Pretty much All you have to do to bag birds is do your homework. I go out to Ft Boise and Bag my limit most of the time. Wake up early and be willing to walk and just pay attention to the birds. I have had spreads less than 100 yards from me on both sides and left with my limit. Practice your shooting, not having a bird fly away when you pull the trigger saves you on the cost of shot and fills the bag limit fast!
This might sound like a bad comment but do your homework, some things work some days and the next day they will produce nothing. It can be frustrating but you will learn. I spent about a week just wading up and down the river to find little pockets and holes where they like to flock to. Now I can go out and just go walking, with no decoys and bag my limit. A boat can make a huge difference on getting to places where birds like and want to be. That doesn't mean you need to buy a fancy hunting boat, I use a canoe and can get even more places than the fancy boats can get.
If you want to spend a little and still knock the crap out of birds, Just buy 1 Dozen Flambaugh Mallards, 1 Dozen Green Head Gear "Hot Buy" Mallards. That will be less than $100 even buying weights and decoy line. and you can buy a cheap decoy bag in that cost too. Just get an 870(comes with a modified choke) and don't buy the Winchester Xpert steel, spend a few dollars more and buy Remington Sportsman or Kent. It also can handle getting wet and still shoot. The Winchesters primers stink for staying dry. Try and get shot that is faster than 1550FPS. Remington Nitro Steel No. 2 that moves at 1450(forgot the Oz weight) really knocks the crap out of Ducks and can drop a goose too.
If you are starting from square one and you have a few hundred you can get a pretty sweet setup. Just invest in a pair of waders that fit and will last you. As long as you are dry, comfy and warm everything else will be better, even if there are no birds. If you want to start calling, Just buy a Quackhead J-Frame(it is a double reed) $20, and a primos Wench with the DVD(Single Reed) $30 and then you have a double and single reed with a DVD that has great info for beginners and even people who know how to call. You can get an ok Coat, one with a shell and liner. that way if it is warm you don't have to sweat like a pig. Make sure it is waterproof or at least water resistant.
I will stop rambling now... getting started isn't hard, the lazy people usually flock to the same places.. if you are willing to just walk a little bit and work a little harder you will get birds.
