Recent content by sneem

After carrying a Browning 12 Ga A-5 around for forty years, I switched to 16 Ga Fox Sterlingworth SxS. Lighter, better handling and I like having instant choice of chokes. Plus they are just cool looking.

I've hit badger holes a couple of times in SD. You're watching the dogs, looking for birds and down you go. Surprising how deep they are. I doubt there is any training one can do. Just hope to go straight down and cushion your fall. Each time as I was going down the only thought was, "Gun up...

AAA publishes a list of rated motels and it includes ones that accept pets.

Load the best shell for the principle bird you are hunting. If mostly expecting pheasants, 5's or 6's and worry about quail if they show up. If in quail country where you might meet up with a rooster, 7.5's and hope for the best on the ringneck.

I've owned one for years. Mine is a steel receiver gun. It was turned into the "Cadillac" of 1950's skeet guns at some point. It has a solid rib and a Cutts Compensator on it. Shoots really well. The workmanship is superb and I always get comments when I take it to the range. The two shot limit...

I'm afraid those days are gone. My father told me that back in 30's when duck hunting, if you crippled a duck and it flew over another hunter, he'd knock it down. Then you would get together, he'd give you your bird and you'd give him a shell to replace the one that he fired. Long gone.

An accident is an accident. That's different from intentionally shooting a hen. I've done it and the opinion of the group was to leave it. It wouldn't go to waste. The ribbing was merciless. The embarrassment was even greater.

I'd say $25 a day for the guide and dogs minimum. Ultimately it might be more if you are staying at a place that includes meals and lodging. You have to set some aside for the cooks and service staff. When we go to a lodge, we usually go $50 a day and the management has a standard breakdown to...

Nothing new about the commercial lodges. By law the lodges have to supplement birds taken. In order to get the longer season and the preserve license, owners are requied to replace every bird shot with a release bird. Its not "put and take" where they put birds out in the morning and run the...

I put a Poly choke on my old Browning A5. Worked well. Some don't like the look and call it a distraction. I found it to be a non issue. You have to pattern it to find the settings, but get to know what setting shoots what pattern and you are set for quick adaptations in the field.

The two best sources I use for scouting is trying to find and talk to the local school bus drivers and rural letter carriers. If you are new to the area hit a barber shop. I had a friend who was the school bus maintenance supervisor for a school district in central Kansas. Worth his weight in...

Gunbroker is the worst thing to happen to me in a long time. I guess I've bought five or six guns off of it. I didn't need any of them. They were a good deal and just reached out to me. There is no cure for the problem. I went to a "Gun Buyers Anonymous" meeting to try to break the habit. Picked...

In about three weeks my brother and I will be in the truck heading north to SD. As old as I am, I must admit that the anticipation of these yearly outings seems even greater than my waiting for Christmas as an eight year old.

I also look for group size. I can't stand getting piled into a line of 10-12 shooters and every bird that gets up gets shot at by four or five guys. I don't much care for marching along in line for half a mile of endless fields. Look for smaller groups and terrain with shelter belts and heavier...

I'm just starting to see the combines go to work here in eastern KS.