1/23/26

B

benelli-banger

Well-known member
-14 air temp, some wind, not a lot…-20 windchill likely? Got 2 so far, #4 lead did its job…first small slough had 150 between road ditch and slough…wasn’t gonna hunt today, was gonna play scout for my 2 buddies that arrived last nite…couldn’t resist. Just watched them vest a rooster…not terrible out, last walk was 25 minutes, golf gloves help…right hand in shell pouch of vest when walking
 
Killed 4, no lost birds, I’ve missed 2, one kinda easy and one Hail Mary. My buddy with dogs has 2 and a few missed lay ups. Guy with no dog has 1 and missed a few. Truck says -11, not much wind…birds very wily. Just talked to a guy who said we pushed 250/300 through his farmyard, I saw maybe 20 up ahead of me. Don’t know how far ahead the birds were, there’s a hill, I couldn’t see much. He’s right across the road. Son in law to my farm host. Conditions just fine. I do notice my 2 buddies not hearing well with the headgear they have on, and it’s cost them birds. I’ve had a ball cap on, no issues. Everything else I’m wearing is same as on 20 above day.
 
I am most impressed with your body's ability to handle the cold b-b. Golf gloves on sub-zero temps is impressive to me. My fingers (and toes) must not have the circulation to handle cold, never have. I am done bird hunting in single digits and below, there will be better days for me and them. Watch those ears, you don't want to look like a North Dakota calf born on a cold February night. I know you really think the hearing is maybe even more important that sight, I would strongly disagree in my hunting with only a single dog. If I were completely deaf, I wouldn't miss many shooting opportunities, as most flushes are near the dog which has my entire focus...guessing the same with you, but your multiple dogs makes it difficult to be in close shooting range of flushes by both dogs and hearing a flush from the dog you don't happen to be watching at that moment, gives you time to react and make that shot, I get that. Still, you can't shoot them if you can't see them.
 
remy3424 said:
I am most impressed with your body's ability to handle the cold b-b. Golf gloves on sub-zero temps is impressive to me. My fingers (and toes) must not have the circulation to handle cold, never have. I am done bird hunting in single digits and below, there will be better days for me and them. Watch those ears, you don't want to look like a North Dakota calf born on a cold February night. I know you really think the hearing is maybe even more important that sight, I would strongly disagree in my hunting with only a single dog. If I were completely deaf, I wouldn't miss many shooting opportunities, as most flushes are near the dog which has my entire focus...guessing the same with you, but your multiple dogs makes it difficult to be in close shooting range of flushes by both dogs and hearing a flush from the dog you don't happen to be watching at that moment, gives you time to react and make that shot, I get that. Still, you can't shoot them if you can't see them.
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No issues with the cold, historically I never wore any gloves…rarely never anything on my ears. Today was no issue with the elements, nothing got cold. Muck boots with the single pair of darn tough socks, think I’m on day 2 or 3 on those socks. I did have a stocking cap on yesterday for half the day, put the ball cap on after that. Ball cap today all day, but I quit around 3. Great day, saw fewer than yesterday, but they held better. #4 lead has been the ticket, no lost birds. No snow made things pretty nice. I think it got above 0 today, winds were a bit stronger than yesterday…13-15 mph…helped mask our noises. Good trip, surprised how comfortable it was the last two days. Probably done now….but you never know for sure…🤔 I still have 1/2 a license that is currently starting 10/17/26…can advance that if need be.
 
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I don’t always hunt multiple dogs, though my 10.5 year old is usually with, but she doesn’t wander too far. My 6.5 year old is just hitting her stride at 20 above, and below zero she is hitting on 8 cylinders. All 3 is not easy! My pup turned a year yesterday…she’s had quite a 5 month stretch…North Dakota sharpies and Huns was a blast in September and the first week of October! Less than 8 months til ND opener!! 😁😁😁
 

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We hit a new to us 1/4 of private ground today. Bad omen running 2 coyotes off before starting. Saw a ton of deer tracks and some turkey tracks heading in. Had 2 roosters flush wild one of which my buddy missed his chance at. Flushed 6 turkeys.
 
Years ago my lab and I flushed a few turkeys from a cattail slough in Dec, they were close, really close. About had a heart attack. Until then I had no idea Turkeys would be in cattails.

Used to be tough like BB and rarely wore gloves or a head covering. Nerve damage to the right arm/hand ended that and now I often wear a glove (Ragg wool) on my right hand. Usually pulling trigger with my middle finger.
 
Cold days have been rare past few years… count on one hand # of them I’ve hunted past few years…the past 2 days were, but I wasn’t cold after first hour of Friday’s hunt…still below zero..,no wind…
 
No gloves! I can't imagine that, even if there's some trick involved to keep hands warm. Wind is my mortal enemy when it comes to keeping hands warm. I haven't found a glove yet that I can shoot with, yet that'll keep my fingers happy in cold, windy conditions. Even though "wind proof", the convective properties of wind sap any heat right out of my fingers.

#4 lead is almost required on many of these birds this time of year. They're tricky, fast, big, & very tough. I find I get by with #4 bismuth or #5 lead, but one size bigger wouldn't be overkill. My loads are relatively light, though, & there's a fine line between enough pellets & not enough (don't ask why I refuse to simply shoot a 12 ga). One size smaller ISN'T enough for sufficient penetration. My opinion is that many people use undersized shot much of the time, but especially late season.
 
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Agree on the no glove comment. Under 30 or so my hands get cold. Batting gloves, warm weather shooting gloves and winter golf gloves all work down to about 10 or so just fine and no issue with shooting. My buddy is a no glove guy and honestly makes my hands hurt watching him hunt with no gloves on. Wish I could do it though.
 
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