Sterlingworth 20ga on birds

[AmarilloMike]

A days bag from central Montana hunt:
RST, paper 7/8 oz #7s, 1125fps,

Went yesterday by myself. My shooting student Joe Wood was too tired from our hunt the previous day.
Cartridge is RST, 7/8 oz #8s, 1125fps, Ginger on the left. Buddy on the right. Both journeyman bird dogs.

I love the little Sterlingworth. Weighs five pounds eleven ounces. 26" barrels choked .0.014" and 0.028", extractor and 2-1/2" chambers. Chokes are 4" long and both taper to the muzzle so they are factory. Stock is 14-1/4 x 3-1/4" x 1-7/8".

Here is a better picture of the gun and birds:



My puppy Jazzy put in many hours on yesterday's hunt. When I found her asleep in my Lazyboy I didn't have the heart to kick her out:


This picture was taken Friday. My shooting student Joe Wood shot a very nice double with his Parker DH damascus barreled one frame 12 gauge:

[Jim Cloninger]

Nice pictures and birds, Mike. Using #7's on wild roosters? I use 5's, but I have a Lab, not a pointing dog. I see you are booting your dogs down there in Texas. How long does it take for the dogs to get used to them? You know I love Jazzy.
Jim

[AmarilloMike]

Hi Jim:

Some dogs never get used to boots. Eight year old Red can remove the front two in just a few minutes. Molly and Ginger ignore them. Buddy is not too bothered by them. Jazzy is not a fan of boots and chews on them but not as good at removing them as Red.

In my experience early season roosters taken over pointing dogs are usually shot at 25 yards or closer. So the 7s worked fine for me.

Jazzy is a great dog. Thanks!

Best,

Mike

[birdawg]

Great stuff Mike I expected to see the xe's at work.

[AmarilloMike]

Thanks!

The XEs will be out. Just kind of wet and brushy right now.

[birdawg]

I was hoping you were ready to selll that sweet 16.

[vaturkey]

Very nice. What kind of dog boots are those and what kind of tape did you use to secure them?
PS. Are the quail numbers in Texas as good this year as last year? If that's the case that would be a true turn around from a few years ago.

[fox-admin]

Great pictures Mike, great shooting and dog work. Thanks Craig

[AmarilloMike]

VA the birds on my leases, both in the eastern half of the panhandle, are as good as last year. The other reports I hear are also good!

The XE16 will have to be sold by my heirs, but only after it is pried out of my cold dead hands just before they haul me to mortuary.

Those boots are black rubber Lewis boots. They are made in Enid, Okahoma. They have been around as long as I have been bird hunting. I hate them the least out of all dog boots. I use the duct tape sold by Walmart. Jazzy has dew claws and the Lewis boots won't stay on her front paws. I just use duct tape on her front feet. She is very light and the duct tape boots last several hours.

Thanks for the kind words. I am having a blast this season.

[birdawg]

The XE16 will have to be sold by my heirs, but only after it is pried out of my cold dead hands just before they haul me to mortuary:D

LOL
Who could blame you? I can't wait to see photos of that sweetheart.