Home Gear by game Waterfowl hunting gear / AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE
Waterfowlhunting gear. Start with approved nontoxic shot and a shotgun that fits you. Select the final load for the bird species and your gun.
Find your field notes ↓ 12 PURSUITS THREE APPROACHES EACH SOURCE-LED RESEARCH
HUNTING GEAR / OBSERVATIONS PLATE 01
+ + It starts with
THE PURSUIT SHAPES THE PACK. 01 — 12
01 / CHOOSE YOUR PURSUIT
What brings you outside? Select the game to open its field notes.
02 / COMPARE YOUR OPTIONS
WaterfowlField notes Start with approved nontoxic shot and a shotgun that fits you. Select the final load for the bird species and your gun.
FIELD CONTEXT For ducks, geese and coots. Federally approved nontoxic shot is required.
PAIRING 01 +
Illustrative forms · not to scale Waterfowl / OPTION 01
12 gauge + steel
THE PLATFORM 12-gauge shotgun approved for steel shot
THE AMMUNITION Factory 12-gauge waterfowl shotshells with federally approved steel shot. Why consider it A straightforward nontoxic-shot starting point for a familiar 12-gauge shotgun.
Before you choose Match shell length to the chamber and steel compatibility to the barrel/choke; bird size affects load selection.
Sources & further reading+ PAIRING 02 +
Illustrative forms · not to scale Waterfowl / OPTION 02
20 gauge + steel
THE PLATFORM 20-gauge shotgun approved for steel shot
THE AMMUNITION Factory 20-gauge waterfowl shotshells with federally approved steel shot. Why consider it A waterfowl option for hunters who prefer their 20-gauge shotgun.
Before you choose Verify the chosen load’s pattern; a smaller gauge does not remove the need to match ammunition to the bird.
Sources & further reading+ PAIRING 03 +
Illustrative forms · not to scale Waterfowl / OPTION 03
12 gauge + bismuth
THE PLATFORM 12-gauge shotgun approved for the selected bismuth load
THE AMMUNITION Factory 12-gauge waterfowl shotshells with federally approved bismuth-tin shot. Why consider it A different nontoxic shot material to compare with steel in your shotgun.
Before you choose Bismuth is not blanket permission for an older firearm. Check the gun and ammunition manufacturers’ compatibility guidance.
Sources & further reading+ Research behind the waterfowl notes+ 03 / PUT IT IN PLACE
The hunt sets the rules. Use your state guide to find official seasons and regulations. These comparisons stay general; your exact unit, property and season determine what is permitted.
Where are you planning to hunt? Choose a state Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming ⌄
Montana season guide↗ THE LAST PAGE / BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT
Four checks worth keeping. FIELDREADY 01 Match the markings Match the firearm’s marked cartridge or gauge to the ammunition box and headstamp. For shotshells, also confirm shell length and the barrel/choke maker’s approval for the shot material.
Read the source+ 02 Check this hunt Open the current state rules and the specific public-area hunt notice. Season, method, caliber, shot size and archery requirements can differ within one state.
Read the source+ 03 Check projectile rules Waterfowl and coot hunting requires federally approved nontoxic shot. California requires certified nonlead ammunition when taking wildlife with firearms. Other public areas can have additional restrictions.
Read the source+ 04 Fit comes first Choose equipment you handle confidently and confirm its performance before hunting. Have a qualified archery professional match the bow, arrows and broadheads to you and the intended game.
Read the source+ A NOTE ON THE RESEARCH Recommendations are Public Hunting Land Near Me editorial judgments informed by the linked agency, hunter-education and manufacturer sources. Manufacturer links document compatibility and intended use; they are not sponsorships or a national approval list.
Research reviewed November 9, 2026 . Illustrations show equipment families, not exact products.
Our research approach ↗