The increase in velocity speeds should equate to an 8-inch lead distance at 40 yards if you shoot as you normally would. This will help insure that your shot hits more of your flying target’s vital areas.

A patent pending Xelerator Wad is the key behind this breakthrough in firepower. Developers from Remington explain the science this way:

“The primer ignites a small portion of the powder charge captured in the “Ignition Chamber”, this captive charge accelerates the wad and payload forward until the remainder of the powder charge is ignited. The increased volume behind the wad allows for the remainder of the propellant to burn, driving the shot to 1700 fps without causing excessive pressure – all in just a fraction of a millisecond.” Kevin Cross  – Remington Researcher

You can download the official press release here

In the meantime, Remington will be making this hot new ammo available soon. Visit Remington.com for more details.

1 of DU's Free Wallpapers

The article written by, Keith Sutton, is worth checking out. His recommendations are simple and straight forward. For example, his first tip is:

“Duck caller reeds sometimes freeze or stick in frigid weather. Prevent gum-ups by using a product such as Rain-X or Aquapel that�s made to deter rain, snow and ice buildup on windshields. A few drops rubbed on the reed with a cloth make the reed less likely to stick in the heat of a cold-weather hunt.” Entire Ducks Unlimited Duck Hunting Article Here

I wonder if that tip would work on fly fishing rod line guides? It might mean I could start the season earlier…

Ducks Unlimited also has a Canadian Site Here

*Thanks to KevinBOneill on Twitter for finding this article.

To read the 2008 Ontario Hunting Forecast from Ontario Out of Doors -CLICK HERE-

To summarize their ‘intel’ on the hunting WMU 49 (the wildlife management Unit where huntsville is), this is what they are saying (click on the photo for a large view):

If you are looking for an excellent hunting and fishing magazine that covers topics and issues that relate to hunting and fishing in Ontario, consider this publication.

How lakes get choked; Phosphorous leaking into the environment
Sudbury Star – Sudbury,Ontario,Canada
… phosphorus is four or five times the normal concentration in most lakes, especially those in the popular cottage country of Muskoka and the Kawarthas

Hunting group’s dinner-auction raises about $100000 for wetlands …
Peterborough Examiner – Peterborough,Ontario,Canada
All the money raised goes to the conservation and protection of Canada’s wetlands, McWilliams said. An early count determined about $100000 was raised, …

USSA Working to Strip Anti-Hunting Language from Public Policy
By Othmar Vohringer(Othmar Vohringer)
“The Committee is concerned about reports that USAID directly and indirectly supports recreational, sport and trophy hunting in its assistance programs in Africa. The Committee directs USAID to provide no funds to programs that support or promote recreational, sport, or trophy hunting as a conservation tool.”

I’m having a serious “senior” moment, but if you have hunting/fishing/shooting shows on the TV up there, there is a guy named Tom something (that’s the senior moment part) who is an exhibition shooter for Benelli. Each one of his shows has a segment dedicated to improving your shotgunning skills. He also has some DVD’s out that teach/show how to view your target, mount the shotgun, proper placement of hands, arms, and gun, and a whole bunch of really good information.

I learned to wingshoot from my grandfather and my father. Started out with a 410 single shot. It was most frustrating for me, but after a while I got to where I could hit a clay target with it about 1/2 the time. Later I used a Remington 410 autoloader and got pretty good with that one…sometimes running as many as 22 of 25 clays from the 17 yard line on a trap range. Thing is, when you learn with something that has a very small amount of shot in it, you are immediately better when you graduate to either a 20 or a 12 gauge.

I would recommend that you NOT start with a 410, but rather a 20 gauge. Couple of reasons for this….1) ammo is cheaper by about $5.00/box. 2) The frustration factor does not kick in quite as early. lol

Biggest thing in getting at least proficient is having a shotgun that FITS you. Too short or too long a LOP (Length of Pull) and you are having to adjust yourself to the gun until you ‘learn’ the way it fits you. When you mount the shotgun, your cheek should be on the butt and your eye looking straight up the length of the barrel. No adjustment on your part should be necessary.

If you are shooting a shotgun that does not have a raised rib, the sight picture (relationship between target and muzzle) will have to be altered just a bit. It should be a bit lower. If you don’t set the muzzle further under the target, you’ll be shooting over it. The line of the bore is under your line of sight. Sort of hard to explain in words…graphic drawing would explain it more easily. Your eye is higher than the centerline of the bore by as much as two inches. If you drew a line representing the CL of the bore from the muzzle back to where your eye is located, then drew a line from your eye to the muzzle, then extended those lines out from the muzzle to infinity, you will see that there is a marked difference.

Having a shotgun with a raised rib eliminates a lot, not all, of the difference in the sighting plane, and the plane of the bore. Does that make sense to you?

Hope so, that’s the best I can explain it without drawing it out.

If you want/need more info…don’t hesitate to holler at me.

John

Again. Thanks John. If any of you need some more advice visit, John, over at Nutria News and holler at him. He has been more than helpful to me. Now if I could just get down to Louisiana for a visit – instead of this minus 30 degrees C business up here.

Bill Anderson

Muskoka Outdoors

You should also read his great post.

Bill,

First, you have to have an image in your head of the “picture” of the target and where the muzzle of the shotgun is in relation to the target. Muzzle should be just underneath the target, and only slightly ahead. Move with the target, and continue to swing the muzzle as you squeeze the trigger.

There are various schools of thought on technique. One is to start behind the target (either clay target or live bird) and swing through the body of the target, and as the muzzle eases in front, then squeeze the trigger. If you did it right, you’ll see the target as the shot hits it.

Second technique is to eye the target, mount the shotgun, set the muzzle where you want it, as always, keeping the muzzle moving in relation to the target and squeezing the trigger.

I have used both techniques, and like the second one best. It just feels more comfortable to me. Though there have been occasions when the first one worked better, but that was primarily for longer distance shots, both on ducks and pheasants.

If you are right handed, it is “easier” relatively speaking to if your targets are moving from right to left. You can pull the gun/muzzle instead of “pushing” it if they are left to right.

When more than one target is presented, always take the farthest shot first. This will give you ample opportunity, and time, to find the next target, and it won’t be out of range.

Most importantly, practice is what makes it all better. Clay targets are relatively inexpensive..about $4.00/case here. And that give you around 85 clays to shoot at. We usually do six to ten cases in the off season, with the bulk of them being shot up in the month prior to the start of dove season.

Hope all this info helps.

John

John – Thanks for the information. All the best teaching your son ‘the ropes’.

Bill Anderson

Muskoka Outdoors

MSNBC reports that:

When the wife of the hunter who shot it opened the refrigerator door, the duck lifted its head, giving her a scare.

Entire Article Here.

As funny as this may at first appear to be, it is IMPORTANT that hunters make sure that the game they are ‘storing’ is dead. This could paint a bad picture for hunters and our hunting ethics.

Bill Anderson

Muskoka Outdoors