No Room for Error

by Rusty Hallock
28 December 2008

In my opinion, we have experienced a waterfowl revolution over the last several years. We now get to hunt over the most realistic decoys, use the most realistic sounding calls, and most effective shotgun ammunition that have ever been produced. Yes, I have hunted with lead shot and in my opinion; Hevi-Shot is more effective then lead.

With all of the advancements in waterfowling equipment, my goal has become to finish geese not just to the geese that are in range. I will agree, it is great to shoot a lot of geese and post pictures of impressive hero shots but I wanted to take birds finishing and killing them to the next level. To use the Zink slogan, I wanted to "Talk the Talk" and shoot geese finishing with the added challenge shooting them with a little gun.

To accomplish my goal, I went back to where my wingshooting had begun with my first gun, a Remington 870 28 gauge. I exclusively used my 28 gauge to shoot doves, quail, rabbit, squirrels, and ducks (when lead shot was legal) early in my hunting career. My grandfather purchased my 870 in 1976. I used my 28 gauge until I had saved up enough money to purchase my own shotgun a few years later. While recently visiting Angler's Sporting Goods, I saw the new Hevi-Shot Classic Double offered in 28 gauge #4 shot. I saw this as my opportunity to dust off my old 28 gauge which had seen very limited use over the last few years and take it afield to shoot Canada geese.

I used the opening day of Maryland's second split of goose season to use my 28 gauge. We arrived at the cut soy bean field with the glow of the rising sun in the eastern sky. After setting up our decoy spread of FFD's in small family groups, we settled into our pit. The first flocks of geese took flight with a predetermined destination in mind. No amount of flagging or calling would change their minds. It was only a short wait until a trio of geese entered the far end of the field. After a few quick flips of the flag and we had the geese's attention. When the geese swung in our direction, we started to greet the geese with excited clucks from our Money Maker and SR-1's. The geese quickly made circle and dropped into our decoy spread. As I called the shot, I picked up the last bird. My first shot was a clean miss. I guess my brain did not calculate the slower speed of the 5/8 once #4's from my 28 gauge. My 28 gauge loads were moving at 1150 feet per second which is slow compared to the blistering loads offered in 12 gauge that routinely exceed 1500 feet per second. I increased my lead for my second shot and folded him. He fell within the decoy spread. I went out picked up my first goose that I had ever killed with 28 gauge with the satisfied feeling of accomplishing my goal. It wasn't long before another trio of geese tolled into our spread and I dumped my second bird to finish off my limit.

It was a very satisfying hunt. First, we had to completely fooled the birds and finish them tight so the little 28 gauge could effectively kill the geese. It felt like my hunting career had come full circle. I had used my first gun to take a limit of Eastern Shore geese. It was truly a memorable day.