If you are hunting smaller birds primarily, such as teals, gadwalls, wood ducks, wigeons, or scaups (to name a few), you are going to have better odds with a higher shot size, most commonly 3 or 4. If you are hoping to take larger ducks like mallards & canvasbacks, then you need to be using 1 or 2 shot.
What shot size is best for wood ducks?
Wood Duck Guns and Loads
In reality, most shots at wood ducks are at close range if you’re set up right. A 12- or 20-gauge loaded with steel 4 shot and an improved cylinder or light-modified choke is all the gun you need. Test your gun at 20 and 25 yards to be sure your pattern is wide enough at close range.
What’s the best shotgun shell for duck hunting?
Best Shotgun Ammo for Ducks and Other Waterfowl
- Apex Mossy Oak Shadowgrass Habitat Blend. A unique 12 Gauge Blend of 1-1/16oz #3 Steel over 1/4oz #8 TSS for your habitat of choice.
- HEVI-Shot HEVI-METAL.
- FEDERAL SPEED-Shok.
- HEVI-Shot HEVI-HAMMER.
- WINCHESTER Blind Side.
- REMINGTON HyperSonic STEEL.
How many pellets is 2 steel shots?
156 pellets
A shell with the exact same dimensions holding 1-1/4 oz. of No. 2 Fasteel® 2.0 has 156 pellets that leave the barrel at 1,500 fps.
Where do wood ducks go during the day?
Woodies like to roost on ponds, and in corners of wetlands large and small, usually where there is some cover. They leave at first light to spend the day in ponds, wet cornfields, and creeks, but pinning down their exact spot is rarely easy.
Which choke is best for duck hunting?
The Improved Cylinder choke is the best all-around choke for duck hunting. The Improved Cylinder is the most versatile choke, and if you could only choose one choke this is what you should choose.
Is a full choke good for duck hunting?
A full choke can be good for duck hunting if you have the right setup. A modern shotgun with a full choke for pass shooting or longer shots is the ideal situation where a full choke can come in handy. Full chokes should be avoided for shotguns that are not designed for steel shot or large shot sizes.
Is 2 shot good for geese?
Note: Steel #BBB (. 190″) & HEVI-Shot #2 (. 150”) have exhibited the best all-around performance for taking geese; steel #3 (. 140″) & HEVI-Shot #4 (.
What is #2 steel shot used for?
#2 steel shot is a good overall choice for large birds, medium-sized mammals and home defense. The less dense and environmentally safer steel is quite popular, with the only downside being the loss of penetration with steel due to lead being heavier.
What size is #2 steel shot?
.150"
Steel Shot #2 (bag/10#)
| Steel | approx. | |
|---|---|---|
| #SH2 | #2 | .150″ |
| #SH3 | #3 | .140″ |
| #SH4 | #4 | .130″ |
| #SH5 | #5 | .120″ |
How many #2 shots are in a 12 gauge?
Winchester 12 Gauge 2-3/4 Inch Shell, 2 Shot, 1400 Velocity, Shot At 25 Feet. The #2 is a heavy pellet and has an effective penetration at 40 yards. It is a favorite load for goose hunters. The pellet size is .
What is a wood ducks favorite food?
While acorns are the primary winter foods, the seeds of bald cypress, hickory, sweet gum, buttonbush, arrow-arum, bur-reed, and wild rice are also common winter foods. Wood ducks feed primarily in shallow water areas, but will also forage on the forest floor for seeds, acorns, and nuts.
What month do wood ducks nest?
Nesting: The breeding season for wood ducks begins in April. The hen will pull some of her down feathers out to line the nest hidden in a natural tree cavity or a man-made nest box. The nest can be up to 50′ (15 m) off the ground.
What month do wood ducks lay eggs?
In the Deep South, egg laying can begin as early as late January with many hens having more than one brood during a long season which ends in late summer. In northern states and Canadian provinces, wood ducks return as soon as the ice melt occurs, with egg-laying beginning shortly thereafter.
What is the best gun for duck hunting?
Waterfowl Guns: 13 Great Duck and Goose Hunting Shotguns
- Remington Model 870. Remington Model 870Remington.
- Winchester Model 12. The classic Winchester Model 1912.
- Browning Auto-5. The Browning Auto 5 is a classic for waterfowl.
- Benelli Super Black Eagle 3.
- Beretta A350 Xtrema.
- Browning Gold.
- Remington Versa Max.
- Benelli Vinci.
What is full choke good for?
Full choke has tight constriction. The shot holds together even longer, making this choke good for squirrels, turkey, and other game shot at 40-yard and longer ranges. Turkey hunters sometimes use Extra Full or Turkey choke for even denser patterns at long range.
How far can you shoot a duck?
Pay attention to a duck’s size at 20, 30, and 40 yards. The majority of all birds taken are within a 40-yard range. Learning how a duck appears at these three distances will help you successfully harvest game more efficiently and minimize the wounding of birds out of range.
How far should you lead ducks?
A shooter needs to lead a duck by . 24-5.16 feet to make a clean shot. The two distinct variables that determine how far each duck should be led by are: How far away the duck is, and how fast the duck is flying.
Which shotgun choke is the most open?
Cylinder choke
A shotgun barrel with Cylinder choke actually has no constriction at all. Its diameter is the same as the barrel’s internal dimension. This choke throws the widest pattern, so it is considered the most open choke.
Is a modified choke good for ducks?
Choosing a Choke
Light modified or modified are good choices for shooting over decoys. Improved modified is the best pick for pass shooting. Full chokes can deliver good patterns, especially with smaller shot, but with tight chokes you begin risking damage to the choke and gun by overconstricting hard pellets.
What shot for ducks?
Common shot sizes used for waterfowl (from smallest to largest) are No. 4, 3, 2, 1, BB, BBB and T shot. Naturally, smaller shot sizes are best suited for ducks, while the larger shot is better for geese and swans.