Duck Hunting Gear
This page gathers the duck hunting gear that gets you from the truck to a limit and back: Higdon decoys and decoy bags, Power Calls duck and goose calls, MOmarsh and Ducks Unlimited blinds, dog vests and stands, blind bags, floating gun cases and marsh seats. For a first kit, start with decoys, a call and a way to hide, then add the comfort and dog gear that keep you out there longer.
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waterfowl hunting gear · duck decoys · mallard decoys · spinning wing decoys · duck calls · duck blinds · duck dog gear · waders
Duck Hunting Gear Checklist
Duck hunting rewards preparation more than most seasons, because the hunt starts in the dark and nobody wants to drive back for the decoy bag. Here is the short list, in the order most hunters buy it.
| Gear | What it does | Shop |
|---|---|---|
| Decoys | Shows passing ducks a safe place to land | duck decoys |
| Line and weights | Keeps floaters where you set them | decoy rigging |
| Calls | Turns flying birds toward the spread | duck calls |
| Blind | Hides you, your movement and your dog | duck blinds |
| Seat | Makes a long morning bearable | duck hunting chairs |
| Blind bag | Holds shells, calls and the thermos | blind bags |
| Choke tube | Matches your pattern to steel or bismuth loads | waterfowl choke tubes |
| Dog gear | Keeps the retriever warm and out of cold water between birds | duck dog gear |
Decoys and Calls
Most of the decoys here are Higdon, across the Standard, Magnum, Legacy Magnum and Battleship lines, plus Clone mallards and FLATS silhouettes for fields. Teal, wood duck, pintail, gadwall, wigeon, canvasback, redhead, bluebill and bufflehead packs let you match the birds in your area. For movement, the shelf carries the Pulsator PRO, Swimmer PRO and Flasher PRO units, and more options sit on our motion decoys page. Slotted and mesh decoy bags in 4-, 6- and 12-slot sizes carry the spread.
Power Calls fills the call side with single reed, double reed and hybrid duck calls, a teal call, a wood duck call and a 6-in-1 whistle, plus short reed, specklebelly and snow goose calls for mixed bags. Single reeds give an experienced caller more range. Double reeds are easier to run clean, which is why most beginners start there. Goose hunters will find more on the goose calls and goose decoys pages.
Duck Blinds, Seats and Concealment
Layout blinds from Higdon and Ducks Unlimited put you flat in a field or on a bank. MOmarsh adds the ATX InvisiLay, InvisiMan, Field House LP, VersaBlind and Final Stand, along with replacement frames and snow covers. Higdon adds the H-Frame Panel Blind and RagTop Blind Lids. Blind grass sheets and InvisiGrass help any of them disappear, with more on the blind accessories page. For seats, a duck hunting chair or marsh seat matters more than people admit by the third hour. The Ducks Unlimited Roost and Loafing chairs, the Higdon Marsh Seat, the Ducks Unlimited Wetland Seat and the MOmarsh Marsh Saddle and Mobile Bench Seat give you plenty to compare.
Gear for the Duck Dog
A good retriever earns good gear. The MOmarsh VersaVest and the Ducks Unlimited Topflight Dog Vest cover the duck hunting dog vest slot, with replacement and flotation panels for the VersaVest. A dog stand for duck hunting keeps the dog up out of cold water in flooded timber; look at the MOmarsh Ramp Stand and Home Base Platform and check each product page for setup. The Higdon Quick Draw Dog Blind and Ducks Unlimited Alpha Dog Blind hide the dog in a field spread. Leashes, collars, a bumper and a Quick Crate finish the list.
Carrying It All
Ducks Unlimited floating and deluxe blind bags, a pit blind bag, backpack blind bags and Guardian dry bags keep the small stuff together. Floating and waterproof shotgun cases protect the gun on the boat ride, with more on our gun cases shelf. Game totes and straps carry birds out, and hand warmers make cold mornings shorter. A wader bag keeps the drive home dry.
Duck Hunting Gear FAQs
What duck hunting gear do I need to start?
A dozen or two decoys with line and weights, a duck call, a way to hide (a blind or natural cover), waders, a shotgun with a waterfowl choke and shells that meet your state's waterfowl rules, and a blind bag for the rest.
Single reed or double reed duck call for a beginner?
Double reed. It is more forgiving and easier to sound like a duck while you learn. Many hunters add a single reed later for range and control.
Does my duck dog need a vest?
In cold water and late season, a neoprene vest helps a retriever stay warm between retrieves. Fit matters, so measure your dog against the sizing on the product page.
Are there rules on shot type for ducks?
Yes. Shot type for waterfowl is regulated, so check your state wildlife agency's current rules before you buy shells.