Mills I see your problem right off. Way back in the day when I hunted ducks and geese I used to hunt a beaver pond that was just across from where I lived. The perfect gun was a Remington 1100 20ga with skeet chokes. The Mallards came in feet down and the shooting was fast and close.

Your more open areas (here we have some mgt units on Saginaw bay which is big water) you need more choke.

The solution is multiple guns suited for the venue you are going to hunt. It's no different with Grouse. I have the early season guns and use a more tightly choked gun for late season. The simple anser is more guns Mills more guns.

Awww heck. I guess I will just add on to my arsenal.:rotf:

Here is another photo of this pond from a past year when the water was higher. The reflection of this old oak tree in the water makes this spot beautiful and unique

How many acers does your father have? Seems like a good place for some Quail mgt.

He has 1200, the majority of which is somewhere between the swamp you see in the photos and high pine woods. He has a lot of mixed hardwood/pine woods which is great for deer and turkey, but not that great for quail. He has tried to get quail without much success.

I am all for increasing your arsenal to increase its versatility. (In plain English more guns)

lovely duck pond for sure and that big old tree is something else...sounds like your dad s place has a lot to offer in hunting except for the quail...quail was my favorite bird to hunt at one time..i only get to shoot at pen rasied now...probly ten years or more since i sighted down the gun barrel at a wild quail... charlie

Dad even tried pen raised, but wound up providing a buffet for the varmints. Coons, hawks and other critters seem to like hardwoods and Dad has plenty of those. Turkeys and deer love hardwoods though

Mills

great looking spot - I love the oaks.

Thanks for all the compliments.