From: Bowmann94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Mar-21 |
|
I’ve got a group of guys interested in traditional bow hunting waterfowl this year which I think would be really fun. Interested in any stories or gear tip you might have. We’re talking about using all wood or bamboo arrows with glue on wood blunts that are the right weight. I made one last year and it definitely worked and floated, but I was dumb and used it as a stumping arrow. Broke on the first shot to not rotten wood. Rubber blunts of correct weight are also an option. I know some use broadheads but can’t imagine they’d float. Definitely going to use flu flu arrows.
|
|
From: Nrthernrebel05
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Mar-21 |
|
I don’t have any experience doing it. I would like to try it too. But I think they would have to be right on top of you to use flu-flues
|
|
From: Bowmann94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Mar-21 |
|
That is a fair point my thought was arrows going 200 yards because you’re aiming up. I was thinking pheasant hunters do it with flu flus but they tend to shoot off the flush. I know it’s not “sporting” to shoot a sitting duck. But with a recurve I would have no moral problems shooting a duck that lands in the decoys. We wait for that perfect broadside shot for deer because it’s ethical, how’s it not ethical to shoot a duck that way?
|
|
From: Wild Bill
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Mar-21 |
|
Is it allowed under Federal regulations?
|
|
From: Scoop
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Mar-21 |
|
Bowman94, If your blunt floats, a broadhead of the same weight should float, too. I usually set up on small rivers or creeks so arrow retrieving is easier. My favorite spot used to have open area in front of my decoys for a couple of hundred yards of sagebrush that made retrieving arrows easier. Mostly I shot 125 grain broadheads in a mixture of flu flu and standard fletching for pass shooting or the occasional bunch of geese.
I also used blunts when the teal were flying to save money on all those lost arrows! While I would never shoot sitting ducks with a shotgun back in the day, a duck landing in the decoys, well that is fair game for me and I don’t seem to hit them a lot better than when they set their wings just before touchdown. The Labs or Irish water spaniel is left home for obvious safety reasons when using broadheads.
In all honesty, my success rate isn’t too good, but the fun factor is right up there! Jump shooting a small creek or pass shooting geese going to the fields is right there, too. Good luck.
|
|
From: Bowmann94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Mar-21 |
|
To shoot sitting ducks or to use archery? Both are a yes to my knowledge I’ll do some Google fu and see if there’s a source I can find that’s credible. I’m pretty sure I’ve read about guys doing it on bowsite.
|
|
From: bentstick54
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Mar-21 |
|
I’ve never bowhunter ducks, but have shot a few with a shotgun. They’re pretty tough. I would be more inclined to think broadheads would be a better choice. Same weight broadhead vs same weight blunt, should float the same. Test the for sure buoyancy either way.
|
|
From: fdp
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Mar-21 |
|
I would use broadheads. In my experience blunts aren't very effective on birds the size of ducks.
|
|
From: Johnny Koester
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Mar-21 |
|
I've never been able to hit a crow on the wing with a flu flu. A deer jumping the string is nothing compared to what a crow can do in mid air when a flu flu is coming it's way. Have taking lots in the air but with regular fletching.
|
|
From: Warden609
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Mar-21 |
|
things to think about.
heads shots with a broadhead designed to decapitate the waterfowl.
traditional style broadheads for body shots.
no blunts unless head shots are only being utilized. I'm not recommending this, but it will work. the last thing you want is a blunt tipped arrow lodged in the body of a duck or goose. I have seen this with blunts and field points and it is a bad deal. land owners and the public don't want to see this kind of stuff.
check the regulations in your city, county, and state before hunting.
good luck, have fun, and be safe!!
|
|
From: Bowmann94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Mar-21 |
|
Good to know I’ll do some float testing when the lake thaws. I love on a back bay of a small lake in MN. For the record I was using a homemade 125gn wooden blunt carved out of walnut so I knew it would float but just assumed broadheads would sink now I’ll have to test It lol. Yeah I’ve had squirrels do the matrix with flu flu arrows when there high in a tree ducks would be worse I suppose. Thanks guys definitely the info we were looking for. Keep it coming.
Did find a link saying it’s legal in Michigan.
|
|
From: Bigdog21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Mar-21 |
|
wood arrow will float with broadhead, try it in your bath tube. blunt can wound ducks braking wing bones so take a shoot gun for cripples.
|
|
From: Bearfootin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17-Mar-21 |
|
I’ve seen videos of guys goose hunting using pop-up blinds in open fields, but they were using compound bows. They pretty much just shot at the geese that had landed in the decoys. I would think shooting ducks or geese would be almost impossible on the fly using any type of archery equipment. But hey, that’s just my opinion eh!!!
|
|
From: Snow Crow
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
I second Mr Koester's advice on regular fletching and avian aerobatics. Also, make sure the fletching is not orange, pink, or red: not sure about waterfowl, but crows pick out those hues from the next county over.
|
|
From: fdp
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
People have been hunting geese and ducks on the wing with archery equipment for years and years Bearfootin and doing it successfully. If you don't know something is impossible usually it isn't.
The difference being that the folks that do it aren't afraid to shoot or lose arrows.
|
|
From: Nemophilist
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
A good DVD to get that shows Ben Pearson shooting ducks on the wing is Legendary Hunts Of Ben Pearson.
|
|
From: Heat
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
Look into the Yard Hopper threads on Bowsite from Paul Navarre from Ft Collins CO. He kills geese with his stickbow and compound. Him and his dog Chase get it done every year.
|
|
From: reddogge
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
You'll need broadheads. Ducks are very tough and have lots of padding. Maybe you could kill a teal with a blunt but they are a small target. Ducks on the water only show 50% of their bodies and that 50% has the folded wings protecting their sides. But put up a blind, throw some decoys out and hopefully you'll get a close shot as they swim in.
|
|
From: George D. Stout
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
Yep...you gotta hit them flying ducks in the head. LOL. All I'll say is Pearson was a crack shot and he missed about 90% of the ones he shot at so act accordingly. Also, know where those arrows are going when they leave the bow and what's possibly at the end of their flight. I would limit my shots to ones on the water or ground, or use the shotgun...but that's just me.
|
|
From: Lefty38-55
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
For years and years I hunted everything with my longbow and wood arrows. Went goose hunting with my brothers, where they tended to be high flyers at this waterfowl refuge where we could hunt.
I used Howard Hill broadheads and set out ahead of my bros, and would shoot up so the arrows landed out well away from us. I didn't use FLu-FLus - and would NOT recommend them! - but used some high fletch unburned to any profile.
Those goose have sharp eyes! They came in like a flight of B-17 Bombers and we could see them slipping left or right to 'dodge' the incoming arrows.
Now I did get stopped by a Federal Game Warden and he asked 'me' if it was legal, lol! I knew it was and pointed to my steel HH broadheads and said "See? I even use steel shot."
Alas the only archer I've personally known to take a goose with a bow took it over decoys when it came down in with wings 'tolling', i.e., set, getting ready to land.
Tough birds though, it has to be a good killing shot. Once in the local papers there was a photo of a live goose with an arrow sticking 1/2-way threw it ... it wasn't me, but I never hunted geese again with the bow.
|
|
From: Supernaut
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
Heat X2. Check out Paul and his dog Chase's Yard Hopper threads over on Bowsite. Great pics and write ups of his goose hunts.
Best of luck in your waterfowl quest!
|
|
From: Will tell
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
My son got into Goose hunting and with decoys there and were a lot of very close shots coming into land. The group they hunted with killed over 100 Geese in one season. I was going to give it a try but never wanted to get out of bed 4:30 in the morning and set up 50 decoys.lol Definitely could be done and broadheads would be a necessity. Geese are a tough bird to kill. I'd be afraid using a dog for fear he'd get stuck with a broadhead.
|
|
From: reddogge
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
50 decoys? You guys are pikers. We have to put out 250 and then pick them up again after and we are limited to one bird each if we are lucky. Resident geese would make it a little more worthwhile.
Check out some of Tim Wells wing shooting with a bow. He's pretty deadly on doves which are challenging even with a shotgun.
|
|
From: GF
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
Many years ago, I heard a flock of geese on the river while I was out deer hunting, and I sneaked in and took a shot at one with a BH...
The flock took off outta there and I never did locate that arrow... Didn’t occur to me until years later that I should have been watching for that bird to fall out of the sky as they all flew off.... I just couldn’t imagine that the arrow wouldn’t pile it up right then & there....
And I have taken a pass shot or two on a mallard coming in straight overhead, with a lowered-profile flu-flu. I was PERFECT - right up ‘til he jinked outta the way in the last instant....
So that’s all I know, but I did read an article many years ago (probably TBM) in which it was pointed out that half of a sitting duck sits below the waterline. That said, if you hit them ABOVE the waterline, you’ll miss the breast and hit the rest; hit ‘em high & watch ‘em die kinda deal....,
|
|
From: Bearfootin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
Riverwolf...I like that picture !!!!
|
|
From: Gray Goose Shaft
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
Here is a picture that I lifted from 'two4hooking' in August of 2019. It must be a rush if you can stand there while they come in.
|
|
From: reddogge
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
We used to do that for years out on the Susquehanna Flats but with shotguns. You pivot around that plywood goose as the birds come in. The goose must also be raised and lowered with the tide. Waterfowl hunting does require a $9 state stamp in MD plus a $15 Federal Waterfowl stamp. Not sure what other states charge but the Federal stamp is required in all states.
|
|
From: FITTER
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
I never thought about waterfowl with a bow..... might have to put the old meat hammer down and pull a string..... thanks!!!
|
|
From: Tim Finley
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
Wood arrows will float with a broadhead and to keep them from going so far try 6 fletch. After you get the first 3 feathers on just rotate in your fletching jig and start over.
|
|
From: loose arrow
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
This all sounds like fun to me, have a great time out there!
|
|
From: Scoop
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18-Mar-21 |
|
The flu flu arrows I use over decoys are in the forefront with four fletch yellow/black uncut feathers and 125 grain Ribtek broad heads. And I like that print, too, Rivewolf. Never seen that one.
|
|
From: Buzz
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
I've tried half a dozen times on Canada geese.
As above.......Jinxed out of the way of arrow.
|
|
From: Buzz
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
|
|
From: Buzz
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
Pearson B-52, 45#@28"
Wood arrows, BH and fluflus.
|
|
From: shade mt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
I've done it, as far as on the fly I got real used to saying, " just missed em" but it was fun. Let them land in the decoys, there is no shame in that with archery equipment. Most of the purist don't eat much duck.
As far as blunts, not saying you couldnt kill them, but I think you will just wound most, and geese, it just isn't going to get the job done, they are pretty tough.
I've never used blunts but years ago I did a fair amount of waterfowl hunting, mostly with a shotgun. And geese and ducks are pretty tough, little wood ducks aren't so bad though.
|
|
From: Bowmann94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
Here in mn we end up paying out the nose for a waterfowl stuff. We have the federal stamp 15$, the mn small game 22$, mn stamp 4$, walk in access so you can hunt walk in access land 3$. So you’re in it 44$ to hunt ducks. But it’s an addiction and I do it every year lol.
6 fletch seems interesting might have to try those vs my uncut 3 fletch flu flus. I spose it’s going to be a compromise between speed and distance.
|
|
From: Bowmann94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
Here in mn we end up paying out the nose for a waterfowl stuff. We have the federal stamp 15$, the mn small game 22$, mn stamp 4$, walk in access so you can hunt walk in access land 3$. So you’re in it 44$ to hunt ducks. But it’s an addiction and I do it every year lol.
6 fletch seems interesting might have to try those vs my uncut 3 fletch flu flus. I spose it’s going to be a compromise between speed and distance.
|
|
From: JimG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
Guys the Federal stamp is $25.00, NOT $15.00.
|
|
From: JimG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
Here's a link. Even says $25.00 on the stamp.
https://www.fws.gov/birds/get-involved/duck-stamp/buy-duck- stamp.php
|
|
From: Bowmann94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
You know I thought I was off when I was doing my math I remember always paying 60$+ between all the licenses you have to get.
|
|
From: reddogge
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
I just checked mine and it is $25. Used to be $15 for many years. Our wonderful state charged me $27 to order it when I bought the license.
|
|
|
From: two4hooking
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
Ok, I'll chime in since River already posted one of my photos.
My advice is Broadheads and regular fletch. Waterfowl have very thick feathers. Geese would take a head or neck hit with a blunt IMO. We have shot them with a 60plus pound DW and a woodsman and it still took a shotgun to keep it from swimming off.
Take a friend with a shotgun for backup. Geese are Tough!
|
|
From: two4hooking
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
You can hit them but they are a challenge....
|
|
From: Bowmann94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
Hiding behind the goose silhouette works? I’ve heard it’s an east coast thing that’s so cool. Tell me more. Seems like they’d see you flying over?
|
|
From: two4hooking
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
I also started out trying flu flus..... went to a modified flu that flew faster. Ultimately you want as much penetration, speed, and quietness as you can muster.
|
|
From: two4hooking
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
It is fun to try though. I would love to try some dry land hunts one day.
|
|
From: reddogge
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
It works quite well, in fact, quite deadly. The goose silhouette spins around and you tuck in tight behind it and rotate it to follow the geese. You are wearing an olive drab diving suit which blends in with the water and bottom and are all but invisible to them. When they outlawed sink boxes in 1935 and after WW2 these surplus diving suits came onto the market this type of hunting was popular. The tide will vary between knee deep to chest deep in this area. I've had geese land 3' from me and splash me with water.
|
|
From: two4hooking
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
Yes, oversized decoy silhouette box. It's called Body Booting. You wear all black and you can rotate the silhouette as the birds come in while crouching in the water behind it. We walk a long ways out on the flats to leave the boat far away and set out the decoy spread. It is getting harder and harder to hunt this way as more and more folks get into it. The beginning of the season you can wear shorts or a wet suit but once it gets cold a dry suit is needed.
I had a friend growing up that used a entire field of just silhouette geese and had luck.
|
|
From: reddogge
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
I've bowhunted them in the field before but never got one. My friend shot one with his compound on the ground though.
|
|
From: Eriebuck
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
I believe there are a couple videos on you tube of Tim Wells killing ducks, geese and doves with an Oneida lever bow. Can't recall what heads he was using for waterfowl but as I remember it was Snaros for the doves. Not traditional equipment but he downed a few with the bow
|
|
From: GLF
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
Pearson invented the deadhead for geese. He claimed anything smaller wasn't always enough. I'd use wide broadheads and any fletch EXCEPT flu flu's.
|
|
From: two4hooking
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
Love the "silence of the lambs" face mask there Reddogge!
|
|
From: Bowmann94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
Thank you guys for posting this has definitely steered me in a better direction. Two4hooking that is a neat way to hunt I’m going to try it I don’t think anyone in Minnesota hunts that way. Always from the bank or boat might make it easier as there’s no boat to give you away. Lots of guys here field hunt and use silos so that makes sense to try it in the water.
I just watch Ben Pearson on YouTube hunting ducks with bow. He misses a few but once he’s diled in he’s right on. Only thing that doesn’t make sense is he’s standing in the open lol and then wondering why the ducks only come over at tree top level. It’s also a bit unnerving watching the dog retrieve ducks with a broadhead in it.
|
|
From: reddogge
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
"Love the "silence of the lambs" face mask there Reddogge! "
Thanks, Greg, it was cheap.
|
|
From: GF
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
Come to think of it, Pope & Young wrote of always carrying a few all-black “Eagle arrows”; low profile fletch and often crow feathers, I think, so that they would be invisible to the birds until it’s too late.
I think they viewed them as pretty much disposable....
|
|
From: Jeffer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19-Mar-21 |
|
Lots of fun. I use a regular magnus head with bleeders. It's best over decoys and be patient. Get them when they're cupped and commited. Also good to have someone back you up with a shotgun if you can.
|
|
From: Bowmann94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20-Mar-21 |
|
So was looking on YouTube today and saw this and for sitting ducks i think these would be really fun and help with arrow recovery. I think broadhead would be better for flight but these thinks do look really cool lol. Definitely would build a metal head though.
|
|
From: Bowmann94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20-Mar-21 |
|
Can’t get the link to work but these bouncing arrows are cool. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAX8N8Ycs1g
|
|
|
From: WindWalker
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 21-Mar-21 |
|
My brother and I used to bowhunt waterfowl whenever in season. Our hunting was restricted to creeks and shallow areas of narrow rivers. Our gear was simple; Bear 45# "Minutemen," aluminum shaft with 4"-5" fletch and Bear Razorhead. Tried Judos once but they would bounce off geese.
|
|
From: GF
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 21-Mar-21 |
|
I think those bouncing arrows look like they would be pretty freaking amazing to play with…
|
|
From: Bowmann94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 21-Mar-21 |
|
For here in mn I could see those working well on rafts of coots or other ducks that raft up like that. Mainly it’d just be fun to play with lol. I could see blasting rubber ducks like that with bouncing arrows being a blast. All in the name of practice of course ;p
|
|
If you have already registered, please sign in now
For new registrations Click Here
|
|
|