If the ducks are falling, you are not doing anything wrong and they were not too far. If you cannot hit them to save your life outside 30 yards, then anything beyond 30 yards is sky busting until you improve at the range to the point where you can hit them further out. I really don't think anything but experience and an honest assessment of your capabilities can help in this regard. Certain shots I have much more confidence and shoot further. Any duck dropping in over my right shoulder and hooking to my left is safe at any distance
And where I hunt, geese are freaking big, so if in doubt, they are probably too damn far.
As far as when to shoot for birds within your effective range, there is no simple answer because there is a lot of subjectivity. I pass on a lot of birds that I could shoot, but I get a lot of joy out of working birds so I am in no particular hurry to shoot and just accept that it costs me birds. Duck hunting is entertainment, so whatever entertains you the most. Some days I'm a lot quicker on the trigger and other days they pretty much have to splash down in the spread and some days that is not even enough if it is a hen mallard. Other days the hen mallard gets whacked on the first pass in range.
So don't over think it and this is true.
NuffDaddy wrote:And ducks are different everywhere and act differently in different situations. You'll pick up on that more and more as you go. It all really comes down to reading the ducks.
NuffDaddy wrote:Calling the shot can be a tough thing to do, usually leaves you with the "damn, I shoulda shot" feeling.
Especially when not hunting alone.