The List

[JABIII]

It is that time of year when we start thinking about gearing up for the upcoming duck season. Shells have been ordered and delivered, a cursory eye has been cast at the blind bag and it's contents, and thoughts turn to those items that were lost, worn out, or we just didn't have last season.

So, what is on the list? Money is tight across the board and there will be many "extras" that Cabelas, Macks, etc. will get to keep this year. The catalogs are filled with so damned much junk these days that it is hard to know where to start if you are new at this. They have more items that you can purchase for your retriever than we used to be able to purchase for ourselves! Much of it is useless junk and most of it is completely unnessesary to killing a limit of ducks. The same can be said for the human side of the catalog.

We know that we will need the basics but how do you define "basics" for the 2010 Duck Season? Certainly not the way we did for the 1980 Season when Camo came in 2 patterns and it didn't come to us kids much at all. They threw some white cotton waffle underwear on us, a flannel shirt, and if we were really lucky a Duxback coat. There weren't many choices of decoys to look for, the dogs stood in the water or on a log, and you bought Winchester, Remington, or Federal shells.

Now we are covered up with pure junk from China that won't last a hunt much less a season. You have many dozens of choices of decoys to choose from and a whole battery or electronic gizmos and wingdings that many won't hunt without. You cannot swing a cat without hitting a duck call maker these days. The choices truly are endless with young guns gobbling them up like cotton candy at the fair at a mere $150 a pop.

The art of catering to duck hunters ego's has become so complex that there are a dozen companies out there making good livings selling early 1900's oriental technology to duck hunters billed as the cutting edge of duck whacking machines. You can truly go where no hunter has gone before, sliding across acres of mud and muck with no water required.

So what do we really need? What have we just got to have this year? Will you upgrade your old neoprene waders for the comfort and mobility of breathables? Did your waterproof gloves suck like everyone else's and will you try yet "one more pair"? Will your pay good money for a brand new set of *laugh* "Old School" camo clothing?

What is on your list? Mine is getting longer already...

[Squatty]

I've decided to unload some of the gear I have and will be offering it up for sale here soon. I've come to the conclusion that I can hunt and be successful with a lighter load.

Really the only thing on my list is a pair of breathable waders. I always buy a case of shells that's a given.

Which for some lucky guy will give them the opportunity to buy a pair of LaCrosse 5mm brush tough (size 11 boot) Waders for only $125.

[trailertrash]

A place to hunt here in Tennessee...... I know no one.

[CAMO SNOB]

I need a pair a new waders too, breathable this go round... cause I sold my heavy duty sweat makers last season. Other than that, I lost my face paint so I need some new. I got a case of shells left over from last season cause I only hunted two weekends.

Cabelas, MAcks, wings supply and BPS can keep there useless shit this year... I don't need it. Money will be spent on beer

[b-stick]

new pair of waders..

new vest for the dog..

[JABIII]

TT, I will give you a heads up on some area when the season gets closer if you will remind me. Found some blackducks and mallards not far from Knoxvegas last year but we didn't have the time to chase them.

Squat, I traded my neoprenes for breathables last year and then traded them back when I got to Nebraska because of the extreme coldfront we hit. Night and day difference. Going BACK to the breathables for good this time...

[buckshot1224]

been looking around on deals on shells and a few decoys............that is about all I need

[JABIII]

BTW, Cabelas is running a $5 shipping deal for Fathers Day right now. I got 4 cases of shells shipped to my door for 5 bucks...

[Swamp Rat]

Like Squatty, I am unloading a lot of stuff. Part of this is due to a change in tactics, part of it is just getting tired of toting all that crap. Especially decoys. I have a lot of older plastics that are faded, or simply not needed, that I will unload later.

My goal is to either hunt woodies and whatever on smaller waters and rivers this year, or (diametrically opposed) open salt marsh. So, I will need two entirely different setups.

My days of hunting divers on Lake Murray may be ending. Starting to get to the "juice ain't worth the squeeze" stage for me.

Gear for the year.... maybe a new set of waders. My Lacrosse Brush-Tuffs are leaking a bit, not enough to get rid of them (will patch and hold for cold weather/OOS trips). Looking hard at breathables. If I get to go to Argentina next year, the light weight and packability would be huge.

Otherwise, a lot of what I will be doing is getting my hands on some burlapped dekes that are being sold/given to me, and getting them ready. Gonna re-do ALL my Texas rigged dekes, and rig a lot of others for saltwater (deep water in places) use.

[Glenn]

I need some of you stingy mo fo's to come off with some damn duck hunts or my mail box might just become mysteriously full all the time.

So just let that hit where it may.

I've still still got the first duck call I ever bought. Big damn Olt that sounds "okay". May get a new call this year.

Other'n that I'm GTG. Have gun will travel.

Ahem.

[ktownduckhunter]

New waders and new gun is all im thinking rite now...but im sure more stuff will some up!

[Slaya]

This year, I am pretty well set, except...

Sold the primary duck boat- still on the ropes as to whether I need to replace it.

Still adding to my handcarved decoys, but have had little time to work on them lately. Hoped to have a small rig of cork teal, a couple hollow cedar blacks, a few more woodies, some ringers, and a handful of Mallards carved. Ain't looking good at this point - I still haven't finished G-Belly's teal (need to touch-up some paint, seal, and rig) or yours, Jab (carved, but no eyes or paint yet). Those will be finished before I start back on my own rig. I have enough plastics to get me by.

Have the breathables from last year, and I'll hunt them this year. Got plenty of misc camo, coats, etc., but may pick up a nice waxed cotton jacket for those "ducky" days.

Need shells.

Want an O/U 12 ga. to replace my auto as the primary fowling piece, but that is still a want.

Saving my pennies to hit the road this season again.

[ndbrown213]

2 boxes of shells and a half dozen decoys, is about it for me.

[millero]

shells and waders because i have none of either.

[Redleg Camo]

might try a new call or 5. thats a gimme. gloves are a joke. wouldnt mind riggin up a couple spots on the front of the boat. hard to run a 10,000,000,000 watt q-beam, gps, and run the boat while bouncing off another war eagle in the timber.

[b-stick]

might try a new call or 5. thats a gimme. gloves are a joke. wouldnt mind riggin up a couple spots on the front of the boat. hard to run a 10,000,000,000 watt q-beam, gps, and run the boat while bouncing off another war eagle in the timber.

get a broom handle..tape the qbeam to the top of ot..

cut handle to right height for when your sitting down..

put gps in between feet while driving..

[b-stick]

oh yea i need a new qbeam and i might get a kayak

[Squatty]

JAB, I hunted in the breathables the entire time I was in Alaska and NOT once did I ever wish I had the heavy thick neoprene waders.

SwampRat, I hear ya!

[Redleg Camo]

get a broom handle..tape the qbeam to the top of ot..

cut handle to right height for when your sitting down..

put gps in between feet while driving..

I bought a GPS holder so Im good on that. I have heard of a couple boys runnin the light on a stick.

[b-stick]

we run the light on a stick through the timber..

just make sure you sit down and cut the stick the right height