| Becoming a more efficient wing shooter can make a | | | | behind the target. By having to catch up to the target |
| big difference when there's a limited amount of | | | | you will be less apt to stop your swing once firing at |
| opportunity of birds when duck hunting. Hopefully a | | | | the target. |
| few of the shotgun tips below will help you bag a few | | | | 6. Don't Over Choke - In addition to causing a pattern |
| more birds this duck hunting season. | | | | to spray, using to tight of a choke tube can cause |
| 1. Point, Don't Aim - When swinging on ducks, focus on | | | | misses that could be avoided with the next sized more |
| the target and not the gun barrel or bead. The key is | | | | open choke tube. Select the choke tube for the |
| to point, not aiming like your hunting with a rifle. Aiming | | | | distance you commonly shoot at and be sure to |
| your shotgun will slow your swing and cause you to | | | | pattern your selection. |
| shoot behind. Since a shot string is 10-14' long, use it to | | | | 7. Patterning Tells The Truth - Every brand of choke |
| your advantage by pointing slightly more in front of a | | | | tube will pattern different. The pattern will also change |
| target. If you miss crossing ducks, you are probably | | | | when shooting different shot sizes. Before duck |
| behind the target. | | | | hunting season pattern your gun with the shot sizes |
| 2. Minimize Movement For Your First Shot - A very | | | | you plan to use instead of just listening to what others |
| simple strategy that can help you improve your | | | | use. |
| chances at a double is to stay seated during your first | | | | 8. What's The Best Shot Shell - Once again the |
| shot and then if necessary stand up to take your | | | | patterning board will tell you this first hand. At 40 yards |
| second shot. Ducks flare quickly when they see a | | | | shoot at a sheet of cardboard with a 30" circle drawn |
| hunter stand up to shoot and this makes shooting a | | | | on it. Now shooting multiple loads or brands count how |
| double much more challenging. By staying seated for | | | | many pellets are within the 30" circle per brand of shell |
| your first shot, you won't identify yourself as quickly | | | | being used using the same choke through out the |
| and it will give you a better opportunity to shoot an | | | | testing. |
| "easy" double. | | | | 9. Get The Gunk Out - Carburetor cleaner in a spray |
| 3. Keep Your Shells Dry And Mud Free - Seems like | | | | can is a very effective degreaser to clean shotguns |
| everything a hunter takes duck hunting ends up getting | | | | with. After removing the barrel and trigger mechanism |
| muddy. But muddy shells can quickly gum up an | | | | from your shotgun, hold the receiver upside down over |
| autoloader. To prevent this empty your shells into a | | | | a trashcan and spray from top to bottom to wash out |
| large plastic Ziploc bag the next time you head out | | | | the gunk. Do not use carburetor clean on camouflage |
| hunting in wet muddy conditions. | | | | guns, it may melt the camo coating. |
| 4. Prevent Stuck Choke Tubes - Duck hunting is | | | | 10. Beat The Rust - If your considering purchasing a |
| synonymous with wet conditions and moisture most | | | | new shotgun for duck hunting, or your just tired of |
| often leads to rust. Applying a light coat of Anti-Seize | | | | having to oil your blued gun after every hunt to stop it |
| or grease to the threads of your choke tube will | | | | from rusting here's the solution. I have owned a |
| prevent the threads from rusting. A stuck choke tube | | | | camouflage shotgun (Beneli) for about 5 years now |
| can be disaster during duck hunting season and cost a | | | | and rarely wipe the gun down with oil after a day duck |
| lot of money to repair. | | | | hunting, even if it was raining. Even after this abuse |
| 5. Keep The Swing Going - Many birds are missed | | | | there is no rust on my gun. The camouflage coating |
| simply the shooter not following through their swing. | | | | simply doesn't allow it. |
| One method to help prevent this is to start your swing | | | | |