ACP230
Member
I took the 16 gauge Marlin Model 90 out after grouse yesterday.
At home I can tell it is a bit heavier than my Italian 20 gauge OU, but in the woods I didn't notice much difference. The Model 90 balances very well and that makes it easy to carry.
It was hot and most of the leaves were still on the treesl. On top of that the MDNR reports that the grouse population is low this year. Bottom of the cycle and a wet, cold spring hurting the broods. (It seems they've been saying this for years.)
My son was on his first grouse hunt, so it would have been nice to see more than one red squirrel. We had a pleasant walk and saw some other interesting birds. My father, 89, decided to walk along with us, although he didn't hunt. We figured out that it's been 24 years since he was in the woods with any of us. That made it special. It was also the first time my son had hunted with his J.C. Higgins Model 20, the first time I'd used my M90 for hunting, and the first time I carried my Smith M28 .357 in the woods.
Back at the vehicle we ate lunch and then tried a little trout fishing. We got skunked there too, but the colors were starting to show, and the pond is always beautiful.
All in all it was worth the fatigue I'm fighting today.
At home I can tell it is a bit heavier than my Italian 20 gauge OU, but in the woods I didn't notice much difference. The Model 90 balances very well and that makes it easy to carry.
It was hot and most of the leaves were still on the treesl. On top of that the MDNR reports that the grouse population is low this year. Bottom of the cycle and a wet, cold spring hurting the broods. (It seems they've been saying this for years.)
My son was on his first grouse hunt, so it would have been nice to see more than one red squirrel. We had a pleasant walk and saw some other interesting birds. My father, 89, decided to walk along with us, although he didn't hunt. We figured out that it's been 24 years since he was in the woods with any of us. That made it special. It was also the first time my son had hunted with his J.C. Higgins Model 20, the first time I'd used my M90 for hunting, and the first time I carried my Smith M28 .357 in the woods.
Back at the vehicle we ate lunch and then tried a little trout fishing. We got skunked there too, but the colors were starting to show, and the pond is always beautiful.
All in all it was worth the fatigue I'm fighting today.