Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am getting my shotguns squared away for some waterfowl hunting this fall. Also, I am checking out Pennsylvania Game Commission land for a good place to hunt this summer. I have no real experience in hunting waterfowl, and unfortunately, will not have a dog for retrieving the birds this fall.

I would like to do some research on duck and goose hunting. What books would you recommend on the subject?

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

Several suggestions for you to consider:
-check with your local public library for books about waterfowl hunting
-do a search for waterfowl hunting books on the net
-purchase a good quality waterfowl identification pocket size booklet-waterproof is best- I like the LaMaster book.
-find a place where ducks and geese visit-ponds, lakes, rivers, zoos, etc. and take timmmmmmmme to watch them, study the coloration, fight characteristics, sounds, etc.
learn to distinguish waterfowl by wing beats, coloration, how they act while flying, etc.
-suggestion do not hunt the early teal season until you can easily tell the difference between a teal- blue or green wing from an immature/young wood duck,etc. When there is a light fog it is best to pass on shots until you are really sure of the correct target.Same is true during regular season.
-hunt with good veteran waterfowlers who know their ducks, if they will take you.You can learn a lot form them. Spend more time learning/watching than shooting in the beginning.You just might get invited back!
-without a way of retriving harvested waterfowl carefully choose where you will hunt-corn fields, shallow ponds, etc.
-if you wear chest wadders, choose the safest model you can afford- fits you very well, wear a wadder belt to help reduce water from following into the waders very quickly in case you fall in, wear a life vest- these are now small and state of the art- inflate automatically. practice wearing the wadders and life vest in warm weather and in shallow water-then sit down in shallow water and left the wadders fill with water- how does it feel? can you stand up and move? What would happen if you were in a small boat with the wadders on and the boat tipped and you fell in 35 degree water that was 30 feet deep. For safety have other adults with you just in case when testing and when hunting!!!
-if you have not patterned your shotgun with non toxic shot do so this summer- test the various choke tubes and different sizes of shot- I like to use sheets of brown kraft papter 3 feet X 4 feet and test at 20, 30 40, 50 yards. the results may very well amaze you.
-lastly double check your shotgun if using an semi automatic or pump shotgun to make sure it
has a a magazine plug that limits the shotshell capacity to no more than 3 shotshells in the gun including one in the chamber.
-when waterfowl hunting carry only non toxic shotshells.
This may be more than you need or want. Accept it as possible suggestions.
Hunting waterfowl can be a great experience in warm weather- to very cold weather. Have fun and be safe!

Dear Jim M.:

Thank you for the wonderful checklist of advice.

I'm going out next Tuesday to a spot in southern York county for groundhogs, and will check out the spot for ducks and geese.

Can you recommend any duck or goose hunting books that you really like? Amazon is just a click away.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

The book written by Steve Smith- Hunting Ducks & Geese appears to be very good. If you can visit the Amazon & Cabelas web sites. They list a variety of books on the subject. Before you buy look at the books and see first hand what they are like. That can help avoid any dissapointments. If you live close to a Cabelas store they offen have these books on display & for sale.
I enjoy reading various titles of waterfowl hunting that were written before & after the turn of the 1900's. Many are British but there are mnay written about USA hunting during this time frame.
Enjoy and be safe!

"The Duck Hunter's Bible" by Erwin A. Bauer, copywrite 1965, for those of us over 50 that like to remember how it was.

Another one that someone gave me that seems to be fairly good (I haven't read the whole book) is "Successful Duck Hunting" by M.D. Johnson, copywrite 2001.

Gentlemen:

Thank you for all your advice.

I got a great deal with free shipping on Amazon, and ordered five duck and goose hunting books, four of which were recommended in your posts.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis