Loosing birds

Goosemaster said:
I never used to lose all that many birds, but as I've gotten older, I have started to lose a lot of birds. I lost 18 birds this year! What is the secret to not losing birds?
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Just to make sure we understand each other. You're talking about birds actually shot, that fell to the ground reasonably close to where they were shot, but weren't recovered. Right? 18 of them?

Because I wouldn't count birds that took a pellet or 2, but flew away almost unscathed as lost birds.
 
A5 Sweet 16 said:
Just to make sure we understand each other. You're talking about birds actually shot, that fell to the ground reasonably close to where they were shot, but weren't recovered. Right? 18 of them?

Because I wouldn't count birds that took a pellet or 2, but flew away almost unscathed as lost birds.
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Yes birds that folded within 50 yards.
 
Goosemaster said:
I think most of the birds that I lost this year, were with that old Browning full choke. I just love that gun so much. It's just such a beautiful gun and it looks it just. It's just so so cool but it's fixed full choke.
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Have you patterned your gun with the ammo/loads you like to shoot from various distances?

I ask this question being guilty of not following the same advice myself but through trial and error on ammo I've found what works really well and the max range I can shoot.

SxS for me 20 ga = SKB model 385 - I think Imp and Imp Mod chokes and
Win AA (SUPER SPORT) 7.5s -- $10-11 a box at Wal mart -- Important you get the super sport -- they pound the birds in my gun when I hit them. Both pheasant and quail.

I've seen plenty of the Super Sport loads for 16 ga -- give them a try -- Got to watch the Super Sport, Light Target etc variations -- Super Sport are loaded the "hottest" for extra velocity and speed out of the AA loads so you dont accidentally buy the other "lower velocity" AA loads Winchester makes.
 
KsHusker said:
Have you patterned your gun with the ammo/loads you like to shoot from various distances?

I ask this question being guilty of not following the same advice myself but through trial and error on ammo I've found what works really well and the max range I can shoot.

SxS for me 20 ga = SKB model 385 - I think Imp and Imp Mod chokes and
Win AA (SUPER SPORT) 7.5s -- $10-11 a box at Wal mart -- Important you get the super sport -- they pound the birds in my gun when I hit them. Both pheasant and quail.

I've seen plenty of the Super Sport loads for 16 ga -- give them a try -- Got to watch the Super Sport, Light Target etc variations -- Super Sport are loaded the "hottest" for extra velocity and speed out of the AA loads so you dont accidentally buy the other "lower velocity" AA loads Winchester makes.
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To be honest, I don't have access to that real fancy ammo, bud. I don't think it's an ammo thing. It's I don't know. I just don't know what it is.
 
Goosemaster said:
To be honest, I don't have access to that real fancy ammo, bud. I don't think it's an ammo thing. It's I don't know. I just don't know what it is.
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Fancy....ha -- Wal marts cover most of the US -- a wal mart near you should stock it. They do in all the ones I've been to in KS and a couple in Nebraska.

Ammo can make a good difference. I lost a lot of birds in younger days before I used the right and better ammo -- used the cheaper stuff in my younger days and was a big mistake - wounded a lot (found a lot w good dog) but wasted a lot of time looking for lost birds or tracking down ones I got.

Saw an interesting youtube video of a guy demonstrating the difference between different brands and (price points) of "00" buck loads for self defense out of the same gun on a paper target -- it was crazy the difference -- Never dawned on me how much difference the "recipe" in the shell could matter to how far shot spreads out, travel of the wad, how it holds the pattern etc. I was aware in rifle in can make a difference but thought in a shotgun it wouldn't make enough of a difference to matter. Video proved a good point in that it truthfully does.

No need for paying "Prairie Storm" prices - but there are likely some good matches for the gun ammo wise or even reload your own if you have the equipment which would cost less than store.
 
Shot selection. Since there’s not a whole lotta birds here in Ohio, I pass on some shots hoping to get a better chance down the road to put it in the bag and not in a yote belly. That being said I did lose 2 this year. Worst one was I just got my fingers on him and off he went running thru the grass. I’m sure dog and I looked like we were being attacked by bees running around stopping and starting in all directions trying to find it. Never did get him.
 
Goosemaster said:
I never used to lose all that many birds, but as I've gotten older, I have started to lose a lot of birds. I lost 18 birds this year! What is the secret to not losing birds?
Click to expand...
This year, I’ve almost completely stopped shooting any birds before the dog retrieves a downed bird. When I did I lost more birds due to the dog and I getting distracted. Shoot one, retrieve one.
 
KsHusker said:
Have you patterned your gun with the ammo/loads you like to shoot from various distances?

I ask this question being guilty of not following the same advice myself but through trial and error on ammo I've found what works really well and the max range I can shoot.

SxS for me 20 ga = SKB model 385 - I think Imp and Imp Mod chokes and
Win AA (SUPER SPORT) 7.5s -- $10-11 a box at Wal mart -- Important you get the super sport -- they pound the birds in my gun when I hit them. Both pheasant and quail.

I've seen plenty of the Super Sport loads for 16 ga -- give them a try -- Got to watch the Super Sport, Light Target etc variations -- Super Sport are loaded the "hottest" for extra velocity and speed out of the AA loads so you dont accidentally buy the other "lower velocity" AA loads Winchester makes.
Click to expand...
Some of my ammo is 10-15 years old or more, but ammo doesn't have a shelf life. I use fours fives and sixes sometimes 7 and 1/2s usually two and 3/4 lead. Ounce and a quarter
 
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