Two weeks. Four differant seasons. One gun.

[Crawdad1]

A buddy of mine whose son is coming back from overseas on leave are all going up to camp for two weeks in November. Driving up to McKean County PA for some bear hunting, waterfowl hunting, grouse/pheasant hunting and finally deer hunting. Traveling up on Saturday November 18th so we can hunt black bear starting the 20th for a few days then ruffed grouse/pheasants and waterfowl until the following Monday then its buck hunting starting on the 27th.

Since room in his truck is precious as we're taking enough food and clothes and other camping stuff to live up there for two weeks, we are only taking one gun a piece. Now what type of gun do you think we're all taking? The beauty of a shotgun!!!!



Anyone else have a similar experience?

 

[Doc7]

Are you shooting slugs for the bear? What type of bear hunting is done in that area of PA? Assuming not dog hunting in that state. Bait, spot and stalk in that area, tree stand, or still hunting?

 

[Crawdad1]

Doc, for shotguns its slug only for black bear and deer in PA. No baiting allowed but we know what general area they're in so we'll post up in there in thick woods and underbrush.

For deer we'll post up in the same areas but we'll start drives if no one is seeing anything or nothing is moving.

 

[Crawdad1]

This is the area and terrain will be hunting. I don't have really good pics of the thick stuff we'll be hunting for bear and deer but they're just past the open fields.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

Sounds like a great trip! Have fun and be safe.

 

[Armored farmer]

I'm envious!
That sounds like my kind of trip!
I hope you take many pics to show us.
I don't recognize the sxs in the photo but it looks like a classic.
I've been looking for a takedown case like yours.
Take your sewing kit with you and fix that moccasin.

 

[bannockburn]

Crawdad1

Sounds like you have all the makings of a great hunting trip! I'm amazed you can fit all of those hunting seasons into two weeks! If I were only taking one shotgun due to space limitations I would probably bring my 12 gauge pump with a couple of extra barrels.

And Armored farmer is right: time for some repairs on your moccasin!

 

[Armored farmer]

Doc, for shotguns its slug only for black bear and deer in PA. No baiting allowed but we know what general area they're in so we'll post up in there in thick woods and underbrush.

For deer we'll post up in the same areas but we'll start drives if no one is seeing anything or nothing is moving.

?? No fall turkey season??

 

[Crawdad1]

Thanks guys!!!
I'm really looking forward to this trip in a beautiful part of the State. Bob is taking his beater Winchester Model 21 and his son has his Grandfather's 870 Wingmaster. I'm taking my Ithaca Nitro Special built in 1936 and those shoes of mine pictured were built in 1937!!!!

I've already taken s few deer with that Ithaca so I'm confident in it doing the job plus I know where its shooting with a slug. I'll throw a slip on recoil pad on it.

 

[Crawdad1]

?? No fall turkey season??

Good point as it is in season up there but none of us are turkey hunters. We like the waterfowl hunting more.

 

[Crawdad1]

The point I was trying to make was all these different seasons and all the different game with one gun!!!

The beauty of a shotgun!!!!

 

[entropy]

Waiting for the AR crowd to pop in with their choice.....<grabs popcorn> Looks like you'll have a fine time up there! Good luck!

 

[Crawdad1]

Waiting for the AR crowd to pop in with their choice.....<grabs popcorn> Looks like you'll have a fine time up there! Good luck!

Oh yea, I've run into those fellers before.

 

[Mauser lover]

Isn't there an AR shotgun upper?

Nice looking gun, by the way...

 

[Armored farmer]

The point I was trying to make was all these different seasons and all the different game with one gun!!!

The beauty of a shotgun!!!!

Yes, I get it. Except for my Hawken, I never even owned a cf rifle until I was about 35yrs old. And that was a .357mag lever gun. It's all shotguns in Illinois.

 

[243winxb]

Mossberg combo. Rifled Cantilever scoped slug barrel & choke tubed shot barrel, for me.

 

[bannockburn]

243winxb

I would probably take the same thing, slug barrel and vent rib choke tube barrel, only mine would be a Maverick 88.

 

[CopperFouling]

Anyone else have a similar experience?

Not quite as extensive, but I have one shotgun for ducks, rabbits, and squirrels.

That sounds like a heck of a trip. Enjoy it.

 

[Crawdad1]

I should have ask this question in my original post, what shotgun would you guys use?

Its got to be good for birds also both upland and waterfowl.

 

[Armored farmer]

n

That would have to be my old 1100 12 ga. My 8th grade graduation present and still my go to.
40 yrs later.

 

[SwampWolf]

What kind of mini-mobile are you driving? Guns don't take up that much space and I'd certainly pack at least one extra shotgun in the event one of your guns fail (it happens ).
To answer your question as to which shotgun I'd choose if I were on the trip you've described, it'd probably be my 12 gauge Benelli Super Black Eagle II. Relatively light weight, very reliable, multiple chokes and a 3 1/2" chamber make it a very versatile shotgun indeed.

 

[Crawdad1]

Can you use semi automatics for bear and deer in your state? We can't.

 

[DM~]

It sounds like a lot of fun...

When ever "I" go on multi game hunts, here's what I take,



It's works out "perfectly" for me...

DM

 

[entropy]

What caliber is the rifle barrel?

 

[d2wing]

11-87 with rifled slug barrel and 28 inch smooth bore barrel.