Decisions,Decisions,Decisions

[fox-admin]

The 2025 season is in full swing. I did start with a new to me Parker DH 20ga 28" for Sharptails in SD. Next up is 3weeks of preserve of hunting with my 2 YO Mollie and 7 YO Nelle. But the real hunting season opens for me on , Oct 11th, western zone NY ducks. Our early opening date means mostly small ducks. This year I have decided on my Fox DE 12ga 28" IC/F and handloaded #5 bismuth. This will be my 40th year as a member of my duck club and the second year my son Doug is a member and my blind partner. This will be Mollie's first year as our duck collector. Kinda nice hunting with my son and my new pup. How about u have you decisded on a gun to start off 25 with???

[Jeff S]

Opening day in the U. P. I’ll be using my Super Fox. Regrettably, the season opener in the Southern Zone is late this year (Oct 18). The first day I’ll probably use my 30”, straight grip XE. After that I hope to score with my “new to me” B grade. I sure hope we have some ducks this year.

[Stan Hillis]

I always open the season anymore with my Dickinson 30" barreled .410. With my .73 oz. handloads of nickel plated 8s it's a real dove killer. After a few shoots with it I will move to my 32" Parker DHE 20 ga.

When I go after quail or woodcock it's with my 20 ga. Fox SWE with 28 inchers, chokes of .006"R and .016"L.

My duck hunting is split between my 32" Fox 3" chambered HE, my Ithaca Super Ten, and my old weathered 30" BSS when I need a rough and ready gun for steel shot.

In the late dove season, when the big, mature migratory birds are coming through, I'll go to the 32" Parker DHE again, but with the 16 ga. set of barrels. Or, the LC Smith 16 ga. FWE with 32" barrels.

[Kimber06]

I will be taking my new pup on her first grouse/woodcock hunt in upstate NY the second week of October. The cover and be kind of thick so I will probably use my cut barrel 16 gage A grade. It left the factory with 28 inch barrels choked IC/M, but now sported 26 inch barrels. The chokes are now about C/SK, which works well for the early season.

[CalebH]

I'll be chasing deer with a stick bow in the immediate future but once duck season opens up down here (end of November), I'll have my Super in tow. Just picked up a case of Kent Bismuth so I'm ready!

[Hilltop]

Well that was an easy answer until 2 days ago…. I was set to use my sw 16 gauge with 26” barrels choked ic/mod. But, then I got my A grade 16 gauge choked im/im with 28” barrels and beautiful wood. I doubt I hardly grab anything but it from now on. I can’t believe honestly how much more I like her than the little sw.

[Foxnut]

The MI grouse season opened up yesterday and while it was hot and dry Rosey and I hit a couple coverts yesterday morning before it got to hot. Like the past 12 or so seasons my gun of choice was my A Grade 16 gauge 2 barreled set. I always have a second gun in the truck and that was my Arrieta 578 16 gauge 26” IC/M gun but it stayed in the truck all day.

[vaturkey]

For once I'm stumped. I normally carry by 20 gauge Sterly Ejector that was restocked and engraved as a second generation A grade by Chris Rossiter, that I refer to as the "meat in the pot" gun. However in about 2 weeks I will be receiving the last gun Mr. Gournet engraved for me which was finished late last year. Its an extractor 20 gauge Savage gun that was engraved by Gournet as a B grade with a Grouse on the bottom. It has 28" barrels and the same dimensions as the 26" MITP gun and weighs the same as well. Once I get it I'll shoot a bit of 5 stand with it and then decide which one gets used the first day in Michigan to chase little brown birds.

[Foxnut]

For once I'm stumped. I normally carry by 20 gauge Sterly Ejector that was restocked and engraved as a second generation A grade by Chris Rossiter, that I refer to as the "meat in the pot" gun. However in about 2 weeks I will be receiving the last gun Mr. Gournet engraved for me which was finished late last year. Its an extractor 20 gauge Savage gun that was engraved by Gournet as a B grade with a Grouse on the bottom. It has 28" barrels and the same dimensions as the 26" MITP gun and weighs the same as well. Once I get it I'll shoot a bit of 5 stand with it and then decide which one gets used the first day in Michigan to chase little brown birds.

Tom, to me that sounds like a nice quandary to have!!! I don’t think you will go wrong either way!

[vaturkey]

For once I'm stumped. I normally carry by 20 gauge Sterly Ejector that was restocked and engraved as a second generation A grade by Chris Rossiter, that I refer to as the "meat in the pot" gun. However in about 2 weeks I will be receiving the last gun Mr. Gournet engraved for me which was finished late last year. Its an extractor 20 gauge Savage gun that was engraved by Gournet as a B grade with a Grouse on the bottom. It has 28" barrels and the same dimensions as the 26" MITP gun and weighs the same as well. Once I get it I'll shoot a bit of 5 stand with it and then decide which one gets used the first day in Michigan to chase little brown birds.

Tom, to me that sounds like a nice quandary to have!!! I don’t think you will go wrong either way!

The Gournet engraved gun is supposed to be shipped on Monday. Hopefully I will have it next week to shoot a few clays.

[eightbore]

I would love to see Geoffroy's interpretation of a late B grade pattern.

[Upland Hunter]

Easy decision A Grade to start the season.

[Jeff S]

Great picture and that is a good looking dog.

[DarylC]

The 20ga 32" SW has not been blooded yet so it will see use in the duck/goose blind this year.