16 Gauge Post Tower Shoot Hunt

[ROMAC]

I'm lucky enough to have friends who have permission to clean up after a Holiday tower shoot on an estate in some of the prettiest country you will ever see on the border of SE PA and Northern DE.

Game preserve rules apply so it is like a blank check as far as numbers are concerned.

I gave my new to me 16 gauge A a real workout. There were times when I wish I had an ejector gun with me! Flushes in pairs and up to eight birds at a time were common. A first for me was that I shot my first melanistic pheasant today. What an awsome time!!



I had a mixed bag of shells with me in the truck after the RST's ran low. Vintage Red Super X 7.5 and 6 papers, Blue Peters 4's, Green Remington 6's, Canuck's 6's, and black Remington Mohawk 6's. I had a ball using them and the aroma was like a walk down memory lane.





My two friends and I took over 20 Pheasants in about 4 hours. My buddy Mike got his first double with the 16 gauge Sterlingworth I sold him last year. His brother Pat left his 16 Fox Sterlingworth home to give a workout to his new to him LC Smith Featherweight 16, but he was forgiven.



The melanistic one is just above the dog's head.

[vaturkey]

Looks like a fun fun day. Need to fire up the smoker.

[ROMAC]

It was a fun day indeed.

We were only allowed to hunt a creekbottom about 800 yards long. It was extremely thick and full of stickers, almost impenetrable in some areas. We saw many half eaten pheasants in there from the coyotes and foxes doing cleanup of their own. We were all bloodied in the hands and face despite leather shooting gloves and Dixie, the dog, took a few cuts herself in the belly.

I did this hunt last year with my XE but the birds were just not there in the numbers that they were this year. Everyone was using 16's which made it fun at least in my eye since I am a bit of 16 gauge nut. My A is very light and carried like a dream with one hand when the going got rough.

I can't waint until next year!

[ROMAC]

Could a guy be so lucky?

There is a chance I'll be going back tommorrow for a New Years Eve Day hunt. The biggest thing on my mind is "Which Fox do I bring?"

[ROMAC]

Ended up going back Thursday.

3 16 gauge Foxes were used on day that started at a brisk 26 degrees.

A good time was had by all.

I was happy to give our host a case of Sam Adams Winter Lager and a bottle of Jameson's, which I was told would be saved for nights at the cabin during the last Grouse trip of the year upsate.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Good times, good times!!

[vaturkey]

What a wonderful way to start the new year. I'll say one thing about Pa. You folks got some briers and lots of flesh get left behind when one gets into those pockets were the birds want to be. Tough on dogs and hunters alike.