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