Do you go afield with “hunting” or “nice” shotguns

[Atticus]

They are tools that are meant to be used and enjoyed.

Halliday 2" 12B BLE

Wilkes 20B BLNE

Horton 12B BLE

Parker "O" frame VH 16

 

[Wyfox]

@Wyfox - Very nice photos, “magazine cover quality”…can you shoot as well as you take pictures? (I’m guessing YES)

Thank you, I need to buy a real camera one of these days instead of using my phone. I do have days where I disappoint my dog...

 

[Altitude sickness]

@Altitude sickness - for me Sea Duck hunting was usually in Salt Water and a lot of Fun (we Never lost a gun & safety/life jackets were a top priority).
The boating aspect and being a mile or more off shore is nice part of what makes Sea Duck hunting Fun AND you never know what you’re gonna see out in the Ocean. But you mention an “layout boat” so assuming you might be on a large lake? We never used layout boats Off the NJ coast as hunting in the ocean 1 to 2 miles off shore they are Not seaworthy enough for anything but flat-calm-water…..also Not needed as Sea ducks decoy readily regardless of boat (although a Layout boat certainly never hurts).
Years ago in the early season (Sept./Oct.) I’ve seen dolphin, sea turtles along with the surf & white winged scooter we expected. Old Squaw were usually more abundant in the bays then 2 miles off shore but they showed up as well. Sea Duck hunting was a lot of work and in the Ocean highly weather dependent - winds over 10-15mph caused problems and safety concerns….also very difficult to retrieve downed birds and we didn’t like our dogs in the water in white capped conditions - so we paid close attention to the Marine Weather Forecast before heading out.
I like Benelli and especially the SBE (plastic/ugly) - never minded (or noticed) a few scratches from banging around in the boat. I did always immediately “clean & oil” the gun when I got home - took apart the bolt/trigger guard/spring etc…. It seems the “spring” is most prone to rusting but that’s also easily replaced if needed.
Hope you have a great hunt - it’s really different than any other type of duck hunting. Do they have Eider where you will be hunting? Those birds seem to be extending their range South over the past 20+ years and are now off the coast of NJ.

Got out on Lake Huron yesterday between storms layout boat hunting for Sea Ducks. We were after Old Sqaw and scoters. Other species are still around and considering the weather there were a lot of marsh hunters out also.

Most of the birds were rafted out in deeper water and we knew they would head inland at daybreak. So we positioned the layouts and decoys 3 miles offshore to intercept them.

It was marginal weather the wind was 16-20 out of the west and higher gusts with heavy snow squalls. Chop started out 1-2’ and when we pulled up water spray was freezing all off our equipment. The ducks were flying great but not decoying well.

We had some communication issues between the other shooter and I due to the wind and had some hickups that cost us birds. Add in the pitching boat and sitting up to shoot and let’s just say we didn’t hurt the population. There are still thousands of birds flying through.

The four of us shot 9 birds only 2 drakes before the wind blew us off. I was fortunate enough to get 4 birds and one nice drake. I didn’t take my old SxS’s out. I took my newly acquired Benelli from an AH friend.

Unfortunately, it looks like the ice is going to close most of the ramps down for the rest of the season.

 

[HankBuck]

Got out on Lake Huron yesterday between storms layout boat hunting for Sea Ducks. We were after Old Sqaw and scoters. Other species are still around and considering the weather there were a lot of marsh hunters out also.

Most of the birds were rafted out in deeper water and we knew they would head inland at daybreak. So we positioned the layouts and decoys 3 miles offshore to intercept them.

It was marginal weather the wind was 16-20 out of the west and higher gusts with heavy snow squalls. Chop started out 1-2’ and when we pulled up water spray was freezing all off our equipment. The ducks were flying great but not decoying well.

We had some communication issues between the other shooter and I due to the wind and had some hickups that cost us birds. Add in the pitching boat and sitting up to shoot and let’s just say we didn’t hurt the population. There are still thousands of birds flying through.

The four of us shot 9 birds only 2 drakes before the wind blew us off. I was fortunate enough to get 4 birds and one nice drake. I didn’t take my old SxS’s out. I took my newly acquired Benelli from an AH friend.

Unfortunately, it looks like the ice is going to close most of the ramps down for the rest of the season.
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@Altitude sickness really good photos and they immediately reminded me - “brought me back” - to the Sea Duck hunts I’ve done including what I liked (being on the water in cold rough weather) and what I Didn’t Like: Trying to set decoys in the dark ‘in high winds’ AND later shoot from a bouncing boat. You EARNED every duck you got that day. Did you need any “Dramamine” that morning? That little layout boat must’ve bobbed like a cork? A coupe times Sea Duck hunting in the Ocean (we never used layouts - had a 17’ Duckwater aluminum boat) I remember feeling a bit sea sick - never too bad but on-the-edge. It takes a lot of specialized equipment and work to sea duck and certainly requires effort - but its a unique type of waterfowling.

 

[WAB]

What’s the point of owning them if you don’t hunt with them?

 

[Altitude sickness]

Hank, luckily no one needed Dramamine. Yeah the pros use https://greatlakesduckboats.com/ and hunt right from the boat. MUCH more safe and stable shooting platform.

I am no great wing shot. It took 18 shells to kill 4 birds. (Including shots to kill the bird once downed) One bird dove and escaped, with the chop it was hard to find him when he surfaced. Unfortunately it was another large drake. But was counted in the bag. This group counts lost birds in the limit.

 

[HankBuck]

Hank, luckily no one needed Dramamine. Yeah the pros use https://greatlakesduckboats.com/ and hunt right from the boat. MUCH more safe and stable shooting platform.

I am no great wing shot. It took 18 shells to kill 4 birds. (Including shots to kill the bird once downed) One bird dove and escaped, with the chop it was hard to find him when he surfaced. Unfortunately it was another large drake. But was counted in the bag. This group counts lost birds in the limit.

@Altitude sickness - I think 18 shells to kill 4 Sea Ducks is “better then average” shooting and because of what you mentioned: shooting from a rocking boat & finishing off cripples. Regardless of how great a shot anyone is and what type of ammo you use - ‘cripples’ are part of waterfowling and having to rip off another 2-3 shots to “finish” a duck after it hits the water (before it dives) is common. Also, much harder to make a killing shot on a ‘cripple’ 40 yrds out on the water, then a bird in the air at same distance. If you include ‘wounded & lost ducks” in your limit - you are following the game laws AND part of the 1% of Duck Hunters that do !

 

[Altitude sickness]

I shot everyone of my birds two more times once downed. To reduce diving and escaping. I also shot at every one of the my buddies birds once his were down.

We actually killed 3 drakes. 2 recovered.

Not counting lost birds is kind of ridiculous. It’s not like they are great table fare. We all agreed a few birds is all we needed yesterday. The water was getting very questionable by noon. Some would say dangerous.

 

[HankBuck]

I shot everyone of my birds two more times once downed. To reduce diving and escaping. I also shot at every one of the my buddies birds once his were down.

We actually killed 3 drakes. 2 recovered.

Not counting lost birds is kind of ridiculous. It’s not like they are great table fare. We all agreed a few birds is all we needed yesterday. The water was getting very questionable by noon. Some would say dangerous.

@Altitude sickness - when we were kids shotgun shells were expensive (to us) and we use to have a “rule”: if I shoot & finish YOUR cripple…you replenish the shotgun shells I used. ….. Once that was established - we ALL blasted each others cripples ASAP and didn’t lose as many.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I shot everyone of my birds two more times once downed. To reduce diving and escaping. I also shot at every one of the my buddies birds once his were down.

We actually killed 3 drakes. 2 recovered.

Not counting lost birds is kind of ridiculous. It’s not like they are great table fare. We all agreed a few birds is all we needed yesterday. The water was getting very questionable by noon. Some would say dangerous.

I'm still out here in Montana. Worse weather is headed your way. Very cold and snowing here. Fortunately the wind has stopped blowing this morning. Brutal hunting yesterday. Worse day was Thanksgiving morning! Knocked down three roosters in three shots but only recovered one. Took Ellie a half hour to run that one down and he had a tire shot out! Birds were all over and really messed up Ellie for tracking cripples. Very thick thorny cover too. Hardest hunting conditions I can remember. We went back after dinner to briefly check for the cripples again but no luck. Couldn't even make it to where the second bird went down. Got blown off. Returned to the farmer's home for a memorable evening of pinochle ... and warmth! I earlier fell in the snow while trying to cross the canal. Just enough got in the A5's guts to make it a single shot or there wouldn't have been any lost birds.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Thermometer has climbed to -6°F. No wind. Thinking about giving pheasants a try. Doubt I'd have any competition. The little dog will have to stay in the car. French Britt is not built for this. And she's fourteen. Walking out yesterday the poor stinker was stopping all the time behind me trying to chew ice from between her toes. At one point I heard her whine. "Wait for me." The Lab ran back, grabbed her gently by the collar, lifted her up, and helped guide her up the road. I've never seen that before. Won't forget my phone today!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Frosty this morning!

 

[KJE81]

I have been using my shotgun extensively in the field since buying it, it is a hand engraved custom shotgun loosely based on the RFM Armi/Upland Gun Company Venus model in 20 gauge that I ordered a few years ago. I use it mainly for upland hunting aswell as hare and fox over dads beagle.

 

[rookhawk]

Maybe like a fox, holland and holland, aya, kreighoff or whatever.

In all of my shooting circles, everyone I know that owns a list like the above uses them, often in adverse weather and all types of conditions.

Fairly pedestrian, plastic and camo shotguns can run $2500 and people use them in all conditions. On the other hand, a near mint British 12 bore might cost about the same price on the used market, why can’t that be used in all types of conditions?

Dove opener about 15 years ago rained cats and dogs all day, probably 4-5” of rain. I was shooting my sidelock. It took me an hour to clean and dry it when I got home, but that’s a pretty rare scenario.

Truly best guns might be saved for blue sky days on pheasants, but even then most people I know will use them in the grouse woods, or in quail thickets too. It’s sort of the point to enjoy your shotguns, they can always be serviced after decades of heavy use and come out looking just fine.

A fine shotgun is functional art, but if you’re not taking it afield it’s not functional.

 

[Nevada Mike]

For the last couple of years I have mainly bird hunted with my vintage John Robertson 20 bore SxS. I do have other vintage guns in 12, 16 and 20 bore, all of which have been well used in the bird fields.

 

[fourfive8]

Hah!
“Nice shotgun” to me has been the one that is 100% reliable shoots where my eyes look. I’ve never spent over $500 for a shotgun because I have always beaten the used market bushes for heavily discounted ones in good working order. I’ve noticed these discussions about hunting rifles and hunting shotguns usually evolve into a fashion show or review for sporting catalog cover pics.

 

[dgr416]

My old winchester model 24 20 ga sxs is my favoritite old sxs .I use to hit 100 out of 100 skeets with it and every grouse I ever shot with it in Alaska .It looks like new but someone cut the stock and i need a new stock or new recoil pad on it .I have been trying to find another win 24 20 ga for 24 years .I wish they had made a lighter 28 ga version .
I HAVE not hunted with my 1901 lefever 12 ga sxs it looks like new .I gotta get 20 ga adaptors for it so i can fire modern shells .Its a twist barrel shotgun i think wont shoot modernloads but i think you can with 20 ga adaptors .

 

[Altitude sickness]

Since this thread has upland and waterfowl posts also. I thought I would share this post I saw this morning.
Luckily the people ahead of us were thinking of the future of hunting.

 

[BeeMaa]

Looks like he was using an O/U.

 

[MD Driver]

As with anything, it’s a matter of degree. If you’re certain that it’s going to be a good day for weather and if the brush is minimal, then yes by all means, pull out your unobtainium 12 or 20 gauge and have fun. But if things look rough from the start, why do that if you have options? When these questions come up, there’s usually a rush to sanctimony with replies like “I don’t care, I’m a hunter first.” Whatever. If someone has a top-shelf gun with lots of engraving and super duper grade wood, it’s a stretch to think that he won’t have pause on a day looks rough and grabs the A400 synthetic instead of the finely engraved Krieghoff or Purdey.