders are not the best - but for $100 and pretty much a no questions asked return policy, to me its a no brainer for a first season. Keep them as a back up if you move up to a better/reliable brand or use them as a guest pair. I don't hunt with fancy/expensive decoys either and have no problem finishing ducks. Maybe those fancy ones work better, but I've never been on a hunt with some so I don't know. Steel kills birds just fine if you finish them. Know your weapon and your abilities with it. Maybe the steel alternatives kill them better, but knowing your capabilities with it is more important.

If you cant kill them with steel out to 40 yards, something is wrong. Sitka is over priced. The jacket I bought at walmart has a torn pocket, so I use the other pocket. A decade later I am still using it. It was on the $19.99 rack.

is sitka still made in china or did they move manufacturing?

Sitka is overpriced and a serious waste of money. Same with magic shot shells. (if you want to spend the money go for it; its your money)

1. Academy or Walmart for inexpensive clothes & gear (3 mil neoprene boot-foot waders from Academy)

2. A half dozen floating decoys (Academy).

3. One Mojo (dove mojo is fine)

4. Inexpensive shells from Walmart or Academy

Get the $48 Annual Public Hunt (APH) Permit. TPWD will mail you a booklet with maps showing places to hunt waterfowl and other game for free with the permit.

from my understanding its just knock off Kuiu clothing with better marketing

If you are thinking about learning to call Whistles are the best place to start. I have found that the videos from Elite Duck Calls does a great instructional for beginners.

Elite Duck Calls

Make sure you get an 870 in case you ever need a boat paddle. I hear they are the best.

My advice is make friends with someone who already duck hunts and use their stuff. So you only need waders and shells. Definitely buy a call but leave it at home until you learn to use it.

usually kwood replies pretty quick, he must be at a prairie dog hunt protest

prairie doggin in his schitka gear from CHINAA

'rona gear

Kill all prairie dogs.

how do you feel about gophers and moles? I say kill them also

Kill them with lead. Not copper

this