First time Duck hunter!!!!

[unionjack]

Thanks Guys!!!
I figured i would be warming up the ol check book in the beginning. I know duck hunting weather is nasty, around here anyways. Soon around december, i am planing to move up north to Canada. I will be in Sask. just above the North Dakota border. I know the wind blows cold up there!!!!
As far as the calls go, i did buy a cheap duck call at Gander mountain just to play around with. And i have realized that calling is an art all its own. Are there any dvd's you can recomend to get me started. I have seen the prices of some of the calls, WOW!!! Not cheap! But i have come to realize that in life you get what you pay for.
One last thing, as far a shells go, what is the best way to figure out how they will pattern out of my gun? What kind of distances are normal when taking shots.

Thanks for all the info so far, and i may just take you up on the offer for that hunt some day!!