Not a big duck hunter but making a father son trip with a group in January in SE Missourri

Why not both?

I always bring 2 guns if I'm traveling any distance to hunt or paying to hunt somewhere. You don't want the potential hunt of a lifetime or something that you heavily invested in to go down the drain because of a broken firing pin, damaged extractor, etc.

I haven't duck hunted in years. When I used to hunt over rice I always shot Winchester 3" steel 3's. That may not be much help with the new loads that are out there now.

I’d bring whichever gun you’re most comfortable shooting. If your hunting pit blinds or a blind in the woods/standing next to a tree your gun likely won’t get dirty.

You’re most likely going to be shooting predominantly mallards so I’d go with 3” #2 or #3 loads.

I shoot 3 inch #2s at all times for all ducks except early Teal. I have killed stacks of Canadas and Snows and Specks while duck hunting with 3 inch #2's. I do not pass shoot...if birds aren't working I don't shoot...but I also do not wait until their asses are wet...if they swing to the spread, are not yet committed and in range I shoot em if I can....but if they are just flying in range and not paying the spread any attention they get a pass. I do not lose many crippled ducks or geese....but I also do not take marginal shots because I ain't that pissed off at them.

I would pack both guns...I always carry two guns in the truck because its too damn much work to set decoys, build a blind or get in one, only to find your gun ain't working. Infinitely worse if you've driven several hours and paid a pile of money. But I would use the Beretta...if you are hunting with an outfitter you are going to most likely be in a pretty good situation as far as blinds and mud are concerned. I ain't above laying the mud and my duck and goose hunting stuff looks like its been used for 300 years and I have never had a problem with elements effecting a gun....they may look like hell but the function just the same....if you only going a few times a year it ain't gonna hurt a gun...

OP, this is where I always hunt, mainly around the Otter Slough Conservation area. Take both guns.

We usually shoot #4 in the timber early season but keep #2 handy for geese that give us a look. Hunting the rice & corn pits, I'll be shooting #2 next week.

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I always bring 2 guns if I'm traveling any distance to hunt or paying to hunt somewhere. You don't want the potential hunt of a lifetime or something that you heavily invested in to go down the drain because of a broken firing pin, damaged extractor, etc.

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Always good advice. I went on a Dove hunt a couple of years ago. Plans were to do a campout or sleep in a bunkhouse and do an early morning, break for lunch, and get back out in the afternoon, but at the last minute the campout plans got axed so we just all drove down that morning. Anyways, I brought both of my A5s and had plenty of shells for both. For some reason my Sweet Sixteen quit feeding the next shell. I was thankful I had my 12 with me as well. Just swapped the magazine plug into it and walked back out to my spot.

Another time, and this was with a larger group, and plenty of them had never hunted before, we all brought extra guns for those that didn't have them. I let a buddy borrow my 12 gauge for the day. Something like a Father/Son trip you're talking about, there may be a chance that someone wants to try something out they don't have if they're planning on getting their son their first gun.

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Not trying to be a dick, but I really hope Missouri is frozen up in January.

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Not trying to be a dick, but I really hope Missouri is frozen up in January

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My guy has three ice eaters on a woods blind in a somewhat sheltered oxbow pool usually stays open unless it gets too cold.

If all else fails, the nets go up!

We are trying SEMO outfitters this year. Anyone ever been

Probably one of the better guides in the area. Will put you on some birds. North Delta is good too.