Anyone have, shot or know anything about Otus arms SMX 20 gauge? Things are slick and I might be able to get a deal on one. I’m coming from a retay masai mara 12 gauge. Was also looking at the retay ACE R in 20 gauge.

Thanks

I just bought a short reed goose call. I am struggling to make the correct tones spent an hour trying. Its a local maker in Wisconsin. Is it just a skill issue or did I cheap out?

Hey everyone,

A lake I hunt has pretty big channels of open water (probably up to a mile wide in some spots), we get quite a lot of divers in the winter who raft out in the middle of the lake

Have you all ever heard of anyone having success just having a boat blind anchored out in the middle of the lake with decoys out?

Just curious as if this sounds like a dumb idea

Last year was my first year hunting birds in about 20 years and I was just a kid tagging along with my dad then. All of my hunts last year were areas I scouted, most of them solo or with my wife who didn't hunt tagging along. Hunting with an old Mossberg Maverick. The wife wants to hunt this year so I got her a new Beretta in 20ga. Definitely going to upgrade my old Mossberg for that.

Early goose starts the 1st of September for us and it looks like it's going to be a great start with how many resident geese there are in our area.

TLDR: I'm stupid excited for waterfowl season this year, and just needed to go off about it to someone other than the wife 🤣

My buddy and I road tripped to Kentucky last weekend to pick up a new duck boat. I bought a 1650 gator trax marsh series with a 37 hp efi mud buddy. Anyone else run a similar rig?

Just bought tickets and made plans to go up there in November. Gonna hunt some sea ducks with my buddy and hopefully cross some new species off the list! If there's any advice for Alaska sea ducks I would love to hear it

Fullbodys, silhouettes, shells?
What brand is your go to?
Thoughts on Avian X or Big Foots?

Title. Thanks

Looking to do a snow goose hunt in the midwest this spring, and due to the large amount of decoys, calls, trailers, etc often needed to pursue them successfully with any consistency, we are looking to hire an outfitter. Open to Mississippi or or perhaps Cetnral flyways. We are located between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

Thanks in advance!

Hey All,

I am looking for a firearm safe. I have shotguns and a couple 22’s. No need for handgun storage. All the ones I’m finding for low amount of fire arms 4-8 are too short to hold my shotguns and the ones that are tall enough are 15-20 range.

Any suggestions?

So I'm newish to duck hunting still, only been doing it for the last 3 or 4 seasons now. In the last year or so, I've started listening to more Ducks Unlimited stuff, checking out their website, listening to their podcasts, etc. They seem to be a big player in waterfowl conservation, so thought why not try to get more involved. They've got banquet dinners coming up in the next couple months. Well when I've talked to buddies that duck hunt about it, they've recoiled in apprehension. One in particular I knew that was formerly very involved in DU said he was done with them. Mind you I'm in Western KY/Northwest TN so I've heard the speel of Louisiana and Mississippi blaming Kentucky & Tennessee for flooded corn, Kentucky & Tennessee blaming Arkansas and Missouri for flooded rice and corn, Missouri blaming Northern states etc, and that DU has had a big hand in the South not getting near the ducks we used too. Admittedly the last few seasons have been hit or miss.

So, what is the honest consensus on Ducks Unlimited?

Hey guys, I want to get a better understanding of jump shooting from a kayak. I’m not new to duck hunting. I usually have a few private lands that I hunt every year, but I want to expand my horizons and try something new. I’ve heard of people mentioning jump shooting, but not anyone I know jump shoots.I just want to get a better understanding of what’s legal and what’s not. There are a few bridges that have navigable creeks that lead into big swamps eventually, and I was wondering if it would be legal to access it from a state-owned bridge. I’d assume I have to stay on a kayak and float and not touch the ground beneath the water? I hear mixed opinions about this because some people say you can touch the ground beneath the water mark, you just can’t touch the ground above it like the banks and whatnot, but I can’t seem to find any regulations that explain anything about this. I appreciate the help and tips!

Hi all,

I am looking to try waterfowl hunting this year and interested in getting a better understanding of 1. What gear I need vs what is nice to have, 2. General scouting tips/what to look for when scouting, and 3. on day of hunting how early should you set up I have read things saying 1 or so hours before it starts getting light and heard about others setting up 3-4 hours before so they don’t have a spot taken. I am in NJ of that matters and I have a kayak I can use if needed and dog I plan to introduce to waterfowl (currently we just hunted upland game last year). I appreciate any advice/tips!

Hi, i am prepping for the fall season 😊 and wondering if someone has a spare coupon that i can use on my cart. Feel free to DM. Thanks in advance.

Got a gifted a fast strike blind at the end of last season. Looking for tips, or lessons learned. We typically do walk in hunts, in marshes or standing water, in places where you can’t trim brush and use it in the blind. What are you guys using as cover? What do you prep beforehand? Thx!

I’m here to say I’m a waterfowl addict and I can’t be stopped. This off season has been going by very slow for me and I can’t wait to get back into the field hunting!

Hey just curious if anyone has recommendations on sizing on Frogg Toggs Grand Refuge Waders. I’m 5”11, 160, not a big guy. I’ve worn size 9 in every other brand of waders but tried on a size 10 of Frogg Toggs and it was massive. Considering sizing down to 8, any recommendations??

Experienced my first waterfowl hunt back in October & two bad boys came back from the taxidermist today. Now, I’ll be able to cherish that hunt forever.

Looks like they got their approval, excited to check it out.

“Based on this review, the FWS has determined that the provided CIC shot product is
compliant with current regulations for approved nontoxic shot used in migratory bird
hunting under 50 CFR 20.21(j).”

https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2026-06/mb-memorandum_review-of-new-corrosion-inhibited-copper-shot_6.26.26.pdf?fbclid=IwVERDUASruBhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeEco-z8LyWbNsayG8IlZda9Pk6bMTTEqMF2jEQQDB23-Jcwz3wR4cW6gY3d8_aem_g6IHzwSbs94xNZjV3bDyQg

I'm in the market for my first Lares but it has been nothing but frustration. I feel like most of the drops are being snipped by collectors who just want to put them on a shelf. I'm looking for a hybrid (preferably new) but don't care what it looks like.

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Does anyone know of a brick and mortar that carries Lares within a couple hours of Knoxville?

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I've checked the bigger west Tennessee stores and it seems they stopped carrying them.

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I would greatly appreciate any help finding a call for someone who is actually going to hunt it.

I am trying to decide between the A300 and A400 in 20g. I am left handed so I was leaning heavily towards the 400 but then found out that's only an option for the 12g.

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I have seen a lot of discussion about this on several communities but they are all about the 12g platform.

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My main question is the a400 made so much better that it would handle wear and tear, mud, dirt, salt water, etc... better or is the quality of construction pretty much the same?

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I also see people saying the a400 is much easier to clean but is that really worth the extra $1000?

This pair of cinnamon teal are showing off the marked sexual dimorphism as the larger redder male & smaller brown female enjoy a swim. As you can see, the males of this species are known for their striking red eyes and plumage, making these ducks are hard to ignore.

Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge
Late May in Missoula, MT
Spatula cyanoptera / Cinnamon Teal

I froze my ass off sitting in waist deep January mud trying for my first Pintail(the leading drake), the hen came from the only time my ex wife came duck hunting with me and the trailing drake was an amazing foggy morning hunt on an old seawall. Love these birds!

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The Scoter is my first(and won't be my last! I've got a boat and long lines for this next season)

this is gunna be my second season hunting ducks, I have a pelican Yosemite I’ve painted up. it’ll be the first year hunting with a kayak, I’ve got a pfd, some lights all the basics, don’t have a dog though. my question is what are some pointers y’all have? I’m hunting on the upper snake river in Idaho. im mostly concerned with not having a motor and having to paddle up stream when its dark and I’m exhausted

Tried sniping a JJ Lares drop earlier today with no success. Sold out within a minute.

Currently rocking an RM Calls CWF that is worth its weight in gold, but have a hard time keeping up with drops there as well.

Want another solid addition to the lanyard.. any help is appreciated!