Well Sept 20th.

We went out last weekend bagged 11
This weekend just the night shoot bagged 5 the good old golden retreiver "Dakota" fetched em all up. Had one wounded he managed to catch as well great bird dog. I guess here is my question everyone else notice that none of the new shots steel bismouth etc don't kill like good old lead? We use non-tox bismouth loads but they don't seem to bring em down like lead.

 

Any wood ducks in the bunch?

Taking Kaley out Tuesday for some grouse and woodcock.

Don

 

Mallards and Ring Bills no woody's. Its unusual there isn't to many years you see no wood ducks but none this year so far.

 

If you get any, give me a hollar. There's no substitute for tying fly's. They sell died mallard to substitute, but it's not nearly the same.

 

Duck season,.....Wabbit season.

 

I almost went that route too, it's a classic.

 

[quote author=Jamie link=board=10;threadid=20254;start=0#msg190163 date=1064750203]
I guess here is my question everyone else notice that none of the new shots steel bismouth etc don't kill like good old lead? We use non-tox bismouth loads but they don't seem to bring em down like lead.
[/quote]

Have you tried Tungsten? I have tested and patterned all of the non-lead based shells, and Tungsten is the closet to lead as far as velocities and impact. Remington-HEVI is the next closest. I have had much better luck with those shells, and just on a bet with a fellow hunter, we decide to take a shot at a fairly high flying goose he had a 10 ga. shooting Steel 3 ½ T's and I used a 12 ga with Tungsten 3 ½ 2's. He shot first and we could hear the steel bounce off. My 12 ga Tungsten dropped the big Northern like a crumpled rock. The five bucks paid for the shell at least. I agree Lead was way better, but as far as the non-tox loads, I pay the money for the Tungsten. Steel seems to just injure and bruise more waterfowl. I would rather bag them then let them die a slow death in some cornfield or slew hole 4 miles down river. Don’t get me wrong Bismuth is a good load; it just didn’t work for my intended purposes. It’s way better then Steel.

Cheers to a good waterfowl season!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D



Kyle

 

I don't know what yall are talking about. Steel shot works great for me down here. Haven't tried tungsten though. I agree though, nothing kills like good old lead. ;D

 

Steel has more wounds they anything. They said the number of wounds has doubled since steel. The tungston haven't tried it its hard to get ahold of up here.

 

Early Teal was this past weekend, and I missed it. Probably a good thing since we didnt have a good cool front come through.

 

Where I'm living is located on a flyway, so we see lots of waterfowl and plenty of hunters. I don't care for the taste of wild duck, so I quit hunting them about 30 years ago. No sense shooting it if you're not gonna eat it . But I've got a great duck hunting story for you.

A family friend who works for wildlife in Vermont comes up here about every second year for "The best waterfowl hunting in North America" (his words)

About 5 years ago he brings 3 or 4 buddies, and they go to the local DU office to talk with the staff. Asks how the birds are. Both guys say "We haven't gone out yet, we're waiting until the birds come in"

So the next a.m. the boys are out in the marsh, all set up, and a huge cloud of birds comes off of the lake. The sky is black with them. One of the buddy's turns to Bill and says "I don't know about you, but I'm not sure I want to be here when the birds come in!!"

I thought it was funny. Safe hunting season all.

 

Took Kaley out for some "upland" Tuesday, freezing rain yesterday. Saw a couple grouse, and more woodcock than I expected. Looks like the cold finally has them pushed down here. Only had a couple questionable shots. I mainly wanted to get the dog worked up. She loves guns. The one nice shot I had at a grouse, she was right on top of it. It wouldn't go up because it flew over the edge of a hill, and went down with her right behind it. She's a Golden/Flatcoat mix, all black. I guess there's no getting her to point, but she does not have a problem finding them.

WaitingfortheleavestodropbecauseImsoslowdon

 

Going to head to Winnipeg for goose the 12th of october.

 

When we went non toxic I tried the steel in 2 3/4". Close to totally useless. Tried 2 3/4" in bismouth and it worked good, not as good as lead. But the leads are the same if kept in the 40yd. range, and the ducks fell dead. But very expensive. It started off a years back at $20 per box (10 shells) now it's close to $30. Never tried tungsten, also very expensive. I was used to reloading my own in lead. Good shells at a cheap price. Any you guys that are avid duck hunters know that 10 shells isn't going to take you far, especially if your shooting divers out in open water.

I refuse to re-equip myself with a new 3 1/2" shotgun, so I can shoot the cheap steel. So I've give up duck hunting for the most part. Started shooting more pheasnts etc, alot of fun and less BS. and you can still use lead. It's a matter of economics for me, I can't afford it!

I have been very fortunate to have had many fantastic duck shoots over the years when lead was allowed and the gun restrictions were nil, and the hunting territory was easy to come by. If I never shoot another duck I deffinately have had alot of fun and got more than my share in the process. My perspective on things for what there worth. Pete

 

We reload our own as well with the possenes waren (spelling?) Loader. We reload the bismouth though with no problems other then the high cost! I find the bismouths biggest downfall its it isn't round look at a piece its tear dropped shapped doesn't fly right! Lead is perfectly round for the most part this is a huge difference.