What Shotgun did you shoot your FIRST bird with? and do you still have it?

A bobwhite quail with my grampa's Stevens sxs. My dad just got that gun back when his brother passed and my brother got it all shined up and looking good. I got to shoot it last summer at some clays when I went back down to Georgia.
 
My first kill was an opening day #### pheasant shot west of Nanton Alberta. Winchester model 12 with a 30 inch nickel steel barrel. It had a straight grip butt stock and solid rib. Canuck 3 dram paper target load with 7 ½ shot.
 
My first birds were shot with a savage 24 .22/.410, I loved that gun. It got permanently lost when we our boat sunk in the east arm of Great Slave Lake. We hit a storm 20 minutes after we headed home (5 hour boat ride) and the engine conked out. The boat turned into the wind and the waves swamped us over the back. It was in a floating case that was partially unzipped (??? for whatever reason) . We found the case, but not the gun. My father was pretty upset as his dad gave it to him. BUT, when he heard that the boat sunk, and we almost died of hypothermia, he didn't make too big of a deal about it after.
 
Ruffed grouse with my Dad's model 870 20 ga 26"vent rib barrel mod choke. Still have it and use it. I guess that was in the late 60's.
 
Winchester 370 single shot 20 gauge, which I bought at a Kirkland Lake CTC, 37 years ago, for $25. Discounted 5 bucks because of scratches. Probably using 7 1/2 shot. Still have it, and the only gun I use for partridge. When times were tough, it's the only long gun I didn't sell.
 
Ruffed Grouse, Winchester Expert Model 96 in 12ga. 30" M/F.
If I remember correctly, the third Ruff was too close judging by what was left of it :eek:
 
I'm assuming pellet guns don't count - or we'd all have the same story.

My first bird with a firearm (this is going to be embarrassing) was a Spruce Grouse with a .300 Weatherby Magnum. I know....WHAT???

Well, I was moose hunting. 16 years old, first real hunt, hunting with a gun I borrowed from my Uncle's friend (twice removed). Here I was, marching around in the bush north of Grande Cache, not seeing much of anything (except grouse). One afternoon it occurred to me that I hadn't so much as fired the rifle, yet. What if I saw a moose? I wouldn't even know if the scope is sighted in!

While I was contemplating this conundrum, I chanced upon a spruce grouse that hoped I hadn't noticed it. As it stood frozen in the middle of the path, I put the grouse's head right in the cross hairs and pulled the trigger. I knew nothing of stance, mount or recoil, so I was taken completely by surprise as the Weatherby erupted in my hands. I confess, it knocked me off my feet.

All I ever found of that grouse was one leg and lots of feathers.

My first bird taken with a gun was a Blue-winged Teal with a Cooey 16 gauge single shot.
 
I was 15 years old and with my older brother and had my dad's Model 12 Trap, which I still have. We were near Lake Manitoba in the Interlake, north of Delta Marsh. Shot a Canada Goose that was coming at me. It hit the ground about 10 yards from me and I swear the ground shook. Will never forget it and was hooked!!
 
I shot many, many birds, including game birds with air rifle and .22 before trying a shotgun at 13 yrs of age.
It was a very old Belgian guild gun, SXS 12 ga with hammers. Loose on the face. My buddies pride and joy. Stalked close and shot a mallard in the "pre-flight condition" on the water. Just like we did with pellet guns. First bird flying was a teal the next day, the hammer slipped past my thumb as I was cocking it while mounting the gun. That was a very unlucky blue wing!
 
Longwalker said:
First bird flying was a teal the next day, the hammer slipped past my thumb as I was cocking it while mounting the gun. That was a very unlucky blue wing!
Click to expand...

I'll bet you were about as surprised as the teal was!:p
That's a great story, wouldn't be nice to havethat old guild gun now and bring it back to shootin' shape!
Cat
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom