What do you lose most often?

[roadscholar]

I'm terrible about leaving stuff behind that I needed to take with me. Like ammo.
Twice this season, I've left the house to go hunting and discovered later that I didn't put my ammo bag in the vehicle.
First time was in Sept, and I had just driven to a spot almost 3 hours away, west river, to hunt sharptails. I had both a 16ga and 28ga with me, and luckily I dug around and found 9 shells. 28ga dove loads, 3/4 oz of 8's. Not optimal, but at least I was gonna be able to hunt. Ended up shooting 3 sharpies in about 20 min with those dove loads, quickest limit of the season for me.

Now both of my hunting vehicles have a stash that stays in there all the time- a box each of 28, 20, 16, and 12 non-tox.

 

[Tomahawker]

I’ve lost 2 controllers. 1 as a youngster, it was my Dad’s. He was less than happy. 2 was in Kansas. $500 replacement. I was less than happy.

 

[Quailnerd]

When I hunt with buddies toting 28 gauges the thing they lose most often are downed birds.

Thank you!!

 

[Quailnerd]

My item left behind the most has to be sunglasses…

 

[benelli-banger]

Thank you!!

Truth is, lots of guys lose lotsa birds, regardless what they’re shooting…buddy called me earlier, he and his son are in SD hunting…gave them some tips on public land spots, CREP mostly..told me the first spot they went yesterday they flushed a bunch of birds, 10+, and they both got a clear shot at the same rooster…knocked it down…they’ve got a good dog…both shooting 12 gauges, #5 lead…coached them on chokes…lost the bird. These guys are shooting trap weekly, for about 2 months, pretty good shots…better than me. They weren’t in cattails…I’d be curious if Bob has actually hunted with anyone using 28’s…maybe, but I’d be surprised. I’d guess that the guys shooting the biggest, fastest, spendiest 12 gauge loads shoot at long-range straight aways and put pellets in birds that aren’t ever recovered…seems like discussions about restraint and disciplined shots often result from guys shooting sub-gauges, and by virtue of that, may not be guilty of that as consistently. As always, could be wrong. Certainly some truth about sub-gauges, including the 28, in particular, but I meet more and more guys that use them, and like them a lot. Quite a few on this forum do. Do what works for you, that gives you confidence…that’s pretty key…different topic, but at times, I’m not as confident, for whatever reason…spot I’m hunting, dog, buddy, maybe the gun I’m toting…not that often, maybe more often than not it happens if I’ve done some missing…usually I’m very confident, and that sure translates into birds in the vest for me…I’ve missed several layups this year, but my overall % is really good, for me, at least…maybe as good as I’ve shot in years. Mainly, I think, because I’ve been shooting one gun, that I shoot as well as any I own…Benelli Ultralight 12 gauge. But I want to be true to my authentic self, and manifest abundance on this special day, and practice gratitude…I’m getting a Benelli 28 gauge!!!

 

[Quailnerd]

Truth is, lots of guys lose lotsa birds, regardless what they’re shooting…buddy called me earlier, he and his son are in SD hunting…gave them some tips on public land spots, CREP mostly..told me the first spot they went yesterday they flushed a bunch of birds, 10+, and they both got a clear shot at the same rooster…knocked it down…they’ve got a good dog…both shooting 12 gauges, #5 lead…coached them on chokes…lost the bird. These guys are shooting trap weekly, for about 2 months, pretty good shots…better than me. They weren’t in cattails…I’d be curious if Bob has actually hunted with anyone using 28’s…maybe, but I’d be surprised. I’d guess that the guys shooting the biggest, fastest, spendiest 12 gauge loads shoot at long-range straight aways and put pellets in birds that aren’t ever recovered…seems like discussions about restraint and disciplined shots often result from guys shooting sub-gauges, and by virtue of that, may not be guilty of that as consistently. As always, could be wrong. Certainly some truth about sub-gauges, including the 28, in particular, but I meet more and more guys that use them, and like them a lot. Quite a few on this forum do. Do what works for you, that gives you confidence…that’s pretty key…different topic, but at times, I’m not as confident, for whatever reason…spot I’m hunting, dog, buddy, maybe the gun I’m toting…not that often, maybe more often than not it happens if I’ve done some missing…usually I’m very confident, and that sure translates into birds in the vest for me…I’ve missed several layups this year, but my overall % is really good, for me, at least…maybe as good as I’ve shot in years. Mainly, I think, because I’ve been shooting one gun, that I shoot as well as any I own…Benelli Ultralight 12 gauge. But I want to be true to my authentic self, and manifest abundance on this special day, and practice gratitude…I’m getting a Benelli 28 gauge!!!

I’ve just noticed that when a guy pulls out the 28 he’s either the best shot in the group or the worst…. Know your skill level!

 

[benelli-banger]

I’ve just noticed that when a guy pulls out the 28 he’s either the best shot in the group or the worst…. Know your skill level!

The only guys I’ve hunted with that shoot 28’s were last year, a guy that’s been using them for decades, great dogs, he’s a good shot…watched him hunt a few weeks ago, couldn’t believe the birds he was putting up in a sea of CREP…has pointers. And a buddy of mine joined me for an afternoon about a month ago in SD..he was heading further West the next day to hunt..I didn’t know he was shooting a 28…he had a Beretta auto…he killed 5…Goose referred to that as me “getting my ass kicked!”……if Goose ever hunted with me, I’d send him on the exact same walk…always works…follow the 3 field edges that border the crop fields…works great! Wandering around in the interior of the field, a sea of grass, yields birds, but those edges are the bomb…yeah, blinding flash of the obvious…I get a major charge when I hear my buddy(s) shooting…I like to kill a bird or two, but I really enjoy when others have success, especially newer hunters. I’ve announced previously, on this forum, that I’m going DEEPER into the dark realm of the 28 gauge! Benelli Ethos!

 

[benelli-banger]

I’m a Benophile….he who uses a Benelli 28 gauge in ways that are legal, but just barely…

 

[roadscholar]

I’m going DEEPER into the dark realm of the 28 gauge! Benelli Ethos!

You're gonna love it. This pic is from last season, first time I carried my wife's 28ga Ethos. Was in a bit of a shooting slump.....had been shooting my 7.5 lb 16ga 1100 on that trip and thought, "what the heck, might as well mix it up and try something else".

Got a double about 30 seconds into the first walk that morning
Full disclosure, I whiffed on the next one later that day
I enjoy carrying that Ethos so much that it's got me thinking about eventually getting one in 12ga.

 

[benelli-banger]

Nice!!!!

 

[AtTheMurph]

When I hunt with buddies toting 28 gauges the thing they lose most often are downed birds.

You guys need better dogs.

 

[Obi_Wan]

The only guys I’ve hunted with that shoot 28’s were last year, a guy that’s been using them for decades, great dogs, he’s a good shot…watched him hunt a few weeks ago, couldn’t believe the birds he was putting up in a sea of CREP…has pointers. And a buddy of mine joined me for an afternoon about a month ago in SD..he was heading further West the next day to hunt..I didn’t know he was shooting a 28…he had a Beretta auto…he killed 5…Goose referred to that as me “getting my ass kicked!”……if Goose ever hunted with me, I’d send him on the exact same walk…always works…follow the 3 field edges that border the crop fields…works great! Wandering around in the interior of the field, a sea of grass, yields birds, but those edges are the bomb…yeah, blinding flash of the obvious…I get a major charge when I hear my buddy(s) shooting…I like to kill a bird or two, but I really enjoy when others have success, especially newer hunters. I’ve announced previously, on this forum, that I’m going DEEPER into the dark realm of the 28 gauge! Benelli Ethos! View attachment 12343

Is your buddy using 3” or 2 3/4” 28 ga? What choke?

 

[benelli-banger]

I don’t know anyone using 3” 28 gauge loads, I’m pretty sure my buddy a few weeks ago was using a mod tube in his Beretta auto…I’m pretty sure the other buddy of mine who’s been shooting a 28 for many years over his pointers shoots Mod/Mod in his double…might have told me M/IM…

 

[Matt D]

Is your buddy using 3” or 2 3/4” 28 ga? What choke?

My small sample from this year was 2 3/4” with Mod and IM choke. Very effective.

Forgot but last year and year prior I lost my Pro 550 plus controller. Was experimenting with not having on my belt but on strap of vest. When I undid the vest it fell. First time I walked right to it as I was very sure I knew where I took my vest off. Last year it was in a ditch and I unsnapped my vest as I walked across the ditch and out to the road. Went back the next morning and spent hours walking. Ended up we were looking in the wrong place. I ended up using my Garmin app and driving slowly down the road until it showed it connected to the handheld. That got me in the correct area and was able to find it. Went that afternoon and bought a carabiner clip and no problems since. Side note I ordered a back up handheld because that was early in trip. Shipped it to a farmer friend. It got delivered to his daughter’s house and he didn’t tell her about it so got a call from the county sherrif about it and had to go to town and pick it up from him. She had called him since didn’t recognize the name on it.

 

[spoonbill82]

My hatchet that I use to break the pelvic bone,when gutting a deer.

 

[Obi_Wan]

I don’t know anyone using 3” 28 gauge loads, I’m pretty sure my buddy a few weeks ago was using a mod tube in his Beretta auto…I’m pretty sure the other buddy of mine who’s been shooting a 28 for many years over his pointers shoots Mod/Mod in his double…might have told me M/IM…

Thanks. I really want to take my Franchi 48 AL 28 next year. I have M, IM, F, IC chokes. Was planning on IM for the single barrel.

 

[Obi_Wan]

My small sample from this year was 2 3/4” with Mod and IM choke. Very effective.

Forgot but last year and year prior I lost my Pro 550 plus controller. Was experimenting with not having on my belt but on strap of vest. When I undid the vest it fell. First time I walked right to it as I was very sure I knew where I took my vest off. Last year it was in a ditch and I unsnapped my vest as I walked across the ditch and out to the road. Went back the next morning and spent hours walking. Ended up we were looking in the wrong place. I ended up using my Garmin app and driving slowly down the road until it showed it connected to the handheld. That got me in the correct area and was able to find it. Went that afternoon and bought a carabiner clip and no problems since. Side note I ordered a back up handheld because that was early in trip. Shipped it to a farmer friend. It got delivered to his daughter’s house and he didn’t tell her about it so got a call from the county sherrif about it and had to go to town and pick it up from him. She had called him since didn’t recognize the name on it.

I don’t want to use 3” 28. Might as well just use a 20. I’ve got good loads for 2 3/4” 28 ga and should be good to go. I’ll be doing some practice with it between now and next season.

 

[Drew]

Been using those plastic hunter orange license holders as my wallet. First one made it a whole year with help from duct tape. Black Gorilla of course. Now I just ask for a stack at the gas station.

I lose shells out of my vest pockets.

 

[Trixiedog]

I have left dog bowls in the field after watering the dogs. I'm pretty much 100% on giving them water after working a field. I have driven off after loading the dogs with the bowl not in the truck. Thankfully it's where I left it when I realize the problem after the next field. So not lost but...not real smart either.

yep cheap plastic bowls by the left rear tire. I may have left a few. Ha

 

[Obi_Wan]

I lose shells out of my vest pockets.

Never lost any but my old vest was horrible when I had to bend over to pick something up. Shells always fell out. Got a Dan’s vest and that stopped. Much deeper pockets.