Any of you guys here hunt without a dog? What are your tactics? How do you go about retrieving your ducks? Do you shoot and let the ducks lay for a while until the birds movements slow down...Or do you go get them after each couple of birds down? Just curious as i have no dog. This year will be my second season duck hunting. Last year i hunted by myself and would just either wade out and get them or use my canoe to get them if the water was too deep.

How many of you guys do it and what have you found to be the best way to go about it? Thanks for any advice you have.

I have hunted without a dog lots of times and thats why I never will again.But when I did it all depends on if the wind was blowing it I would go get it fast.If the water was deep I had a pole that would extend out more to get it in.But you have a canoe so you should be good.

bring a good towel. I usually get to go swimming in the cold

lol, ill use my canoe. Im a wus when it comes to cold water

Dnt hunt anywre thats too deep...get use to gettin wet and cold...if you hunt deep water know were you can get and pick your shots or take your canoe..iv done it for years....mark your bird and go get it as soon as you shoot it...makes life alot easier with a dog but it can be done.....at least you will stay in shape

yeah the big thing i didnt like about using my canoe is that more birds would inevitably come when i was paddling out to get my birds and of course they would turn the other direction

ive thought about getting a dog..but at the same time i spend so much time away from home on the road traveling that taking care of a dog is way way to much trouble the rest of the year. I dont want to spend the money on kennels and all that so for now ill just continue to stick with fetching the birds myself. i definately dont mind the extra work, but i was just curious how you guys went about it to see if i was on the right track.

being ready at all times is the worst thing about it...your goin to be moving alot...but like i said...set your spred big and close and let the birds get in them before you shoot...sucks to let them go...but if they are flying good then be patient...shoot them close and get them quick..get back and get ready for more...get some good chest waders and learn to like the cold....i wouldnt use the canoe either because its a long process gettin out there and back...you hunting a deep lake or are there spots that you can walk out 40 or 50yrds?

I try not to hunt to deep, I would like one of the DWRRs but I cant find or remember who was selling them.

Damn Right they do!

well last year the area was shallow out to about 30 yards, then it dropped off pretty deep. This year its much less water so i think i can wade most everything. Private ponds on my uncles property is my biggest problem. They are deep out in the middle. The canoe does not even work here because i cant cary it in that far. last year i just had to wait several hours on some for the wind to blow them in. Sucks on those still mornings.

Thanks navasotbred for the info. Ill just have to do a little more planning in the areas i hunt to make sure i can get out to all the birds. I love the cold so thats not a concern. The pole idea might work as last year some of the birds were only 15 feet or so past where i could wade to without filling my waders.

bhhunter...whats a dwrr?

Deep water retreval rig?

shot in the dark haha

sounds right....we will see

No prob...fishing pole with a snag line works good too haha..on the still mornings on a private pond just shoot untill you get limit or you are done then padle out and get them....i was talkin more public land

Take a rod and reel with a top water lure. Workes great

well, mostly i hunt public and thats when i take my canoe. on private, i have no way to get the canoe to the pond. Its too far of a walk. and i cant get a truck there. hmm fishing pole, never thought about that. I may have to try it.

I think that is the definition of the acronym, it is a floating hook like a boat anchor with I believe 25' of rope.

Toss it out and retrieve deeks and downed birds in deep water.

hmm, thats cool. I tried finding something on the internet about it but cant find anything. Any ideas where i could find one or do you know how to make one?

Fishin pole will do much better trust me...you will be much more accurate with a pole if your use to using one

http://dwadr.com/

I think a guy from this forum makes them.

Anyway, I have used a fishing rod with a topwater too.

When in my kayak, as long as I can maintain eye contact with the dead duck on the water, a lot of times I'll just let it float then paddle out for them when the action slows. If the wind is really moving or I have a cripple I get after it immediately.

Kill um dead

Keeping shooting them until they reach the bank. Tenderized to perfection........

I have one of those DWADRs. They work well and have saved me a few times....great or even better for getting decoys as well....but it takes time and practice using them to get it down.