TMAC

If your just into hunting stick with a good cluck and double cluck.......no need for a $150 call...........learn to use what you have and practice a lot.

He thawed those out from last year.........or someone gave them to him.

If your waiting for a big push from the north keep waiting.....I am in the north and still waiting for a late Mallard flight but its just not happening yet, too warm and nothing is froze over yet. It will be cold this week, but may be not enough to push them down. Most all northern lakes and rivers are all open, which is odd this late in the year.

Our Wisconsin season is nearing the end, but it seems we never got a big push of puddle ducks and the bet is the mallards are still holding up north until it gets cold enough to drive them down. Temps in 50's this week and next dont do much for the cause. In my neck of the woods we had a terrible season, so I hope you boys down south do much better........hold your breath.

Premethrin works. I have a lab who contracted Lymes disease about 3 years ago, almost lost him so its not just you to worry about so keep an eye on your best friend too. Front Line or equiv products help, flee and tick spray, and if your pet really got into them a good shower of flea and tick shampoo will take care of the rest. Deer ticks carry Lymes, and its bad news if you get it.

I would go with Mudhens line of thinking all the way........no questions asked.....and have heard very much the same comments from salesman at places like Gander Mountain who really dont even care to sell either of these two models at all. Why? High rate of returns, irrate customers, and a bad impression of the store. I had an M2000, so from personal experience it was by far and away the worst firearm i have ever purchase. I would take a 20+ year old 1100 over the M2000 any day. Take your chances, live by experience.

I have an SX2, no duratouch issues but some do as I have heard. The SX3 is a sweet gun, been an easy choice for me over the SBEII but to each their own. Worse things could happen than a lost recoil pad, consider it a fluke get the pad replaced use the gun.

Personally forget the Stoeger, and I would choose a different Franchi model.

Sure it wasnt a Stoeger M2000, if it was then way overpriced.

I think the extended chokes are sort of like flashy fishing lures that always catch the fisherman but rarely a fish. Perhaps the benefits are more in our heads than anyting?

just set you decoys out, chuckle with your mallard call...........my opinion is those wood duck calls arent worth a dam.

If the shell chambers tight has to to be the shell, it may not have been sized properly at the factory. As for the brass popping off, you got to be kidding me......I would never shoot that crap again. I reload Win AA, Rem STS, Rem Gun Clubs, and a dozen times or more per case and never saw the brass seperate from the plastic. Your Rio's I assume are factory new......I would be causious of the at brand especially if you see a lot bad shells.

We are getting into our second week up north. The opener in our area was pathetic to say the least, it appeared all the local birds up and moved on out a day or two before the season started. Cold fronts moving in so must have pushed them all south. I hope this weekend brings a new wave of birds down.

Must have been straight from your personal collection Tucker!.......

Get an O/U.......problem solved.

2075 shots fired, 1190 kills, 1.743 shots per kill.......not bad shooting.

I rarely see a woodie decoy well, but i am sure food would work I keep mallard whistle, Zink PH2, Buck Gardner double nasty, and a Knight and Hale Pit Boss for geese on hand.

no blind, no deeks, just lots of shells and lots of shooting.........probably isnt any fun at all.

A friend of mine can mouth call a crow pretty well, but its only somthing to do when the action is pretty slow.

lots of truth in that statement.

If your ok with the pump then go Nova or 870, but that M2000 auto isnt worth its weight in scrap.

I attended a duck calling seminar the other day and can say that after having had the opportunity to try some of the Zink Acrylic calls that there is a difference. Sound quality and volume leves produced are noticabley different than my run of the mill poly calls, now just need to pony up the cash and find the one I like.

Some say can be louder, but also a richer sound and more durable. Just hard to get over the added cost.

For those of you who know and can appriciate the difference, is the added cost for an acrylic call worth the extra money. When most polycarbonate calls run in the $20-50 range its hard to justify the extra $100 to go to acrylic. Any feedback is appreciated.

Blind retrieves can be tough. I am no expert but I tought my lab blind retrieves after I could direct him on a line to a known object. After he could do that well I would take a walk with 3 dummies, throw a few he can see and then start throwing some he cant see..........point being when ever you are directing him on a retrieve he as to believe you that there is really somthing there and he will want to find it. I got to the point where I can really see my dog hunts to please me, that drive made it all go so much easier. Give praise when he did somthing well, and corrections or punishment only when needed. Bigger accomplishments got more praise (treats are good with this). Then repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat........More posetive experiences hunting just seemed to make him blossom, and avoid a teaching session in the field when possible.