So what do you plan to shoot for opening day?
 

We all wait for this time of year regardless of our favorite game bird. Opening day will occur in most of our country very soon or has just happened. I agonize about what gun to start the new duck season with, how about you?? A traditional opening day gun or a new arrival??

Opener for me will be for pheasants in South Dakota early November with an old standby...Fox A grade 16ga...

https://i.imgur.com/Q3IKVyjl.jpg

Opening day for me was a vh 20 on it's first hunt with me.

I routinely take 5 or 6 guns on my trip to SD and this year will be a reunion of sorts. My father bought a 20ga. Stevens M311A which I grew up with mostly shooting rabbits, doves and squirrels. It's been 40+ years since she has seen front line action so I will be starting opening day at noon with her.

I shot my GH 16 1 frame with original 26" barrels for the first dove hunt.

Well I used a pretty nice VH 16 0 frame 26” I got from a member here for the dove opener in the Old Dominion . If I’m able to go out the opening morning of deer season in the Old Dominion I’ll most likely carry along the Parker Grade 0 10 gauge four frame with the 34” barrels that had the rib relaid loaded with home cast/loaded slugs and of course I’ll have a rifle up the tree with the shotgun and the rifle will most likely be a rather nice Mannlicher Schoenauer MC 30-06 carbine . Although I have my eye on another Mannlicher Schoenauer Model 1903 6.5x54 and if I acquire that in time to work up a load before deer season the rifle choice could change .

I’ll be shooting a Cogswell & Harrison, 16 bore, made in 1886 on the Scott and Baker patent action, M/F. I have a flat of RST 2.5 in #5, 6, 8. Can’t wait!

Father and son
 

Opening Day was yesterday- Saturday- for Connecticut ducks.
My son and I both used Parker Repro Steel Shot Specials. Identical except for mine was a single trigger and his double.
I shot a hen Woodie and Henry got his first duck- a Drake Woodie. He is going to have it mounted. Gorgeous bird.
I was really glad to have been there to witness the event. Very special.

Boykin retrieve?

i checked one of my farm ditches this afternoon. The beavers have a dam in it again this year. I flushed about a 100 wood ducks and several mallards off it. Saturday morning should be interesting with my vhe 12 ga with 34" barrels.