Waterfowl hunting is unique. The habitat where they are found is rich in wildlife and just being in that environment is an adventure in itself. The early morning hunts with the cold mist rising from the water makes you shiver in anticipation.
There is some basic gear that is required to pursue ducks successfully. Cold weather hunting apparel in a good camouflage pattern is necessary. It should preferably be waterproof/breathable in a material such as GoreTex.
You will need waders to access the wet environment. Hip boots work for some applications, but chest waders insure a better chance of staying dry. Waders should also be camouflage color or a neutral color such as olive drab that blends with the terrain.
Selection of a shotgun is a matter of personal choice. Semi-automatics, pumps, over and unders and side by sides can all be used successfully, but the kind of hunting you do will determine the choke needed. If you plan to hunt in an area where "pass" shooting is the method, you will need full choke or even extra full. If you are planning to hunt over decoys, you can get by with modified choke. Most shotguns have screw in choke adaptors today and can be changed to fit the need. One advantage of double barreled guns is that you have an immediate choice of choke on any shot.
Decoys are an asset is luring the ducks and you should invest in at least a couple of dozen of the prevalent species that you will hunt. A few Canada goose decoys can be set to one side of the spread to attract the honkers if they happen to be in the area. Motion decoys are popular, but not needed in most areas. The size of the decoy spread should be based on the local population. If your waterfowl hunting location has small numbers, set small decoy spreads. In some areas of high population, it is necessary to set large spreads to attract the birds. You can team up with friends to set large spreads, using everyone's decoys.
You will need calls of the species you intend to hunt. You will need to produce quacks, whistles, or honks depending on what birds are flying. Get a good CD and listen to the birds. Try to reproduce those sounds and practice a lot. Get advice from experienced hunters. Don't call too much. When the ducks are coming to the decoys, do not call. When they turn away, call with intensity. When they turn back, stop calling or just give a chuckle as they turn toward you.
Usually, you will need a boat to access the hunting area. If you hunt on big water, you may need a larger boat with a motor. If you are hunting smaller areas, a canoe or kayak is all that you will need. These craft are hand powered and can get into locations that the large boats cannot access.
Get out and shoot some skeet and be familiar with your shotgun. Try shots at different angle Waterfowl fly much faster that we imagine and the common mistake the hunter makes is to shoot behind them. Practice shooting with a "sustained lead" and try the "swing through" method. Sustained lead is just as it sounds. You move the muzzle of the gun ahead of the bird and maintain the lead as you fire the gun. With the swing through method, you start behind the bird and swing past him and shoot. The momentum keeps the barrel moving past the bird and establishes the lead.
The last point to consider is to not shoot at birds too far away. Waterfowl are big birds and may appear close, but you need to determine the range and control your shots. The last thing that you want to do is to cripple and lose birds. That is misuse of the resource. A good retriever is a great investment and minimizes bird loss as well as adding another dimension to the hunt.
This is a great sport that yields great pleasure to the hunter during the hunt and he is also rewarded with excellent table fare if the birds are properly prepared.