Guaranteed way to harvest more ducks

[green with ring]

Go shoot a Sporting clays course or even just some clay targets out in the woods. Practicing shooting your shotgun in the off season will pay off the next time that you are out duck hunting. Instead of buying more decoy's, duck calls, camo clothing, expensive shot shells, choke tubes, etc. which will help you harvest more ducks. I feel that practicing shooting clays to simulate like you are shooting at ducks and geese will be the best way to increase your odds to bag more ducks. I think that a lot of guys don't practice their shooting skills in the off season because they know that they can shoot pretty good. I'm going to be trying to show two new duck hunters how to shoot and shotgun safety. I know that it will help me next duck season if I practice shooting even a couple of times this summer. I know that it will cost a few bucks to buy shells, clay targets or a round of sporting clays plus fuel and time but it will be the best investment towards next duck season.

 

[freefall]

Same can be said of big game.

Most guys go "zero" their rifles off a bench at 100 and never train shooting off sticks, pack or prone out to distances they'll actually see in the field. Let alone up hill, down hill or cross canyon... if guys would spend more time behind the scope they'd punch more tags.

 

[nsm1548]

Any recommendations on shooting ranges in the east bay or within a hour of there to shoot rifles other than on a bench and out to 300 yards?

 

[dwhauss]

I shot 150 rds of sporting clays in sept with some very good guys. I think it made a huge difference in my accuracy into the season.

 

[Kevin Burroughs]

Everyone here could do with some professional shotgun shooting lessons. Everyone.

 

[Ryan]

Great post and topic. Couldn’t agree more. one of the best things I ever did was get a couple professional lessons. Burn some powder. Break some clays. It’s fun and you’ll splash more ducks and burn less ammo. Go see Scott at QP.

 

[nsm1548]

Shooting birds at 25 yards helps too.

 

[Wood-Dro]

I don’t miss many birds. I’m good.

 

[A5B]

I have never harvested a duck.

What kind of tractor and implements do I need to harvest ducks?

I do shoot plenty of skeet each year, so I can be sharp coming hunting season to kill ducks though.

 

[Mudtoes]

Great advice to go shoot and get some instruction. Got certified as an instructor years ago and can watch people I shoot ducks with and can tell them why they miss. Even guys who shoot for years pick up bad habits or get in a slump. But probably even before shooting clays is make sure your shotgun fits you properly, the duck gun you shoot with heavy clothes should fit you when wearing those clothes. A qualified instructor can check the fit and if that person can’t adjust it to you should be able to tell you who can. “If it don’t fit, you will not hit”.
Most newer guns have stocks adjustable for drop, and cast and with adding or removing spacers or pad the length can be set. Adjusted a lot for people, like lefties who were shooting guns set up for a right handed shooter.
Women shooters have more difficulties with gun fit as their physique is totally different and guns built for them and correctly adjusted will greatly help their shooting and comfort in doing so.
Shooting is like anything else that takes eye hand coordination and muscle memory and that’s practice.