Beretta Xtrema2

I picked up my Beretta Xtrema2 this weekend. I decided to save $200.00 by getting the non-kickoff model. I took it to the range Sunday and shot a few rounds of sporting clays with it. It performed without a problem. It swings wonderfully and has hardly any kick. All five of the chokes pattern extremely well.

I bought mine at Chuck's Gun and Pawn in Warner Robins, Georgia. They have really good prices and a lot of inventory so I suggest you go check them out.

tag: beretta, xtrema2, low recoil, chucks gun and pawn, beretta xtrema2

5 Ways To Make Your Hunt Safer

One of the most important parts of hunting is safety. Here are five ways to keep you and your hunting party safe.

Tip #1 I didn't know it was loaded
You should always treat a gun as if it is loaded. Most people get hurt when they are playing around with a gun that they think is not loaded and it is.


Tip #2 Marco
Always I repeat always know where the other members in your hunting party are. For example Dick Cheney was not aware of where Harry Whittington was, and look how that turned out.

Tip #3 What is it
It is also very important to always be sure of what you are shooting at. One of the most careless mistakes that people make while deer hunting is shooting at any thing that moves. Countless people have shot a friend, sibling, or even a complete stranger all because they didn't see what they were shooting at.

Tip #4 I can see the orange
While quail or deer hunting you should always wear an orange vest. Not only because it is the law, but because it can keep you alive.

Tip #5 OH NO
Whenever you use a climbing stand always wear a safety harness. Last month I read an article in a magazine about a guy who fell out of a tree stand and now he is paralyzed. If he had been wearing a safety harness he would probably still be able to walk.

The Pre-rut of Deer Season

The Pre-rut
The Pre-rut of deer season usually starts a couple of months before rifle season. This is the time of year when deer are preparing to mate. This is also when the bucks start peeling the velvet off of their antlers, fighting for dominance, and making scrapes. The dominant bucks move around constantly this time of year so it is almost impossible to track their movements.

Hunting Bucks during the Pre-rut
During the Pre-rut, do not try to pattern them because they go somewhere different every day. Bucks can gain up to 100 lbs. during the Pre-rut, so how do they gain all of this weight. Bucks eat a lot of food during Pre-rut so the best place to hunt is over a food plot or a natural food source. The deer also make their mating calls this time of year. So a good deer call that can do a buck grunt and a doe bleat is the right call to use.

Filler Up

Intro
I have had the privilege of going on three very good dove shoots this year. All of the fields had something in common that seemed to really attract the birds and no it was not bait. All of the fields were extremely clean. I have observed through my hunting trips that birds like clean feeding areas, so I am going to tell you how to have a clean field.

Burn Baby Burn
Before the season starts you should burn off the fields you plan to hunt. It is always wise the harrow around the fields before burning them off. After you burn off the field you should keep it mowed until the season starts.

I Spy With My Little Eye
You should always scout out you fields before hunting to see what time the birds are coming and how many are coming. When you have found out their pattern is it is time to shoot them.

tag: dove hunting, fields, preparation of fields, dove

Dove Hunting 101

Preparing to hunt

Dove hunting is one of the most unpredictable types of hunting there is so you need to be prepared. During winter in south Georgia, it can be anywhere from 50 to 80 degrees in the afternoon, so I always bring a jacket. There is no telling how many birds you will see. Every time I go into the field I take at least four or five boxes of shells. If you have a really big appetite like me, bring a snack and some water into the field with you. There is nothing worse than being thirsty in a dove field. Decoys help bring a lot of dove in so don't forget one when going on a dove hunt. Always bring the appropriate camflauge depending on what kind of field you are in. Oh yeah, it is a good idea to bring a gun too.

The hunt

Dove hunting is one of the most exciting things I have ever done in my life. If you prepared properly then it can be exciting for you too. When it is cloudy, the dove come in constantly throughout the afternoon. If it is a good shoot, you will get action all day long. My personal favorite is a sunny day. Usually the birds come in at anytime from 3:00 to 4:30 and come in heavily until nightfall. I might have to wait an hour or so but it is worth the wait. On days like this I like to bring a portable radio out and listen to the Georgia Bulldogs play football.

Tips for hunting dove

1. If you think you know where the birds are going to come in, try to get to that spot before anyone else

2. Never try to aim at the birds, looking back and forth from the bead to the bird causes you to miss. Put your cheek firmly on the stock and see the shot before you shoot it.

3. If you have a bird down while a lot of other birds are coming in, use surroundings to mark the bird and get it later.

4. If two birds come over you at the same time, shoot the bird farthest back so you do not have to stop your swing to shoot the next bird.

5. If more than three birds come to you at the same time, just pick one out and shoot it. From personal experience, shooting in the middle of them never works.

6. If you want to keep your money, don't break the law. Just follow the rules.

7. A person's life is way more important than a bird. Be safe when you go hunting.

8. If you know a child who wants to go hunting, take them out and introduce them to the outdoors.

9. When a bird is coming to you, stay still, dove are color blind and see motion a whole lot better than most other animals.

10. No matter how the outcome of the hunt is, always have fun.

Bird!!!

The Approach

When duck hunting most ducks come straight at you when they are planning to land in the decoys. Whenever you have a group of ducks doing this I would suggest that you wait until they set there wings, as in the picture. Whenever they do this it is time to take em. All you have to do is aim directly at them and pull the trigger.

Fly By

One of the hardest shots for me is a passing bird. My problem is that I forget to continue my lead. What I mean buy this is that I stop my swing when I shoot and the bird just flies in front of the shot. I would suggest to go to your local shooting club and practice these shots. If you don't it could cost you some birds.

Overhead

The birds that fly directly over you are my favorite. If you have one coming straight at you, you should have about a three foot lead if it is a dove or a big and a four to five foot lead if it is a teal. To hit a bird going out away from you, you should give him a two or three foot lead depending on height and distance.

tag: ducks, shots, duck hunting, decoying ducks, fly by, teal, mallard

The Ins And Outs Of Better Trapshooting

I am a two time State champion and one time National runner up. I have been shooting trap for two years and I love it. I am not a professional, but I might have a tip that will help you.

Its Kinda Like A Recipe. It Involves Preparation
Just like any other kind of sport there are things you have to do before shooting in a tournament. Before shooting in a tournament you need to be well hydrated and you need to be familiar with your gun. During the summer temperatures can reach close to 100 degrees. When you have on a vest loaded down with shells you will sweat like crazy. One of my teammates passed out during practice because he got dehydrated. You also need to shoot as much as possible before a tournament. You need to be used to shooting you gun 200 or more times a day. I am not saying that you need to shoot two hundred rounds a day fifty or seventy five is enough.

Ka-Ching
It is always important to have the right equipment before doing anything. There are several things that you need before shooting trap. One of the most important to have the right gun. It is important to have a gun that fits you and my Beretta 682 Gold E does just that. It has an adjustable comb to adjust to my shooting style. A brand new Gold E cost about $4,000, but you can get a used one for around $2,500. I know that it sounds like a lot, but if you are serious about trapshooting it is money well spent. As far as gauges go anything from a .410, I have actually seen somebody shooting one of these, to a 12 gauge.

Don't Kill Your Gun From Powder Residue
I am a firm believer in having good shells. This summer I shot 600 rounds in one tournament. You would think that after that many rounds without cleaning my gun the barrel would have been full of powder residue. However the barrel was as clean as it was before the tournament. I believe that it was all do to my shells, Federal Gold Medals.

Umphh
One problem with shooting a shotgun 100 or 200 hundred times straight is the kick. There are several ways that you can remove kick. One is by buying recoil a pad the other is by having a good vest. If you are looking for a recoil pad I would suggest either the one of the new Pachmayr Decelerators or a Limbsaver. I recently purchased a Beretta vest. My previous vest came from Wal-Mart. It wasn't the best in the world, but it got the job done. When my parents first mentioned getting a new vest I was somewhat reluctant. However my parents convinced me to buy a new vest so I did. It was money well spent. My new vest is so much easier to mount on and as and extra bonus behind the mounting pad their is a pocket for pads so my gun won't kick as much.
tag: trap shooting, ata, federal, beretta, 682 Gold E, Federal Gold Medals, Pachmyar, limbsaver, state champion