After being on some restrictions for medical recovery, I got string enough to attempt a quick trek. I wanted some mixed-game for the pot so I loaded up the 20 gauge SXS and set out for a few early morning hours. First loading was 1 ounce of #5 Bismuth shot. I used the same scoop for the Fffg powder. Card wad, cushion wad over shot card. At sunrise I was in a make shift duck blind waiting for teal. The very first bird came at me and then made a slow U-turn. As it faced away I dropped it on the water with the first barrel. It did not twitch. It happened to be a blue winged drake, the first of that kind I’ve ever taken. In expected it to float to the edge but it got hung up in a spot of grass right in the middle. Being on my own property in the middle of nowhere I transitioned into a retriever by stripping down and swimming out there. I retrieved to hand like I’d been doing it all my life. My dog would be proud. Now all this obviously disturbed the pond and I didn’t need another duck anyway. I pulled the card on the second barrel, saved the Bismuth and replaced it with lead #8. The next several loads were 7/8 ounce scoop of powder and shot with appropriate wadding. The doves began to fly across my little intersection about 100-yards from the pond where I started. I knocked down a few, but had a heck of a time retrieving one due to the cactus. Not needing many for my intended dish, I quit at 10 shots and 3 birds in hand. The last stop was the brush row. Here I stuck with the 7/8 ounce load but went to 7.5 copper plated shot for the rabbit I was looking for. Side note- I purchased several sized shot and types in 10 pounds bags from Rotometals on-line. Price and shipping were reasonable and they got here quick. I am looking at patterns, effectiveness and variables so I can stay with some go-to loads for different purposes. Anyway, one pass down the brush row made a little buck rabbit step out onto the open dirt sendero. At 15- yards stationery this was no big challenge. I did decide to put the bead between the ears to mitigate any shot in the body. The rabbit rolled and inspection showed a few holes in face and one in neck, so my “aim” point seemed to work. A little less than 3 hours into my first day out in 2-weeks proved pleasant and successful. I enjoyed the simplicity of the whole morning.
