I have a property I have permission to hunt ducks on. It isn't too far outside of Dallas and there are some homes scattered around the edge of the property. It has multiple bodies of water, one big and a few smaller ones. The ducks currently seem to be on a smaller pond that happens to be ~150yrds from one home, 400yrds from another home, and 250yrds from a FM road. The pond is 70x80yrds. The ducks like to be on the star.

If the houses weren't there, I would still set up with my back to the closest house, but there is a chance I could be firing in the direction of the farther house. I could try to sit along the W side and just angle NE. Not ideal because there are some dead trees, but that is probably the safest option. But I'm still curious, how close can I be to a house or a county road?

Yelnick McWawa said:

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CS78 said:

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Your shot can not reach the furthest house. Something around 325-350 yards is max travel distance for a steel duck load. Your biggest issue isn't safety but pissed off people when your first volley knocks them out of bed on a Saturday morning. They'll be contacting the land owner in a less than pleasant mood.

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Who would hopefully tell them that he will do as he pleases on his property within the confines of the law.

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this is my response to people complaining about me mowing at 8 am on a Saturday

Get a hold of the homeowners - go knock on their front door and talk to them.

150 yards is pretty close IMO. The old rule of thumb for blinds on the bay back in the day was 300 yards+/- (unwritten rule for you amateur game wardens - just common courtesy).

At 150 yards, even facing away from the houses your shotgun is going to be pretty loud - they may not care one bit, especially if you've taken the time to talk with them first. Would also help to open the door on being able to recover any ducks that may fly over the fenceline.

Does R.N. own the property you are hunting on?

I know the homeowner of the house on the right in your picture. He's an Aggie too.

email me at user name at gmail

I'd think this is the best solution. Talk to the home owner about when you'll be hunting, as a courtesy, it'll help the landowner's relationship with his neighbor and hopefully keep you in everyone's good graces. Wouldn't worry about the road or the further house.

More outfitters (like this one in Oklahoma) - crookedcreekduckclub.com are shooting small bore shotguns to try to keep ducks near their properties.

You can kill ducks with a much smaller boom if that's of interest. Or damn the neighbors and let er rip!

After you've made nice with the neighbors, gift them your divers and spoonies.

Set up to be shooting away from the houses, to lower the noise.

It may not be the best spot to set up but can keep the peace.

I came to this arrangement with a neighboring landowner with a similar set up.

A bottle on Blanton's helped to.

just use a bow. I seen 'em do it on one of them TV shows.

So much for making new friends. It will take them a week to get the smell out of their kitchen, and a month to get the taste out of their mouths. Don't waste the shot unless it's going on the wall.

PANHANDLE10 said:

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More outfitters (like this one in Oklahoma) - crookedcreekduckclub.com are shooting small bore shotguns to try to keep ducks near their properties.

You can kill ducks with a much smaller boom if that's of interest. Or damn the neighbors and let er rip!

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That's an interesting idea. Might have to get some 20 steelies. Tony Vandemore at Habitat Flats shots an Ethos 28