upland bird hunting
- Thread starter bigrevolver
- Start date
Canadian_Zuk
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Pickering, Ontario
12 ga is best for birds. #6,#7.5, #8 lead shot are all good choices for upland hunting. For waterfowl you need to use non toxic shot. I like 2 & 3 for ducks, BB & BBB for geese. BBB would also an effective Coyote/wolf load although I would choose 4 buck for the toothy critters.
bigrevolver
Regular
Great, sounds like I just need one Remington 870 Express. Some people said they hunted birds with .22LR only - maybe they are experienced shooters.
Thanks
Maritime Storm
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Riverview, NB
What do you plan to hunt and how? This question to this answer will determine where to start. Grouse hunting here in NB is similar to Northen Ontario, a .410 or 28ga single shot will suffice in most cases. However, Southern Ontario and parts of Quebec Grouse hunting is a different activity altogether you need a shotgun that is short, fast, light and capable of at least 2 quick shots with fairly open chokes as the birds are hunted under more pressure and tend to be more jittery. If you're chasing waterfowl then a 12ga with chrome lined barrels and steel shot safe chokes are in order, usually a pump or semi with at least 3" chamber. Rabbit and Hare is where things get murky, an alone hunt anything from a 12ga semi to a .22LR single-shot will suffice and all points in between. Over dogs, a shotgun is required. So if you decided you should have a shotgun, one that fits you is you're first priority. A shotgun that doesn't fit you will be a wasted purchase, no matter how nice it is or how good a deal it is, because, to put it simply, you won't hit squat with it. Gauge falls second. Action falls third. The summer at a skeet and trap range falls fourth.
If you want to include migratory you are stuck with a shotgun.
If you have upland and waterfowl on your list, a shotgun is the only way to go. (That said, everybody needs a .22 anyway). An upland gun is carried for miles and the birds are easily killed. A waterfowl gun is almost the opposite; you aren't walking around with it and ducks/geese need more oomph to kill cleanly. So find yourself a light 12 gauge gun, that'll offer you the best compromise. An 870 is heavier with an all-steel receiver, something like the Winchester 1200 pump (or whatever it's called now) is aluminum. And if you can't find something with choke tubes, Imp Cyl works well with lead for grouse, and with steel for ducks over decoys.
safehunter
Regular
- Location
- South Western Onterrible
I have a Winchester 1200. I always wondered if the barrel was good for steel even with an IC choke.
As for upland, as already stated, depends on the conditions. When I hunt northern ontario, 22lr is the choice. I'm not a fan of "plink plink plink" at the dinner table and stalking and sniping is as much fun and challenge as wing shooting. Hunting in southern ontario, I use a 20 gauge. They flush so quick you may not even see them.
Ranger Dave
Regular
I started out with a Lakefield 22 and a CIL singe shot 16 gauge. The 16 kicked like a mule. It was light to carry but has ridiculous recoil. I wouldn't look for a light 12...
I just find a 12 gauge is just too hard on ruffed grouse. I picked up a Citori from Clay, I wanted to take it hunting. I shot on ruffy with it and it blew it to sh!t with improved cylinder choke and light clay loads.
I just find a 12 gauge is just too hard on ruffed grouse. I picked up a Citori from Clay, I wanted to take it hunting. I shot on ruffy with it and it blew it to sh!t with improved cylinder choke and light clay loads.
Where you are matters a great deal. You need to read the hunting regs for your Province as hunting birds with a rifle isn't legal everywhere nor during all hunting seasons. No rifles at all for waterfowl. And a .22LR isn't suitable for wolves. The hunting regs will tell you all of it.
A 18 or 20 inch, barreled 12 or 20 gauge with suitable shot and an open choke is best for upland birds. Grouse, for example, will sit, usually in pairs, until you nearly step on 'em, then will rocket off in two directions with wings thundering while you stand wondering what happened. A short barrel helps get a shot off while they fly out of range.
The laws pertaining to magazine capacities are the same no matter what you're doing. Most hunting regs tell you the FA applies.
A 18 or 20 inch, barreled 12 or 20 gauge with suitable shot and an open choke is best for upland birds. Grouse, for example, will sit, usually in pairs, until you nearly step on 'em, then will rocket off in two directions with wings thundering while you stand wondering what happened. A short barrel helps get a shot off while they fly out of range.
The laws pertaining to magazine capacities are the same no matter what you're doing. Most hunting regs tell you the FA applies.
Ahsan Ahmed
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Even a 28 or 20ga will produce similar results in the event of a direct body hit at a stationary bird. A 12ga with a 7/8 or 1oz load will work fine if the fringe of the pattern is used to strike the head/neck area (again, stationary bird).......one simply needs to point high enough to avoid peppering the breast with lead.
I have to say that statement is not really based on true experience.
My opinion is that everyone should own a shotgun, a .22LR and a center-fire rifle. If you want versatility, a shotgun is impossible to beat. You can use shot or slugs to hunt anything in Ontario. Keeping in mind that you get this versatility at the cost of effective range.
Now, if you decide to buy a shotgun, the most important factor is that it fits you. Wing-shooting is tough enough without having a gun which doesn't shoot where you are looking. The second consideration is gauge followed by action preference. I own a 20 gauge SX3 and a 16 gauge Eatons SxS. I have shot several firearms with superposed barrels and pump action shotguns as well. I actually shoot a friends Browing Citori best out of all the guns that I have shot. It's a 20 gauge Citori Lightning with 26" barrels. Nice gun. Light and pointy. Eventually, I will pick one up.
I prefer the light weight and recoil of sub-gauge guns but that is simple preference. You will get the most load diversity from a 12 gauge shotgun, which is a point to consider. A typical load for 12 gauge is 1-1/8 oz however 1 oz and 7/8 oz loads are also available. If you are worried about too many pellets in the meat, you can always use a round with less payload. The downside to a 12 gauge is typically weight. A heavy gun is great for target sports and waterfowling because you are not carrying it far and the extra weight helps reduce felt recoil. A lighter gun is nicer to carry and believe me, after a couple kilometers, you will notice the difference even a pound makes.
Even though I own a SX3, I prefer break action guns. Partially because they are much easier to check for obstructed barrels which can happen if you have a squibb load, or you fall, or pass through snow covered trees. The other reason is simple style preference.
A lot of people will tell you to buy a 12 gauge which is not a bad suggestion. Sub-gauge loads typically hold less shot which means it is more important that you are on target. I think if you center your pattern on the target, it doesn't matter what gauge you use. Obviously there are limitations to that statement; as an example a .410 is not a good choice for waterfowling.
So now that I have given you a bunch of general and maybe confusing information keep in mind the first thing I said. The most important thing about shotgunning is gunfit. Start there and the rest will come along.
Now, if you decide to buy a shotgun, the most important factor is that it fits you. Wing-shooting is tough enough without having a gun which doesn't shoot where you are looking. The second consideration is gauge followed by action preference. I own a 20 gauge SX3 and a 16 gauge Eatons SxS. I have shot several firearms with superposed barrels and pump action shotguns as well. I actually shoot a friends Browing Citori best out of all the guns that I have shot. It's a 20 gauge Citori Lightning with 26" barrels. Nice gun. Light and pointy. Eventually, I will pick one up.
I prefer the light weight and recoil of sub-gauge guns but that is simple preference. You will get the most load diversity from a 12 gauge shotgun, which is a point to consider. A typical load for 12 gauge is 1-1/8 oz however 1 oz and 7/8 oz loads are also available. If you are worried about too many pellets in the meat, you can always use a round with less payload. The downside to a 12 gauge is typically weight. A heavy gun is great for target sports and waterfowling because you are not carrying it far and the extra weight helps reduce felt recoil. A lighter gun is nicer to carry and believe me, after a couple kilometers, you will notice the difference even a pound makes.
Even though I own a SX3, I prefer break action guns. Partially because they are much easier to check for obstructed barrels which can happen if you have a squibb load, or you fall, or pass through snow covered trees. The other reason is simple style preference.
A lot of people will tell you to buy a 12 gauge which is not a bad suggestion. Sub-gauge loads typically hold less shot which means it is more important that you are on target. I think if you center your pattern on the target, it doesn't matter what gauge you use. Obviously there are limitations to that statement; as an example a .410 is not a good choice for waterfowling.
So now that I have given you a bunch of general and maybe confusing information keep in mind the first thing I said. The most important thing about shotgunning is gunfit. Start there and the rest will come along.
Last edited:
A friend of mine told me that he prefers to hunt eith a 12ga for grouse etc. Because their season usually coincides with deer and as you are only to hunt with one rifle (in bc anyways) he keeps a pocket full of buck shot that way you can hunt either given the opportunity.
