[txgolfer45]

I'm interested in taking up hunting with a shotgun this fall. No experience. Anyone in the N. Texas area interested in helping a newbie out with shotgun selection and places to go?

thanks,
scott

[Selfdfenz]

I can't say I know all there is to shotgun hunting in NT but
there are some universal info points worth mentioning.

If you have some idea what you will be hunting, that will go a long way to helping with selection of an appropriate shotgun. Back in the time that numbers of bagged birds counted with me, I liked a pump shotgun. I hunted everything from ducks to doves to quail with it. Now the quality of the shooting means more to me than the number of birds I bag, so I shoot an O/U. Right now I'm thinking about an autoloader. On doves I don't miss the third shell, on ducks I do.
No matter what you choose, fit tells the tale. Go to a decent gunshop but leave your cards and checkbook home. Pick up lots of different guns. See what feels and points right. If you think you might not be hunting too many ducks there's alot to be said for the 20 ga. esp. in an O/U. Nice guns but not jewelry if you know what I mean. If it's too nice and cost too much to take afield it's useless. Don't get me wrong, I've seen many a duck taken with a 20. (My personal feeling is that the 20 is the gun for doves) I wouldn't personally mark off a gun because it can't take steel shot. I, for one, think steel sucks. (I started off on lead years ago) I reload bismuth and shoot some tungsten matrix and I find both kind of lead-like on ducks but pricey. I like 25 or 26 inche tubes but that's me.
Remember what gun pointed and felt right and what the guy wanted for it. Comparison shop. I think lots of the shops I go to are overpriced.
I occassionally see some older 870s at gunshows that are in great to good shape at reasonable prices. I think the old model 870s are much smooother and better by far that what Remington makes these days. If you plan on going after geese, a 12 that takes 3" shells makes sense and one that takes 3 1/2 inches make more sense. Shooting anything but steels get expensive in the big shells. Haven't tried the HeavyShot yet but perhaps some other THRers can fillin the blanks on that subject.

Once you find a gun that suits, try some trap and sporting clays. Figure on buring a few hundred shells. This time of year you can find 12 and 20 ga shells for about 30 to 40-ish a case. No reason not to buy a couple of cases so you can shoot off season and gain practice.

As far as where to go:
Lots of the land in TX is private which locks it up in some cases. I hunt on private land I don't own because I have friends that will let me. I do a bit of pay shooting too.
For the price of a hunting license there are still public lands you can get on and hunt. For an extra 48$ you can get a permit that gets you a map book to lots of land leased by TPW for hunting small game including quail, doves, ducks and pheasant. Hogs also. The dove plots are managed for birds and can be real sporty. It used to be referred to as type II land but that terminology may have changed. Naturally the farther away for a big metropolitain area you get the better. The more scouting you do the better. Get some snake boots. When you buy a license you will get a set of regs and it is will worth you time to make sure you read them. I hadn't bought a TII in a few years but I got one again this year as I am bored with the private land and want to see some new and old places.

S-

[TIMC]

The only thing I have to add is once you find a gun that fits you get some lessons, a local club should be able to help you. Dove hunting can be very dissapointing to a new shooter. The average Texas hunter shoots about 5 rounds per bird taken. Doves are very fast and very small. Skeet shooting will help prepare you the most for Dove hunting but if you are new to shotgunning I hate to say it but you most likely will not be ready to do much more than make noise by September 1st. Don't let it turn you away get started and have fun.

[txgolfer45]

Thanks for the info!!! I'm going to a range tomorrow with a buddy who has done alot of hunting with shotguns. He is going to bring several different types and models so I can see the differences as well as learn some about shooting a shotgun.

Scott

[txgolfer45]

I tried 2 different shotguns on Wednesday. One was a Rem 870 20 ga. and the other was a Winchester Semiauto 12 ga (I think). We were doing skeet, I think (high from right and low from left???).

I pretty much sucked. But, it was my first time. Didn't feel much difference between the 20 ga and 12 ga. Could have been because the 12 ga was a semiauto???

Anyway, it was fun and I definitely want to get a shotgun now!

I'm leaning towards the 12 ga. since it appears to be more versatile than the 20 ga. Will likely hunt for small game, upland birds and maybe duck/goose hunting later in the year. I'm going to try to stay around $300 plus tax. So, given that, Seems like the Rem Express Magnum and Benelli Nova are in my price range for a new shotgun.

Right now, I'm thinking I should stay clear of used shotguns as I have no idea what to look for as far as condition and whether it is mechanically sound.

Scott

[Selfdfenz]

The 12 and 20s with light field or trap and skeet loads don't have greatly different levels of recoil IMHO. The way a gun is stocked has lost to do with that but so does the weight of the gun. A light 12 with stout loads can give you a headache if your my age.

If the 12 was and auto that also cuts down on the lick.

The Express is a good utilitarian gun and will get you in the field cheaply. They are nowhere as smooth as the old Wingmasters of years ago or the Special Purpose guns. If you have a dremel with a polishing wheel you won't likely hurt the gun by smoothing out the rough spots.
Good luck.
S-

[TIMC]

Glad you had fun. Hang in there with time and a few lessons you will see great improvement. Whatever you buy make sure it feels good to you.

[TIMC]

txgolfer45,

Hope your opening day went as well as mine. We had a great time weather stayed dry and the birds were flying.
Here is my first day's harvest:http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=467191

[Selfdfenz]

TIMC,
You lucky dog you! Nice photo and that is a nice looking SG. What is it?

Drove all the way from Dallas to Abilene Sunday just to find there had been enough rain to blow out the roads down to the place I hunt. So. Turned around and drove back.

Then Monday, it rained all day. And me with a new 12 ga auto.

Opening day for me will be this weekend. I hope.

Take care,

S-

[txgolfer45]

TIMC,

Well done!!!

I'm still shopping for my first shotgun. Have narrowed it to the 870 Express 12 gauge. Now, synthetic or wood? I realize the wood isn't the greatest on the 870 Express.

Scott

[TIMC]

Thanks guy's,

I have 3 more days of vacation left and hope to do equally well the next three days, that is if the rain will hold off.

Selfdfenz,
Hope your roads and weather impove enough to blow the cobwebs out of that new auto.
The shotgun in the picture is a Huglu mod.201A SBS 12 gauge with 26"barrels. I also am using a Huglu mod 103CE O/U 12 gauge with 28" barrels. The O/U is my primary gun and the SBS is a back up, but it looks better in the pictures. They aren't high dollar shotguns but as you can see they knock down birds! I have over 5000 rounds through the 103CE and it's still going strong.

txgolfer45,
The 870 Express will do the job whichever you decide on. I've always been more traditional and prefer wood.

Good luck guy's and thanks again.

[Selfdfenz]

It's a very hansom gun from the picture.
The auto I just bought is a Verona 405. I think the parts are Italian but I believe it's actually assembled in Turkey. Seems to be very will put together from both perspectives. It's also very light weight. So far the only Huglu I've actually handled seem like a good gun and the wood was beautiful. Nice checkering. I have no idea wheather it was one of their high dollar guns or an average one.

If the Russians would have the Turks to the final fit and finish on their guns their would be world beater.

Good luck in the field. Today would be a great day for shooting doves.
Perfect weather here in N. Texas. Muddy, but perfect otherwise.

S-

[txgolfer45]

I went dove hunting for the first time yesterday. Borrowed a friend's Browning semiauto 12ga. Took lots of shots... lol

I hit 6 - 7 but only was able to find 5 of them. Two fell in a dense sunflower field and I couldn't make my way through it to find the birds.

As it was only my second time even using a shotgun, I think I did ok.

Scott

[Selfdfenz]

I agree.

Fun isn't it. Doves are sure sporty.
S-

[TIMC]

For only your second time using a shotgun that's great! Don't feel bad about the amount of rounds it took, most people average 5 to 7 rounds per bird when dove hunting.

My 3 day total is 32 birds in the freezer. A few more days and it will be time to BBQ some doves with bacon and jalapenios, chased down with a few cold beers. :D