New To Duck Huntin

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New To Duck Huntin

Postby lurejunkee » Mon Nov 17, 2014 1:59 am

Hi folks, been reading some of the fine posts on this forum and just wanted to say hi, and thank y'all for the responses you've left along with some of the laughs!

Been huntin all my life, love to fish on the middle Texas Coast and have been wanting to try duck hunting for quite some time. This being said, I own an 870 Express Mag and dove hunt when I can. Being from San Antonio I'm not familiar with any areas around me that offer duck hunting other than the coast. My girlfriend has become interested in it and we both have stable kayaks that we feel could help us get to and from spots on the water.
I also wish I would've put a little more work in my Lab's training to be confident in bringing him along. He does well on our dove hunts but he's 8 now and am afraid of him getting hurt or worn out.
Any additional info would be truly appreciated.

Thanks
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby Flightstopper » Mon Nov 17, 2014 8:09 am

What part of San Antonio are you in? Kayaks can get you to many blinds on the coast just make sure you have plenty of light up going to the blind in the dark. Can get busy it on the bay during duck season.
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby lurejunkee » Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:20 am

Flightstopper wrote:What part of San Antonio are you in? Kayaks can get you to many blinds on the coast just make sure you have plenty of light up going to the blind in the dark. Can get busy it on the bay during duck season.


Raised in far west Bexar County, currently live on the south side.
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby Flightstopper » Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:29 am

I just moved to San Marcos from Austin area myself. All I can really say it start covering some ground in that kayak or find a landowner that has birds and will let you hunt. There are opportunities you just have to dig a bit.
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby lurejunkee » Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:43 am

Sweet! Thanks FS.
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby Flightstopper » Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:24 am

Would be glad to help steer you in the right direction with specifics for setting up and targeting the birds when you find them. Lots of guys here that can provide great advice to put birds on your strap. Good thinking by posting up in the greenhorn forum as well... hint hint guys... greenhorn forum :lol: not a dig at you lurejunkie we tend to miss post in here and stray off topic a bit
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby lurejunkee » Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:39 am

Lol all good. This is where I've gotten some of my laughs. I've got to stop reading posts in order to get more studying in!
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby lurejunkee » Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:53 am

Flightstopper wrote:Would be glad to help steer you in the right direction with specifics for setting up and targeting the birds when you find them. Lots of guys here that can provide great advice to put birds on your strap. Good thinking by posting up in the greenhorn forum as well... hint hint guys... greenhorn forum :lol: not a dig at you lurejunkie we tend to miss post in here and stray off topic a bit


Are there any books you can recommend?
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby Flightstopper » Mon Nov 17, 2014 11:03 am

There is a book that Academy at least use to sell that talked about lots of places in Texas to hunt and tips for the area. Can't however find a link or remember the name of the book. This one popped up on my search and may not offer any insight but looked like it could be neat.

http://www.amazon.com/Hundred-Years-Tex ... 1603447636


Had to bite my tounge to heed my own warning and blow this one off the rails by recommending The Outlaw Gunner to learn the real waterfowling ways :lol: still a cool read.
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby The Duck Hammer » Mon Nov 17, 2014 11:18 am

Flightstopper wrote:There is a book that Academy at least use to sell that talked about lots of places in Texas to hunt and tips for the area. Can't however find a link or remember the name of the book. This one popped up on my search and may not offer any insight but looked like it could be neat.

http://www.amazon.com/Hundred-Years-Tex ... 1603447636


That book is a good read but it's not gonna help much on where to hunt. It's more of a history of Texas carvers, hunt clubs, and the like. If you're not that great at identifying waterfowl I would recommend getting this.
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby Goldfish » Mon Nov 17, 2014 11:49 am

^^
That's a good book for identifying birds that you have in hand. Learning birds in the air takes practice and good eyes. I still just look at the "duck" instead of looking for tell tail signs of species like bill, tail feathers, wing patches etc.

One of the benefits of hunting in a kayak is it's easy to go retrieve birds yourself. I like hunting with my dog, but I had a not so pleasant situation this year trying to hunt with my dog out of my kayak (which is extremely stable compared to most) that completely turned me off from ever taking her out in it again. Nothing bad happened luckily, but it could have very easily been a real bad if not life threatening situation.
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby firstflight » Mon Nov 17, 2014 1:25 pm

As far as you're dog goes. keep them fit and training always year round. my last lab had 1,200 retrieves at 11 years old was his last year. Just keep them fit and feed the best dog food you can get.
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby lurejunkee » Mon Nov 17, 2014 1:39 pm

You guys are right on. That's what I'm looking for. FS I know Texas Fish and Game has one out. Could that be it?
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby lurejunkee » Mon Nov 17, 2014 1:40 pm

Firstflight I'll be working with him more and for sure. Thanks bud.
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby Flightstopper » Mon Nov 17, 2014 2:03 pm

lurejunkee wrote:You guys are right on. That's what I'm looking for. FS I know Texas Fish and Game has one out. Could that be it?


I believe that is it but I am drawing a huge blank right now. Like Duck Hammer said the other book I linked probably won't provide any info you are looking for just one that caught my eye.
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby lurejunkee » Mon Nov 17, 2014 2:17 pm

All good, I'll prob check them out either way.
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby firstflight » Mon Nov 17, 2014 4:02 pm

lurejunkee wrote:All good, I'll prob check them out either way.

You can go to www.duck id and it will show you the ducks and geese and on the wing what they look like in flight.
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby lurejunkee » Mon Nov 17, 2014 4:04 pm

firstflight wrote:
lurejunkee wrote:All good, I'll prob check them out either way.

You can go to http://www.duck id and it will show you the ducks and geese and on the wing what they look like in flight.


Thanks!
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby Goldfish » Mon Nov 17, 2014 5:17 pm

firstflight wrote:
lurejunkee wrote:All good, I'll prob check them out either way.

You can go to http://www.duck id and it will show you the ducks and geese and on the wing what they look like in flight.
you wanna try that link again?
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby firstflight » Mon Nov 17, 2014 5:21 pm

Goldfish wrote:
firstflight wrote:
lurejunkee wrote:All good, I'll prob check them out either way.

You can go to http://www.duck id and it will show you the ducks and geese and on the wing what they look like in flight.
you wanna try that link again?

Really was not posting a link just what it was.
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby firstflight » Mon Nov 17, 2014 5:24 pm

Sorry I am not hip on how to post links yet .
I can do screenshots.
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby lurejunkee » Mon Nov 17, 2014 8:32 pm

Got it. I've been dissecting the du site when I can. Thanks
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby Goldfish » Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:51 pm

firstflight wrote:Sorry I am not hip on how to post links yet .
I can do screenshots.

I was just curious because I actually wanted to see it. Sorry if it came across a little harsh
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby firstflight » Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:57 pm

Goldfish wrote:
firstflight wrote:Sorry I am not hip on how to post links yet .
I can do screenshots.

I was just curious because I actually wanted to see it. Sorry if it came across a little harsh

your good. I got what you meant .

I am an old fuddy duddy I am still trying to learn all this from my phone .
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby Steele22 » Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:41 pm

firstflight wrote:
Goldfish wrote:
firstflight wrote:Sorry I am not hip on how to post links yet .
I can do screenshots.

I was just curious because I actually wanted to see it. Sorry if it came across a little harsh

your good. I got what you meant .

I am an old fuddy duddy I am still trying to learn all this from my phone .

Lol. Glad it's not just me
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby Goldfish » Tue Nov 18, 2014 11:24 am

Also, the delta waterfowl website has good "tests" for bird identification
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Re: New To Duck Huntin

Postby lurejunkee » Tue Nov 18, 2014 12:41 pm

Goldfish wrote:Also, the delta waterfowl website has good "tests" for bird identification


There you go. Cool!
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