Getting started in Bird Hunting.

[MikeT]

Man, it's hard to know where to start on this one.
For waterfowl hunting, buy "Successful Duck Hunting" by M.D. Johnson. It's only been out for about a year so it has good current information on shotguns, ammunition, decoys, etc. I haven't seen it in any bookstores so you may have to special order it. Very good reference for a beginner.
Some good resources on the web:

Refuge Forums
http://refugeforums.com/refuge/index...439e8bbd5d5f28
Lots of info categorized in sections such as: Gun Dog Forum, Upland Game Forum, Shooting and Reloading Forum, etc. There's even one just for the Oregon guys.

Waterfowler.com
http://www.waterfowler.com/inportal/...-2-1-:s-3:m-1-
Similar to Refuge Forums

Flockknocker's Goose Rooste
http://www.floc********.com/
Like above, with the emphasis on goose hunting

You'll get tons of advice on here about guns, decoys, ammunition, etc. Everyone has their favorites. M.D. Johnson's book has good advice and he's a pretty credible source of information.

My suggestion is leave the "broom" at home and get either a Remington 870 Express or Benelli Nova pump gun in 12 gauge with 26" or 28" barrel. Either can be had for less than $300 and both are dependable guns at a very modest price. If you want the Mossberg do your friends a favor and find one with an UNPORTED barrel. Camo on guns is way overrated, except maybe for turkey guns. Black plastic stock is the thing....can't really hurt it and it's ugly to start with so no problem dropping it on a rock or into the water.

There's lots of good ammunition out there but prices are all over the map. Steel shot is weird stuff; make sure you pattern your gun with whatever you end up with to make sure it performs well with the gun and choke you have. After trying lots of it, here's my advice:
-Forget the 3.5-inch 12 gauge shells. Very expensive and very little advantage over the 3-inch shells.
-Kent and Estate brand shells are very popular for a reason: they're good and they're cheap. Buy some 3-inch, 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 oz. shells in #2 or #3 shot and you'll be set for ducks. If you get tempted by the low-end stuff that goes on sale all the time, check the label for muzzle velocity and don't buy anything less than 1400 fps.
-BiMart and Sportsman's Warehouse have good prices on guns and shells. BiMart won't have much on the shelf until hunting season arrives but will order stuff for you.

One or two dozen cheap decoys will put you in the game most places. Flambeau or Avery are decent and don't cost a lot.
Get a decoy bag that has backpack straps; most will hold 2 dozen standard size decoys. Forget the extra large decoy bags unless you want to have it banging against your ankles all the way to the duck blind.

Don't worry about calling ducks. It's not nearly as important as most guys think, and a bad caller
will chase 'em all away every time. Have someone teach you. Be able to actually sound like a duck
before you try it in a duck blind.

Join a Retriever club. I hooked up with the Oregon Hunter Retriever Club and it made all the difference in the world for my first attempt to train a gun dog. Also met lots of good folks; some became great friends and hunting partners.

Someone else chime in here....

Mike

[Lured In]

Skahorse...bird hunting is a blast and I am sure you will love it if you take the time to get your feet underneath you.

The fact that you have small arms experience is a big plus, as you are well aware of things like muzzle awareness, etc. But I would still recommend (and this is for anyone) that you take a hunter safety class. This is for multiple reasons, but at the very least it will provide you with a well rounded understanding of hunter ethics, wildlife ID, and other useful bits of info. That would be the first thing I would recommend.

The info that limit lander is all useful as well. As far as guns go, just about anything will work. Find something you can afford and go for it. As a general rule a 12ga will give you more flexibility for all purpose bird hunting. If possible get one with screw in chokes. This will allow you to change for differing wing shooting situations.

Once you have your gun, get out to the trap/skeet range for some practice.

ODFW has a reasonably useful book on places to hunt called "Game Bird Hunting in Oregon". I think it cost like $10.

As far as opporunities go, there is no substitute for hardwork scouting and spending time in the field.

Here is a quick overview of bird hunting opportunities.
1. Dove season is open during the month of September throughout the state. Also I believe some of the grouse and quail species open at this time as well.
2. There is usually a September goose hunt for at least a week in the first half of the month.
3. Usually around the middle of September, Sauvie Island, has a fee pheasant hunt. It can be very crowded at times, but is fun no less.
4. The second saturday of October usually marks the duck season opener.
5. The general goose season also usually opens in mid October. FYI...goose hunting is CLOSED in all of NW OR from Portland south to Eugene along I-5 and west to the beach. This is the NW Permit Goose Zone. ODFW has administered a test in the past that is required in order to hunt this area. Be sure to check the regs when the come out for more info.
6. The general pheasant season also usually starts in October.
7. Chukar and quail I can't remember when they open but the season usually last for a few months and ends in late January.

As you can see the opportunities are many. Some of the other State Wildlife areas also offer special 'fee' hunts for pheasants.

The Bird regulations come out in early to mid September. Be sure to keep an eye out for them and read them cover to cover. As far as licensing you will need an OR Hunting license, an OR Upland Bird Stamp and/or an OR Waterfowl Stamp and a Federal Duck Stamp. (The federal stamp is only required if you hunt waterfowl.) The *** agent should also provide you with you Harvest Information Program (HIP) validation.

Feel free to PM or email me if you have any other questions.

Good luck.

[Flatfish]

I sure hope a cheap pump is ok for killing ducks and geese. If not, I got some explaining to do.

Upland hunting is harder on the hunter( walking most of the day), but easier on the gun( not in a swamp being used as a pry bar to get a boat loose from a sandbar). 20 guage over under is popular, kills well and is easier to carry than a 12 pump. If you are hunting waterfowl on public, it can be fairly easy hiking. Or it can be a death march. It depends on where the birds are.

Gore tex is will be mandatory for all hardcore waterfowlers. When the weather sucks real bad( hard rain coming in sideways, 37 degrees) ducks shooting gets good. Camo is tough to live without for waterfowl. Not too necessary for uplands. I wear a lot of orange hunting uplands. I have never been shot by a buddy. I want to keep it that way.

Public is great for many folks. My schedule is sorta flexible in the winter. We are in a club. At the end of the season, I have hunted more days, and it cost me the same amount of money as public land would have.

Geese offer more opportunity for waterfowl hunts. the decoys tend to be expensive and you will have to learn the ropes. Once you are in the zone, it is great fun. I would rather murder ducks than do anything else. but I am a bit weird.

Tilla has a well trained dog. I do not.

Good luck.

Mark and the hardmouth dog.

[skahorse]

I am currently an avid fisherman who hasn't really hunted before(Though, I have a lot of shooting experience, including handgun competition shooting, and I am currently a member out at the PSTC). I am interested in getting started in bird hunting. Upland birds or Water fowl, I am interested in both. I have a Chocolate lab on the way (hasn't been born yet, but has been reserved) and I should be getting him by the end of September. I would like to get started in the sport before I get the dog, so that when he is ready to start field training, I am not training myself at the same time :smile:

Can someone make some suggestions as to where to get started in this sport? Websites, whatever... I've been out to ODFW's website, but it's very un-informative. Thier fishing pages are very helpful, but the bird hunting web pages leaves much to be desired(I can't even find the season for ducks and geese...)

Plus, I have a couple questions:

1. Is a standard(meaning $200 - $300) Mossberg or Remington 12ga. shotgun adequate for bird hunting? I've been to several gun shows and seen shotguns for $150 all the way to $10,000 :shocked: Are the higher end's necessary?

2. Do you really need all of that camo and those decoys that I see in Field & Stream? (Seems like a big expense to me.)

3. And what about blinds? Do you purchase those or are those a Public use thing that are already out there in the popular places...?

4. Finally, is there anyone out there that would be interested in inviting me out bird hunting? I already have a 12 ga., though it's more of a room broom (18" barrel) than a hunting gun. But, it doesn't do too bad with clays... Preferably, I would like to go out with someone who currently has a dog trained for marking/retrieving so I could see that in action, however, I am not picky I would just like to learn.

Thanks In Advance!

--Skahorse

[Tilla]

Tilla's dogs are slacking right now!

[Lured In]

Originally posted by Tilla:
Tilla's dogs are slacking right now!

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Gee...that's funny....I thought the 'trainer' (ahem) was repsonsible for the readiness of the dog!?! :tongue: :grin: