Ruddy Specific Shotgun Setup

[Hunter527]

I’ve never shot/sliced waterfowl that were sitting on the water unless it was a cripple. But hey, each to their own. As long as it’s legal do what makes you happy.

I’m not aware of any other way to bag Ruddies at San J, all they do is swim.

 

[ilovesprig]

It depends on where they are harvested from. All of my diver hunting has taken place in salt water bays and ruddys from there and other divers mostly taste like bay mud. Never shot one over rice fields. They may be ok table fare from fresh water or flooded rice. I’ve actually had spoony’s shot in rice that were quite good eating.

Ruddies in rice?....Spoonies in rice?....No wonder guys pay the big bucks for those leases...

 

[WaterDog]

Ruddies in rice?....Spoonies in rice?....No wonder guys pay the big bucks for those leases...

Dont ya know the more you spend on a blind the better the ducks taste

 

[Hunter527]

Ruddies in rice?....Spoonies in rice?....No wonder guys pay the big bucks for those leases...

Speaking of paying the big bucks, Trophy Ruddies Guide Service might pop up a few years down the road, if this experiment is a success. I need to be careful posting this on here, someone will beat me to my fortune.

 

[ilovesprig]

Dont ya know the more you spend on a blind the better the ducks taste

Most the guys that I know who have clubs or pay major dollars, don't even like to eat waterfowl...lol

 

[TRICER]

The only solution is a tactical 16" barrel 10ga with a red dot. Nothing less than 3.5" TT for the shot that way you can get them even under water. kill'em all!!!

 

[msailor]

I bought a Carlson's Cremator full choke and it did not seem to extend my range that much but sure made me lose less ducks. Patterned it at the turkey time up and at 20 and 40 yards it was a pretty tight pattern. Pic is from our last hunt at Barrett lots of tasty ruddies

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[TRICER]

I bought a Carlson's Cremator full choke and it did not seem to extend my range that much but sure made me lose less ducks. Patterned it at the turkey time up and at 20 and 40 yards it was a pretty tight pattern. Pic is from our last hunt at Barrett lots of tasty ruddies

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@msailor is a ruddy expert. Do what he does and cook them how he cooks them. I heard he passes on mallards.

 

[ilovesprig]

Matt a the super bowl party with his delicious ruddy poppers....

.

 

[msailor]

@msailor is a ruddy expert. Do what he does and cook them how he cooks them. I heard he passes on mallards.

Thanks and I would take a limit of ruddies over mallard!


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[msailor]

Matt a the super bowl party with his delicious ruddy poppers....

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Thanks Steve sorry I missed the last one!


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[Hunter527]

I bought a Carlson's Cremator full choke and it did not seem to extend my range that much but sure made me lose less ducks. Patterned it at the turkey time up and at 20 and 40 yards it was a pretty tight pattern. Pic is from our last hunt at Barrett lots of tasty ruddies

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Wow, that is my dream hunt!

 

[SurfNHuntSD]

I’m not aware of any other way to bag Ruddies at San J, all they do is swim.

When they do fly, they're so dang low that it's almost like water slapping them anyway

 

[TRICER]

When they do fly, they're so dang low that it's almost like water slapping them anyway

Ya but it’s a lot more sporting to shoot them as soon as they lift off. That way you get them out of the air.

 

[fish dog]

You imply that shooting Ruddy’s off the water isn’t sporting. I have never seen a Ruddy flying at San J. How else am I supposed to hunt them?

Well, they do fly. Not a lot but they do. I had a teal limit ruined by a ruddy that was flying high into the decoys that I mistook for a teal in the early morning light hunting A-1 at SJ. The first 1/2 hour or so is when you'll see them flying the most IMHO.

 

[Hunter527]

Well, they do fly. Not a lot but they do. I had a teal limit ruined by a ruddy that was flying high into the decoys that I mistook for a teal in the early morning light hunting A-1 at SJ. The first 1/2 hour or so is when you'll see them flying the most IMHO.

Thats interesting, I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled. I read that they migrate at night.

 

[Aeon]

On this episode of desperate duckers

 

[HATCHET1]

Most the guys that I know who have clubs or pay major dollars, don't even like to eat waterfowl...lol

Stevo...never a truer statement!! Ha!! Those guys helped put sweetpea thru college by shooting ducls on miles of river bottom...ducker fever is real!!!

 

[Snake Charmer]

Ruddy killin...Hard core .. never shot one. watched a guy at Southerland years ago set up and drift on them to get his limit, seemed like a lot of work for not much but hey what do I know...

 

[Hunter527]

I forgot to mention, I’m going to bring along an old spotting scope to field judge the Ruddies before I pull the trigger. What should I look for in a trophy Ruddy, besides plumage?