Ducks in Saskatchewan

[Richard Whitfield]

I was lucky enough to get out with an awesome group of guys in Saskatchewan earlier this month. There was a motley assortment of Canadians, Brits, and Americans.

Although I primarily used a Japanese Auto-5 magnum, for one afternoon I took out my 12 gauge Parker DH, delivered back in 1899. I picked up this gun last November and it needed a little smithing to get it to open after firing. As such, I didn't have it in hand and working correctly until right before the hunt. As a result, I had almost no opportunity to shoot it leading up to the trip and I had never shot it at game.

I'm not an incredible shot, but managed to double two Canadian geese with my first two shots and two ducks with my last two. I've got to credit a buddy, Jonny, with helping me get my nerves under control and get back on the ducks after a bit of a rough patch.

Here's a few pictures I quickly snapped and one group photo from that afternoon.

[Kevin McCormack]

Very smart choice of battery! I bought a Jap A-5 3" Magnum 28" Invector choke when the feds put the idiotic non-tox shot regs into law, which at the time left steel shot as the only available alternative for waterfowl hunting. This was way before bismuth, tungsten matrix and the other now-standard non-tox loads were available in any quantity or load selection.

It became my all-everywhere steel shot backup gun for waterfowl, and I took it everywhere as a hedge against any difficulties I might encounter when the better non-tox substitutes became widely available for use in my SxSs and O\Us (Foxes and Brownings). Mine came to me with Carlstrom black synthetic replacement stock and forearm, ideal for use as a temporary cane or crutch, and handles rain, mud, snow and sleet without a burp. Also makes a great short-stoke oar coming out of the marsh after dark with a limit!

[Richard Whitfield]

Very nice! I have a 30" model, also with invector chokes. I haven't had to use it as a paddle yet, but it's nice to know it can!

[Jim Beilke]

I also bought a Japanese A-5 about 31 years ago . Took it duck hunting and it jammed 3 times in a box of shells. My daughter , who was learning to drive, took took me to a Scheels an hour away . I traded it on a Benelli SBE. Best auto I ever owned. Now, however, I have shot doubles for over 20 years.

[Kevin McCormack]

I also bought a Japanese A-5 about 31 years ago . Took it duck hunting and it jammed 3 times in a box of shells. My daughter , who was learning to drive, took took me to a Scheels an hour away . I traded it on a Benelli SBE. Best auto I ever owned. Now, however, I have shot doubles for over 20 years.

The friction ring setup on the magazine tube was probably incorrect. A-5s are extremely sensitive to this and to having too much or not enough lubricant on the tube to facilitate the ring travel. Too much (dripping wet) increases recoil dramatically; too little (wiped dry) and the gun will fire but not eject.

I bought my SIL a Benelli SBE at an auction where there were 3 of them sold; I got the one left-handed version nearly new in the maker's case with a full set of choke tubes for a great price and he loves it. Followed up a few years later with a minty Winchester 101 20 gauge for his upland shooting.

[Chris Riley]

Awesome! Hunted the pea fields north of the Battlefords with an LH SBE and LMAO ended up swapping it out for an A-400 after it jammed in SK (failing to eject high fps steel shells due to - best guess from before after repair photos- wear on the extractor tooth). I was NOT smart enough to bring a Parker as a second gun. Congrats on taking those ducks in SK with your 12ga DH!

[Garry L Gordon]

What a great way to blood that Parker.

[Frank Good]

Very nice! Now not to be a jerk but I am going to correct one thing. You shot a pair of Canada Geese not Canadian Geese. The plural of goose is geese hence the name stays the same regardless of species, Canada Geese, Snow Geese, Specklebelly Geese etc, etc..

[Dean Romig]

Is that yourself on the right with the (Parker?) SXS ??





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[Richard Whitfield]

Hello,

Yes, that's me with the Parker! The Parker made an appearance in the photo at the request of the group. It's humbling when you find out the guys you're with actually like your shotgun more than they like you! :rotf:

[Keith Sirmans]

Too cool! I just got back from there myself. The birds were really flying!

[Richard Whitfield]

Awesome! What species were you able to get on?

I hope you post some pics!

[Keith Sirmans]

Pintails, widgeons, gadwalls, blue wings, green wings, mallards, speckled bellies and some canadas. It was wild! Moose were really moving too