Posted on 07/30/2019 5:08:05 AM PDT by w1n1
Hunting corn country several years ago with Mike Krei, then a field rep for the National Rifle Association, we were working a draw for pheasants when one exploded from cover. Using a 20-gauge over-and-under, Krei fired twice and missed, after which I swung my 12-gauge side-by-side Beretta into action.
My first shot missed, but then the ring neck sailed straight away at maybe 20 to 25 yards away, and my final round – a high-base 2¾-incher No. 6 – launched out of my fixed full choke barrel and the bird folded in a cloud of feathers. Krei proved repeatedly that weekend that he was a far better wingshot than I will ever be, and this was one of those moments of part skill and massive good luck that occasionally blesses yours truly.
Choke tubes are a marvelous development, and I’ve got full, modified, improved cylinder and other chokes for the Franchi. I hunt grouse with the I/C and modified chokes installed, with the action set to discharge them in that barrel order.
With the right chokes, your shotgun becomes the most versatile tool in the gun rack. It can be choked for everything from mourning doves to Canada geese and wild turkeys.
WITH UPLAND BIRD and dove seasons opening as early as next month, now is a good time to set up your scattergun with the right choke and shot combination to fill the cooler with fresh wildfowl. For doves, I recommend nothing larger than 7½ shot, and more likely No. 8 or even 9 lead, or No. 6 or 7 steel. Also make time now with clay targets to hone up your shooting skills before heading afield for these fast-moving birds.
I much prefer grouse hunting over all other gamebirds. I set up with the I/C and modified chokes because I'll be hunting in cover and I don’t care to let thunder chickens get too far because they've got a habit of sailing behind trees or large bushes the farther out they get. Read the rest of shotgun for fall.
Get the shotgun ready for Fall Birds and watch the Birds Fall.
When I lived in Western Kansas pheasant hunting was a nice part of living there.
We never hunted with dogs tho I could see that as a good choice if you were hunting alone.
My first bird was an embarrassment. I was not familiar with how they hunted. A bird jumped up and everyone yelled “get him” “get him”. I immediately nailed it. Trouble was they were not yelling “get em” but “hen”. You were not supposed to shoot hens.
I used an inexpensive SKB 12 gauge side by side I bought at JC Penneys when they still sold guns. I really should have kept it as they just kept rising in price and now are pretty hard to find.
Anyway it was poison on pheasants. Improved cylinder and modified.
A bird jumped up and everyone yelled “get him” “get him”. I immediately nailed it. Trouble was they were not yelling “get em” but “hen”. You were not supposed to shoot hens.”
Lol.
How old were you?
And that could’ve been me....except...I would have actually missed which would have been a slightly better, or worse, end to that story, depending on how you look at it.
BTW...that knock you hear at the door?
That’s the game warden.
I was around 40.
Why would they shout “get hen”? What function does the word “get” perform?
Just makes no sense to me.
They were not shouting “get hen” they were shouting “hen hen hen” so fast that I misheard them. It was my first time.
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