The Best Gear for Novice Waterfowl Hunters 

Learning how to waterfowl hunt isn’t easy—and one of the reasons is that it requires gear. A lot of it. This can be intimidating, expensive, and hard to navigate for folks unfamiliar with duck and goose hunting. As an adult-onset hunter myself, I didn’t have a parent or grandparent to bring me hunting and set me up with equipment; I had to buy gear for myself. And I realized quickly: having the right equipment makes a world of difference. 

When it comes to new hunters, three factors are most important when considering equipment purchases: functionality, ease of use, and durability. In general, new hunters will want to opt for budget gear, especially if they’re not sure how long they’ll stay in the game, to keep the initial investment reasonable. This is a fair sentiment, but it’s equally important to get gear that works well—and is durable enough to actually use. And also, it’s important to opt for gear selections that are not particularly complicated to use, especially when it comes to guns and calls.

To develop this list, I considered my years as a novice hunter, as well as my subsequent experience testing all kinds of waterfowl gear for publications such as Field & Stream, Split Reed, and Popular Science. None of the products on this list will break the bank—and they’ll all help novice hunters do what matters most: kill ducks and geese. 

Best Shotgun: Mossberg 500 Field

A shotgun is likely the biggest expense a novice hunter faces, and it’s an important purchase. Thankfully, there’s no dearth of good waterfowling guns in the $400 to $800 range today. Newer hunters can choose between pump and semi-auto guns; I tend to recommend pump action guns for their reliability and ease of use and maintenance.

The best thing a novice hunter can do, whether it’s a kid or adult, when selecting a starter gun is to go to a store and see what fits naturally when you practice pointing and swinging one. When you do this, try a Mossberg 500, which is one of the most popular shotguns on the planet for a reason. They may be a bit hefty for some, but they shoot and manage recoil well, and they are about as durable as it gets. 

Best Cartridge: Kent Fasteel 2.0

Kent Faststeel 2.0 is an affordable but lethal steel load that novice hunters can use to kill birds—many of them. The Zinc-plated steel shot is corrosion-resistant and, combined with high-performance base-wads, knocks birds down cleanly. Shot size may be confusing for new hunters, but it doesn’t need to be; use BBs for geese, 2s and 3s for large ducks, and 4s for smaller ducks. 

Best Waders: Drake Insulated Guardian Elite Vanguard Breathable Waders

New hunters don’t need to break the bank when it comes to waders, but they also shouldn’t skimp on them either—and find themselves cold and wet in a marsh somewhere. This fall, I’ve been using a pair of Drake Guardian Elite Waders. They’re a noticeable step up from true budget options. While they’re not quite as sleek or breathable as the highest-end waders, they’re a great option for most hunters. Depending on the climate you hunt in, you can get them with or without insulation. If you’re in a reasonably cold area, I suggest insulated waders for novice hunters; it’s better to be a bit warm than cold when you’re starting out in the wetlands. 

Best Decoys: Tanglefree Pro Refuge Mallard

A common question novice hunters have before they start going out on their own is: How many decoys do I need? The answer, of course, depends on the hunting scenario and the species of ducks they are targeting. That said, a good rule of thumb is to start with somewhere in the vicinity of 18 to 24 decoys, which is plenty for small river spreads and just enough to pull some birds on bigger water. Tanglefree’s Pro Refuge Mallard pack gets you in the game with 18 budget mallard decoys, which, compared to what you’d find for a similar price on Amazon, are pretty decent. If you’re not targeting mallards, Tanglefree has a nice puddle duck combo pack, too. 

Best Jacket: Drake LST CommandXT 3-in-1 Primaloft Insulated Jacket

Other than waders, the only piece of camo apparel that you really, truly need for waterfowl hunting is a good jacket. The LST Command is another Drake product that I’ve been particularly enjoying this fall, especially because of its versatility. The outer shell is warm, waterproof, and durable. Meanwhile, the insulated inner jacket provides lightweight insulation—and it can be removed if you’re too hot. This versatility is especially nice for newer hunters as it essentially provides a full-on layering system for the price of one good waterfowling jacket. 

Best Duck Call: Duck Commander Classic Commander All-Purpose Duck Call

New duck hunters should start with a double-reed mallard call, of which there are plenty of decent options that won’t break the bank. But most budget duck calls are plastic—and many of them aren’t aesthetically pleasing. The Duck Commander Classic Commander All-Purpose Duck Call is a nice wood option that’s easy to blow and looks nice, too. With a wood call, you need to be cognizant of keeping it dry and clean, but it’s worth it to have a good duck call that you can be proud to keep on your lanyard for years to come. 

Best Duck Whistle: Buck Gardner 6-in-1

A duck whistle is easier to use than a standard duck call—and pulls in birds. You can’t go wrong with the Buck Gardner 6-in-1, which is simple, effective, and dirt cheap. With one of these plastic tools, you can imitate teal, wigeon, drake mallards, pintails, and more. You can also use it as a dog whistle in a pinch. 

Best Blind Bag: Northern Flight Quick Hit Timber Bag

If you’re looking for a blind bag to discretely carry your gear and keep it organized, the Northern Flight Quick Hit Timber Bag fits the bill—and is a bargain. The main downside to this is that it isn’t waterproof, which means it’s most ideal for hunting out of permanent blinds, which not all novice hunters have access to. Otherwise, you’ll want something waterproof.

Best Waterfowl Cleaning Knife: Bubba Tapered Blade Flex Fillet Knife

There are plenty of really nice knives made for cleaning birds, but for a new hunter, I’d recommend a knife more commonly used for fish: a standard fillet knife. And for those, you can’t go wrong with a Bubba. The narrow blades are good for precision cuts, and the ability to flex the blade helps new hunters remove as much meat as possible when breasting out a bird. 

The Final Word on Novice Waterfowl Hunting Gear

Duck and goose hunting are gear-intensive pursuits—but that doesn’t mean that the initial investment needs to prevent novice hunters from getting started. This guide details all the essentials that a beginner duck hunter needs to start killing birds. As you get more experienced and fanatical about waterfowling, you’ll likely want to upgrade some of these pieces of your kit, but every product in this guide can stand the test of time and even be passed on to other novice hunters if and when you do switch up your arsenal.