Have you tried APEX TSS or other steel alternatives?

Lots of information to share always. Great to watch your videos and learn new things.

Have you ever considered coming to New Mexico to hunt Cranes, Ducks, etc?

My question would be around habitat optimization on the off season.

Off topic question- Have you written a cookbook? I just watched your Greenhead Limits!! video from December and you had a quick clip of your grilled Spec breast. I would love to make that (with the sides and sauce)!

I'd love to learn more about how the birds change during the season, as well as how to pick apart a marsh, and how the birds flightpaths change according to conditions. Keep up your content, your knowledge is really helpful.

Excellent video as always. “LET’EM WORK”

😮 Folded em! I'll keep an eye for the 2nd video!

Ive been loading and shooting TSS for the last 12 years. Yes its that good!

I used BOSS. I loved it, but i mostly use them for my older guns! Now, the TSS/steel mix. My brother and I went half on a case. 5 boxes for the season. I have 1 1/2 boxes left. I was more conservative at first with the cost. After I saw what it could do, I was sold. Now I got the 2 and 9 shot. I've also killed Canadian geese as well. I'll use apex steel/tss over straight steel or bismuth.

I’m commenting to apologize for hitting the thumb-down accidentally; led the thumb up too far. I reset the choice, cycled the action, aimed properly, and dropped a full pattern on the 👍🏻. Thanks buddy for the good shit!! Keep doing what you do. -CYC

Mostly correct info at the start. Good shooting. Thanks for vid.

Giving Boss Bismuth a try this season. I Have been impressed with their 2 3/4" # 5's. The few cripples (except for a speck) I have had this season, they have been stopped with no need for another shot (I could actually walk right up to them). Finally found a choke I'm happy with using in combination with the shells and stoned a speck at about 40 yards on a hunt yesterday. First new shells I've shot in about 6 years.

Zoom call would be awesome. This was my first duck season and still learning a ton. I'm always interested in talking about decoys, decoy set ups, calling etc. Lately shot size for different things interests me. Teal vs mallards vs geese etc.

I have used the TSS steel blend this year in my 20 gauge and it is the best I have ever shot. I may not shoot a 12 gauge again. I shoot a Benelli M2 20 gauge and I shoot a pattern master code black duck choke. I have made shots this year that I did not think were possible. I have never shot the straight TSS as the steel blend has worked very well for me. the Boss is good too but for me I am sticking with the Apex as I have had superior performance this year.

Great video, I will be trying the APEX TSS.

Great video as always! One of many questions I have would be; do you/the outfitter business only do pond and flooded field hunts for puddlers and Speckle bellies? Do you ever go on big water for divers and coasts for sea ducks? More commonly, do you do layout or A-frame field hunts for Canadas and Snows in a typical year? I'm looking forward to the next video as always!

I've tried it and I love it. Yes it's pricey but it's worth it for how well it works.

Great review Joel! I haven't tried tss yet but am interested. Did it tear up the meat worse than a larger shot size steel load? A zoom meeting would be awesome and would love to chat about habitat management, how to volunteer to work on management projects, and also specklebellys. I see quite a few in southern Illinois but know nothing about hunting them. Thanks again for the review and God bless!

Joel you do such a good job of answering questions I have with your videos I don’t know what I’d ask? So what’s the square root of 11? Thanks in advance.

The Winchester is a very good gun. I use the SXP and I just love how it shoots. A live chat would be great.

Great video I’m going to uses that for my goose load this with #8 tss.

I'll be using TSS-18 in #9 and #10 this season in a couple of months, with my own "repurposed" clay rounds. I'll be checking back to see how you go.

I really appreciate your videos It is nice to see successful hunting, we do have bird where I am from but def not the numbers of green heads, I would ask how I can gain more advantages in bringing them in

Perfect timing on the video. I’ve been wondering about Apex. I’ve used Black Cloud for several years. Is it really worth having a gun customized compared to stock?

Thanks for the great video, only issue I have with tss is the price lol

I actually load my own tss loads and they actually smokes geese like 65 yards. I am loading 12 gauge. I am shooting a 20 gauge for gobblers. Incredible patterns with tss

If you hunt a lot its not realistic to buy but if you are going on a trip of a lifetime buy some

Hey Joel love the content! I would love to discuss with you some strategies and tactics for how to improve my calling.

Hi Joel, glad to see you went with the SX4- and the 20 gauge is a bold choice. Hopefully the Zoom giveaway is still open. If so, I’d really like to chat with you to learn about how to go about purchasing a small private duck spot on a budget. Cheers! And I really enjoyed the Apex TSS video. I bought a few Federal TSS boxes and I’m going to try them next season.

You are doing a good job in your videos.

Had the opportunity to meet Nick Charney from Apex on a recent hunt in Oklahoma. Great guy, was nice to get info on the ammo straight from the source. My question is are you experiencing ducks that seem to be more nocturnal?

Can i just zoom hunt with you? But be physically in the blind as to make the zoom call pointless 🤔. Im going to put some more of your tips to work here for the last weekend of duck in oregon next weekend!

When did you do the in depth review video? I can’t find it

Great video! If you were going to buy or lease some potential property, what are your three key factors on your decision to "pull the trigger", for that plot?

Hey Joel. Great video. I'd like to discuss setups for a beaver pond and layout canoe hunts. How do you pack light and be effective.

Hi great video I load all my own shell for my 28g. got some fantastic data back from the proof house so i can load some TSS myself. Im very confused in the Apex loading!! why do they load a 3" shell with only a 3/4 load. the cartridge must be full of packing because i have loads of room in my 28g shell so what is the point? The pressure of my shells are 480 bar and speed 1350/ft and pattern 75% out to 45yrds with 3/4 choke Regards Alan Robinson ( UK )

Curious about duck spreads when you should or should not run spinners and getting better at learning how to shoot ducks overhead. Awesome video

Joel, these vids are great. Where I hunt, Sandhills are becoming much more common. We have huge flocks of snows and specks. What behavioral changes have you seen in ducks with these other, larger migratory species around? I have some firm 1st hand info. Looking for info from others.

I think this is very informative. Ive tried the federal black cloud TSS blend and I'm impressed. For as little as I get to hunt I think these could be worth it for duck hunts. Snow geese not so much.

TSS changed the game! #8’s and #9’s pretty much covers everything with feathers and upland game!

When should I make a change in my decoys, or hide or calling. I think this is probably something only experience can teach but I want to know your thoughts. This is my second season hunting on my own and need help reading ducks.

Would like to talk about your scouting routine. When you go, what your looking for and what triggers you to go such as weather or behavioral patterns. Thanks

Is there a big difference between stock chokes and after market chokes? I’ve been using the stock ones but would like to look into aftermarkets

I would love to talk to you about northern and southern style sets of decoys that I have heard about. What cameras you use to film with plus tss talk.

How much should I be calling at the end of the season compared to the beginning? If the ducks sitting on the water where I hunt are mostly silent does that indicate that I shouldn't call? What do you recommend for camo face paint? This is my second season as a waterfowl hunter, so I have lots of questions and can use all the help I can get. I definitely did better this year but I'm still learning and getting more stuff to set up for next year.

im brand new to Duck hunting.... very experienced shooter but new to hunting. Ive only been by myself figuring it all out solo, After trying one of your spreads last week I shot my first limit. Id love to hear more on where people can go to start out. I have no friends that duck hunt, and being here in Southern California, its been hard for me even just figuring out where to go.

I would like to know what are the conditions that get you to choose the flooded timber over the marsh hunting? I have more questions about that flooded timber hunting too

How do your strategies change based on the properties you hunt? I've got several awesome spots to hunt on private property, but I feel like we're never really able to convince the ducks to come in. We always manage to shoot ducks, but I want to figure out how to really get them to come in!

I would like to know what, if any, common shooting mistakes you have seen. For example, have you ever caught yourself in a missing slump because of lifting your head to see the bird fall? Too much lead on a bird?

Joel, I have multiple questions about access, how to improve habitat for ducks, and just overall duck hunting. I am new to duck hunting. I shoot Winchester blind side right now. I haven’t tried alternatives due to price yet.

Joel, I would like to discuss more about public land hunting with you, especially walk-in public land hunting. I'm also interested in talking about the Waterfowl Grand Slam with you.

I'd like to talk about your history with aftermarket chokes in accordance to shot size and also mixtures of different decoys in spreads. Which species will mix with other

Are there specific chokes that are safe for TSS? Factory and aftermarket?

I use BOSS bismuth. Let's talk about the differences between. Plus I've been curious lately on "Calendar birds".

I'd like to hear about solo hunting public land, particularly roam hunts and selecting enough gear thats still manageable to pack in.

How to call specks, and learning how to use a cutdown style call. And decoys brands and setups

Do you feel under gunned at all with the 20? I like the way a 20 handles, I'm just a little hesitant as we mainly hunt open water divers up here in Michigan.

What’s the best way to find/go about unfamiliar territory

I would love to discuss a number of topics pertaining to late season success. Things like decoy patterns, decoy brands/types/positions, and the role of motion decoys/spinning wing decoys during late season hunts.

How do you figure out how much to lead a duck? This is my first season hunting and sometimes I nail then but usually I'm either behind them no matter how much I lead or they get hit with a few bb and fly off

I would like to talk about being a hunting KZfaqr as I am one as well (not on this account). I would also like to talk with you about what is expected to come over the next 4 years for the hunting community. I really do appreciate your work, and I have been subscribed since 7k.

no I have only shot federal but I plan on buying some boss

What are some of the other shells that you have used this year?

Apex is awesome

I'd like to hear about bird dogs and also talk to you about calls and calling. I've tried boss copper plated Bismuth which is good... Backridge ITX is also interesting

Mr. Strickland, I would love to talk about ammunition brands, and patterning. Along with brushing over duck hunting in general of course, but this season I got a new browning A5 and have a new Jebs choke in it. I’ve been watching a lot of different videos from various people (you included) but everything is so different when it’s coming from different opinions and I think have a conversation with you about an overall subject would be much more beneficial to me the watching so many videos. If that makes sense, then I could narrow down the few different shells I want to buy to try out, because I am young and don’t have the money to buy 10 different boxes of shells at 40 dollars a piece to pattern with instead of hunt.

So I’ve been duck hunting for awhile and I have just recently tried to get into speck hunting. I’ve had a few good specks shoots but for the most part it’s been hunts will zero birds taken. Do you have any tips for a beginner speck hunter that would increase their success?

When do you think the followup video will be?

I’d like to hear how your strategies change for late season/stale ducks. Does it affect how aggressively you call? Changes in spread? Changes in the motion decoys you use? (mojo, ripplers, etc.) We hunt a mixture of lakes, marshes, and crop fields here in Ohio.

It would be great to discuss what trends and tricks you have learned in the past and how you think we should modify them for the future as duck hunting continues to evolve. It would also be interested to hear your thoughts on how the changing climate could impact the the growth of duck hunting due to changing flight patterns.

I would like to try some different types of shot. I use to shoot my Ithaca 37 featherlight and would love to shoot it again for waterfowl. It was my first real shotgun given to me on my birthday in 1970. It only shoots 2.75 inch shells. I shot a 23lb tundra swan in Nevada with it.

Will you be doing a post mortem on the ducks when they are cleaned?

Joel: Browning A5 or Benelli SBE3? 12 or 20 gauge for ducks?

How are you getting so much ammo I can barely find any shells at all can you tell me where you’re finding them

Sir I'm curious to know just how effective this ammo would be on diver ducks, say.... Canvasbacks, Ringers, Redheads etc. you know the ones that seem like they are wearing Kevlar vests or something because the can be so hard to kill.

I would like to discuss what you think about what the Arkansas Game and Fish has done over the last few years to deter out of state hunters from hunting on state land? For instance all the additional permit costs with limited days and then out off state people not being able to hunt on WMA's basically after Christmas.

I would really like to know more about ammunition itself for my 20 gauge. I joined a Facebook group called 20 gauge mafia but also have my uncle arguing about the need for 3-1/2 12 gauges. As well as just tips and tricks for working over pressured birds.

I've got a ton of questions. From hunting to off-season to family time being a guide. Thats just a sample lol idk if 1 1/2 would be long enough

I just built my first ducking hole on private ground and I got a lot of questions. The main question is food and when the best time to flood the food? I’m going on my first guided hunt tomorrow got question about that.

I recently moved from the East Coast and would love to discuss the different styles of hunting you see between the coast and the Midwest

What to look for while scouting

When is the best time to come to Arkansas for a hunt?

So i hunt as much as i can but i dont hunt for a living like you. So my question is what made you go with 20 ga sx4 over the beloved 870 in 20ga? Im an 870 man myself and always looking for advice and information.

Do you have any intention of reviewing some aftermarket choke tubes to go with your new gun? I think it's something a lot of new hunters have questions about. I'd especially love to see someone properly test if patternmaster chokes actually reduce shot string like they claim

I’ve lost many ducks this season from what I believe is weak ammunition. I’ve started using 3.5” black cloud #2’s. I am obviously shooting the wrong thing. Any advise?

Would be great to sit down and chat with you. My question would be how you prepare for your duck season?

Arkansas ducks would be my topic traveling out there from sc year after year any help would be so beneficial to my out of state hunting trip

Makes a lot of difference in wind affecting the shot also.

The science and theory behind these new shells really makes sense. The one question I have would be how it affects the meat. Shooting 200+ pellets at a duck 20 yards away seems like you would have BBs everywhere in the meat. Have you noticed any difference Joel?

I would love to chat about waterfowl behaviors, migration, etc. along with ammo and chokes, decoys and decoy spreads. Thanks

I would want to talk about hunting stories and bounce ideas back and forth to each other

I checked the website and holy moses I would need a personal loan to shoot this stuff! Looks like it works great tho!

Apex is missing the mark from a few perspectives. Federal needs to step up and offer some good TSS load options for waterfowl. Seems like a 1 oz 20ga and a 1.25 oz 12 ga in 7/8/9 shot would cover it. All could be 2.75” shells probably.

I’ve been using Heavy Hammer 12ga 3” 3’s. If my shooting were better I might be interested in a more expensive shell with better stopping power. I’ve watched ducks fly after being hit, one in particular that stands out is a wedge on that went about 200 yards before falling out of the sky. Others I thought were stone dead swam away never to be found. When you don’t get very many, it’s frustrating to lose them like that. Which leads me to the question I would probably ask: how does one hunt heavily pressured birds? I hunt California refuges and just getting on can be a challenge because there are too many hunters, and the birds tend to be decoy and call shy. I see people come off with ducks, but I seriously struggle to even get shots. Clearly I’m doing something wrong, I just don’t know what.

Hey Joel, Where are the ducks? Do you think all of the new corn that hasn't been harvested up north has played a big role in the migration this year? Arkansas Game and Fish mentioned this has been the lowest percentage of birds in Arkansas for the past 10 years. What do you think from what you've seen and experienced? What are some of your plans moving forward into next season to prepare? Thanks!

2 ducks on 2 shots? I heard at least 5.

Do u wear any specialized hearing protection?

What shot do you go with for ducks in straight steel and the choke you use most often?

Whats some of the craziest places you've ever hunted? I started hunting in Arkansas but now live i got stationed in El paso texas and started hunting rio behind the Mexico america border wall.