HUNTING - SCATTERGUNS

SHOTGUNS – THE LIGHTER SIDE
By Jim Foster

We were following the dogs. The hunt was going well and the dogs were doing their jobs. The weather was warm as the latter portion of February can be in South Texas.

As if on cue Bob, a half-Brittany, half-English pointer spun around and froze in a point. Passing close to the white and brown dog he was shaking with excitement - another step and a large covey launched with an explosive sound of wings on an erratic flight.

The little 28 gauge side by side came up in an easy motion and a fat rooster tumbled into the grass. The small shotgun was light, handled well, and was equipped with screw-in chokes. It was all the shotgun needed for bobwhite quail over a good dog.

One of my companions had been carrying around his very fine but heavy 12 gauge over and under. He was standing off to my side as I took my quail and commented on the little gun.

“I’ll bet that’s a easy carry?” he asked. He went on to say he had been thinking about going to a lighter shotgun himself.
For years small gauge shotguns were viewed as “starter gun” for youngster, the ladies, and beginning shooters. They were good learning tools to be used until a person could handle a “real” shotgun in a “real” gauge, a 12 gauge.

The facts are that many of us got our hunting starts with a single shot .410 shotgun. As a youngster I walked the wooded areas around my home outside of Houston (now 30 miles inside Houston) hunting squirrels and rabbits. Putting a fat rabbit or squirrel in my game bag was not a difficult task. Keeping this in mind I have always wondered how anyone can question the bird killing ability of the little gun.

The smaller shotgun gauges like the 20, 28, and 32 gauge (.410) have become popular with upland hunters. It has been learned that these small gauges can kill as many quail as the larger bores. And, they are lighter, and easier to carry for longer periods of time.

Any shotgun that can drop a full sized red squirrel form a 100-foot tree and put the brakes on a cottontail at a full run can and will bring down a quail within range if you have learned to shoot and your shotgun fits.

Having your gun fitted by an experienced gunsmith may improve any shotgunner’s shooting because all shotguns shoot differently. Most of today’s off-the-rack shotguns are made for the “average” shooter. The only problem is there is no such thing as an average shooter. We are all different.

The "average" shooter, according to the experts is right-handed, is 5-foot-9, weighs 165 pounds, has a 33-inch arm length and wears a size 40-regular suit. That leaves out most men over 40, many women, children, and all lefties.

Having a shotgun fitted is neither expensive nor time consuming. In many cases the whole process can be accomplished in an hour. Your light gauge will be ready for the field.

If you are thinking about going to a lighter scattergun take a look at the Tri-Star Company. I have been shooting their product for over 10 years and have never been happier with a fowling piece. For information go to; http://www.tristarsportingarms.com/ Take a look at their side-by-side and over and under shotguns.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please Email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

JIM'S GEMS - REMEMBERING

REMEMBERING NINE ONE ONE
By Jim Foster

Seven years ago on September 10, 2001, I was standing on the sandy beach of Cook’s Inlet in Alaska awaiting the bush plane that would fly me back to Soldotna, Alaska.

The flight was uneventful in spite of a moose walking down the beach as were taking off. Blue skies, snow on Mt. Illiama, and fishing boats below on the Inlet. It was a beautiful Alaskan day.

I had been photographing Alaskan brown bear on Silver Salmon Creek. In spite of the good company, food, and surroundings was ready for the cabin on the banks of the Kenai River, spending time with my wife, and a good nights sleep in Soldotna.

The phone rang at a little past six the next morning, September 11, 2001 with the news that the world had changed.

Now on the day of that tragic event all Americans must think ahead to the coming years and decide which leader is tough enough to handle the threat still looming over our heads. We learned that we don’t enjoy being attacked on our own soil and watching as thousands of Americans died.

Let’s choose a leader who will spark fear in the hearts of those who would kill us and will support or troops 100 percent – remembering we have a volunteer military before the weak of heart make comments.

America is still the best nation on earth because men have fought to keep it that way.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

JIM'S GEMS - ANIMALS ARE ANIMALS

ANIMAL RIGHTS?
By Jim Foster

Yes Virginia, I do believe in treating animals kindly, and not abusing them. Ask my dogs if you have any questions. However, things have advanced way beyond not mistreating animals.

For openers animals are NOT people and people, although they are mammals, are NOT animals. Get that straight right off the bat.

What has happened in recent years regarding the selling of horsemeat for human consumption has stretched the imaginations of many people. Not being a fan of the French I must say that their affinity for horsemeat kept the horse business in its true perspective.

Today, there are thousands upon thousands of unwanted horses that will die – some starve to death - without helping the world food problem one little bit. The Bureau of Land Management now has over 35,000 horses and burros it can’t find people to adopt them. So much protean wasted, in spite of so much hunger.

But this article is not about our countries stupid ban of killing horses for food – it’s about the Swiss and how stupid a whole country can be. Another country I should say.

Yes friends, Switzerland, the home of the Swiss Army Knife (A neutral country none the less with an army?) and the place crooks go to hide their money. The Swiss government has proved its IQ is about as low as the posted speed limit in a school zone. The reason – its new animal rights laws.

Ever flush a goldfish down the toilet? Well if you live in Switzerland you can now be arrested for committing such a heinous crime. The fish must be first knocked out and then killed before its body can be flushed. Are these defuses on the same planet?

The new legislation spells out in exhaustive detail how all domestic animals are to be treated, whether they are pets, farm animals or destined for scientific experiments.

It’s now against the law for Swiss anglers to practice catch-and-release fishing or recreational catching only to throw the fish back in the water, or to use live fish as bait.

So what about Swiss dog owners? The law covers them as well - dog owners will be required by law to take special classes on how to raise the puppy properly so he is less likely to bite and they will not be allowed to crop their pups tails or ears.

The final kicker of this people gone mad saga is under the new law Pigs, who are well known for wallowing in the mud, will now be entitled to a shower.

It’s a good thing the Hershey Company makes great chocolate because the Swiss variety is off my list of things to buy and, I will never open a Swiss bank account.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please Email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

JIM'S GEMS - THIS IS STILL AMERICA

I spent a great Sunday photographing the Dillon, Montana Rodeo at the Beaverhead County Fair over the Memorial Day Weekend.

At the opening of the rodeo I took these two images.

Enjoy and don't forget to VOTE, Jim