Pass shooting?

[KidMoe]

I don't have a boat or waders but i still would like to try pass shooting ducks and geese. I've found a few sloughs that attract birds fairly regularly and also some nice cover that i can get into without a boat between some of these sloughs. So, what size shot is best for a 12 gauge for pass shooting? best way to judge the range of a bird? any other tips to get me going in the right direction?

[Musky Buck]

Go shoot clays or sporting clays maybe regularly first, you'll learn to lead and distance, read up as much as possible, lots of times I practice my aim and lead at birds that are out of range anyway just to feel the swing, and maybe most crucial singling out the bird you hope to get so you don't flock shoot, simply put if you feel they are out of range don't shoot, if you feel they are border line take your 1 best shot and don't worry about emptying out your gun. It's like deer hunting a bit, your first shot is going to be your best effort at your quarry.

[Finlander]

If you don't have a way of retreiving what you shoot, then don't shoot! If you have a dog that can smell the downed duck then shoot away. Shooting multiple ducks that fall in tall grass without a dog is for sure lost ducks. Otherwise when a flock of ducks fly within range, shoot only one duck and mark that spot and immediately go to that spot, forget the rest of that flock. Don't shoot what you can't retreive!

[carpshooterdeluxe]

I honestly cannot think of a quick way to learn distance estimation on birds...It's just something I learned along the way...

As far as load selection, for any shots inside 30 yards, any steel load in #2, 3, or 4 should get the job done. For shots past 30 yards on ducks, I would probably use a 3" load of # 2, 1, or even bb. 4's and 3's will kill em out to 40 yards, but I'm not going to get into the whole pattern density/energy retention discussion.

One of the biggest issues with pass shooting is the possibility of losing your ducks due to not finding them when they drop in cattails or thick grass. Shoot 1 duck, retrieve 1 duck. Mark where the duck falls, and go immediately to that spot. Better yet, if any of your friends waterfowl hunt or even upland hunt and own a dog, invite them along. If the sloughs you are setting up near are bordered by harvested fields, its usually easier to find your downed birds, but you'd be amazed at how hard it is to see even a full colored drake mallard laying in chisel plowed corn if it lands the right way.

[TruthWalleyes]

I honestly cannot think of a quick way to learn distance estimation on birds...It's just something I learned along the way...

you'd be amazed at how hard it is to see even a full colored drake mallard laying in chisel plowed corn if it lands the right way.

+1

very True.

I'll also second shooting sporting clays. You can do this yourself also, with a buddy. Buy a hand thrower and a box of clays and practice. Or go spend $60 on a round of sporting clays - much better practice!

[KidMoe]

I'll definatly be immeditaly retrieving each duck if i'm lucky enough! thanks for the help!

[Gordie]

My Gramps and Dad said to me when I first went with him is"If you can see the color of the ducks head.. honestly see the color then they are close enough to shoot"

I know why he said that cause he didnt want any wounded birds and the closer they were to a young hunter ( me ) the better but that was when I was 12 or 13 and thats what I told my boys the first time they were to shoot then I think its easier to learn distances from then on..

[RuddyDuck]

I would go with 3" 1 1/4 oz of #2's as a good all around load.

Pace off 35-40 yds on either side of so you know how far off to the side is within range. As far as height, if their features are blurry, then they are too high.

[Crusty old Swede]

For the "in range" part of your question search around the internet for Tom Roster and or subtending method, maybe on the DNR HSOforum. What this involves is measuring the bird with the end of your shotgun barrel. If I remember right on mallards (single barrel guns)if they are coming straight in or going away swing on the bird like you would to shoot at it - if more than half of each wing sticks out on each side of the barrel they're in range. For crossing mallards there needs to be some bill & butt showing. The DNR had the drawings in the synopsis a few years ago, what you did was tape the page to the wall mount your gun to your shoulder and place the muzzel against the page to see how much bird stuck out the sides.

[Gordie]

COS I remember that good tip and thanks

[KidMoe]

The other thought i had was, i do have access to a bright yellow kayak. I was thinking maybe i could hide it in the weeds 20 or 30 yards away and use it to retrieve birds in the water. would this scare the birds? It would be a borrowed kayak otherwise I would paint it and sit in the sloughs.

I'm hoping to sneak out in the morning, just hope i don't get beat to the area by someone else.

[Gordie]

Cover it up with burlap or camo materail and weeds/brush and you should be good to go.

We had our camo canoe on the river one year and we were hunting on a small island and we didnt cover the canoe very well and we couldnt figure out why all the birds were flareing mostly geese at the time until I wondered behind the blind and covered it in weeds and brush then the birds came right in.

Stay safe and wear a life jacket

Good luck

[Farley]

Cover it up with burlap or camo materail and weeds/brush and you should be good to go.

Thats it right there.

[benbosh]

I used a yellow/orange kayak last year for duck hunting to make it quicker to get to a spot and parked it about 5-10 yards away and covered it up with decoy bags and some brush and it didn't seem to bother them. It actually blended into the leaves pretty well on the ground in the early part of the season.

[KidMoe]

I think I'm going to try the kayak and burlap in a couple weeks. I went Friday and set up in a different area than i planned on (got there too late). As I walked out to my backup spot i kicked up a few mallards that were in range but with no way to retrieve them. I think I'm going to try near my backup spot with the kayak the next time I can get out.

Thanks Again for all the advice! If/when i get a bird I'll be sure to post pics!

[fishuhalik]

good job passing on those birds. it takes more of a man to pass an easy shot on birds you might not retrieve than get a triple on birds that go to waste. keep it up!