Hunting & Fishing How many lives to Mallards have?

[...]

.....are they like cats?....do they have 9 lives?.....honestly thats what im thinking right now..... because i cant kill these fucking things.

ive been out 5 times this season, and each times has yielded no mallards......i have no problem killing woodies........but the mallards i swear are bullet proof.

and i know im hitting them, because i see feathers flying........and last time i went out......a buddy landed 2 hits on a bird @ 20 yds.....and i landed at least 1 more hit on the same bird.....and the fucker fluttered down like he was dead.....then he was like "noooope"....and flew off laughing at us, leaving behind a big pile of feathers.......3 hits from 3" #4 shot...WTF!......personally i think he lived just to spite us.

so what am i doing wrong, do i need a buckshot?....slug?.....punt gun?

any help is greatly appreciated

 

[Tucker301]

I always found #3's to be more effective and would switch to #2 shot for the late season tough birds from up north.
Also, if you're shooting passing birds, try the old wingshooter's advice and try to lead them so much you're certain you're going to miss in front of the bird. That typically puts the bulk of the load right where it needs to be, on their lips.

 

[Mr. Z]

It’s probably placebo effect but I’ve had better luck killing them with black cloud. I guess the rings on the shot would make a bigger wound channel but a pellet to the brain or spine does it regardless. Good luck

also what he said^^

 

[Tucker301]

Ditto on Black Cloud. It's all I used for my last five years of that time, money, energy draining sport before I gave it up.

 

[Wannabeinotc]

I agree with all of the above.
Not only are they wary bastards, they are tough when they seem close enough. But run with the advice given. I use Black Cloud and Hevi Shot #2s or 3 shot in 3" or 3.5". When field hunting with geese, I may not swap out the BB either. 4 shot sounds small, particularly this time of year.

 

[...]

Yeah ive been shooting black cloud #4 through a full choke at tge recommendation of a buddy of mine whos been having no problem bagging bird....


ill try bumping it up to #2 and seeing if that helps

 

[Mr. Z]

Hit em to get em

 

[spaniel]

If you want to feel impotent, shoot steel. The one year I went on a serious waterfowl hunt I bought steel because HeviShot was ungodly expensive for the volume I expected to shoot. IMHO it's downright unethical, I'd rather pay $3 a shot than wound stuff all day.

 

[afv338]

you say your using full choke, do you know that with steel you need to go one choke lower to get the same results as if you were shooting lead. if it is a full choke it will not pattern with steel if you shoot modified with steel it will be full. the best thing you can do is pattern you gun on paper it sounds like its your problem. i shoot 3 1/2 number 2s for big ducks and have killed them clean at 60 yds for geese use 31/2 bbb's wood ducks you can use 3in number 3's.

 

[Tucker301]

Ditto on the choke, and the specialty chokes are well worth the money.
In fact, if you're shooting a Benelli/Beretta crio I can send you my retired Black Cloud choke.