Novice Question- Shooting ducks on the water (2024)

Hello!
This is my first post here. I live in NW Ontario, and I'm "brand new" to waterfowl hunting, and also to this forum; in fact, despite approaching my fortieth birthday, I'm actually fairly new to hunting-in-general, and I have MANY questions, ...and the one that has come up most frequently has been---

"What's the hard scoop– (the *reasoned reason*) –on shooting/not shooting ducks on the water?"

See, as a completely uninitiated (wannabe) waterfowl hunter, I have very little of my own experience to draw on, thus my "knowledge" on the topic is mostly pedantic, and based mainly from the experience of others.

So far, my own practical experience–(grouse hunting, using .22lr and .410), –has lead me to take the safest, cleanest (head)shot I can manage– in the interest of minimizing suffering to the bird, and preserving the edible portions of the bird –and if such a shot doesn't realistically present itself, I likely wouldn't attempt *any* shot.

*But* –I recognize waterfowl hunting will be an entirely different gig, using a different firearm (12ga.) -in a different environment... so, while I may envision the safest/cleanest (head) shot is still likely going to be taken while the bird is relatively motionless on the water, I have to admit that such a notion may not actually be true in practice. ...Especially because the general wisdom (seems) to be commonly against it.

I've read MANY online articles on the topic, expressing mixed opinions...but I'm really more interested in the science...the actual *facts* of the matter.

I would (sincerely) very much appreciate your experienced opinions and advice, but most of all -- your reasoning. (Thank you!)

ADVERTIsem*nT

Just to muddy that water...What do you call "On the water"? Sleeping with it's head under it's wing? Paddling away from you but just will not fly? Running across the water trying to take off? Jumping off the water but not yet in full flight?

If you watch any hunting shows( take with a grain of salt, and some disbelief ) you will mostly see birds being shoot from a fair distance( really not that far out just the camera making it look like 60 yards), with all the birds in full afterburner mode, or the classic cupped wings landing pattern. That would be nice, but many times you don't get perfect passes, or landing approaches.

If you have decoys out and there is a bird that swims into them, that is flaring the rest what do you do? It may not fly no matter what you do. Should you sit and let it paddle around the decoys and flare off birds all day or do you smack it on the water?

Its actually quite a bit harder to kill a duck on the water. They are well protected by their wings. It may seem easy to get a head shot, but its not always the case.

A live duck in your decoys will not flare ducks, in fact, it will attract ducks.

S.

I suppose what I mean by "on the water", would be- not flying, generally still, offering a realistic opportunity to a potential headshot, within a reasonable range to pull off such a shot.

These opportunities (I suppose?) may be so rare in themselves, that THAT itself may be the rationale for shooting on the fly...(a better, more frequently available opportunity for a quick kill, as the second reply suggested.)

Originally Posted by Sinker

Its actually quite a bit harder to kill a duck on the water. They are well protected by their wings. It may seem easy to get a head shot, but its not always the case.

A live duck in your decoys will not flare ducks, in fact, it will attract ducks.

S.

A live decoy? Don't let the CO see that. As for flaring birds...All depends on how it's acting, what it is ETC. Mallards and other Puddle ducks don't like some divers and vice vesa.

There is nothing "illegal" about shooting a "sitting" duck or goose whether it be on the water or ground. Some say it's not sporting that waterfowl hunting is a wing-shooting sport. I say take the most lethal/ethical shot you can. If you've set up a decoy spread or done your scouting and found a place where ducks and geese land on the water or field and if you can get yourself hidden well enough that they will land within your gun range then you do whatever you think is best. I know what I would do.

Originally Posted by Snowwalker

A live decoy? Don't let the CO see that. As for flaring birds...All depends on how it's acting, what it is ETC. Mallards and other Puddle ducks don't like some divers and vice vesa.

Whats a CO going to do?

Bottom line is you can legally shoot a bird on the water. It up to the hunter to decide what he wants to do after its landed, or swam into range.

I've shot them on the water, but they're easier to kill in the air.

S.

When I was first starting out Duck hunting, I would shoot ducks on the water from time to time. I would suggest that you aim low on the bird (waterline) as the shot will spread. This will increase you chances of hitting the duck with a lethal amount of shot. Flying birds are better to shoot at, as it is easier to get shot at the unprotected areas of the duck/goose or to break a wing.
Good luck.

Thanks all, –for the thoughtful replies! Appreciated!

...Enormously looking forward to the autumn, but I'm gonna relish this spring & summer first.

Merci!

I find a duck much easier to kill in the air ... we are at the mercy of the pattern to kill them on the water, the kill zone becomes very small with just the head and neck, the back is very tough and hard to get pellets through to the lungs considering the angle of the shot relative to the back ... a duck in the air has a much larger kill zone, it is a matter of hitting the bird, which is harder on a moving target than a sitting one.

Geese are different for me ... the head and necks are much larger ... if I have a choice, I like to let geese land and line up the head and necks to kill as many as possible on the first shot ... one pellet in the head or neck will often kill them, but I have cleaned many many geese that have chest wounds where the pellet did not make it through all the meat, bone and organs to make it to the heart or lungs ... a goose body is tough and needs a heavy hit or close range.

If you do shoot a duck on the water (such as finishing a cripple) I find with the steel shot I finish more if I aim slightly low ... this allows the top of the pattern to be on the head/neck, but also the lower end of the pattern to "skip" off the water and also hit the head ... steel shot seems to skip more than the old lead shot did.