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Guns: Shotgun Patterns
     There's no truth to the myth that shot shell "patterns" fired from small gauge shotguns are smaller.

     The fact is: patterns fired from the 20, 28 and .40 bore are NO SMALLER than the pattern from a 12-guage with similar choke.
     Patterns from small-bore guns may be THINNER (but not necessarily smaller). However a tighter choke may be used to provide greater density of shot in the pattern. A tighter choke may result in a pattern diameter that is less than the traditional 30-inch circle. (from upland game book)

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Why do you hunt?
Think about it....and share the sport to preserve our heritage.
A 2007 study conducted by the Anglerservey.com & Hunter Survey.

One answer could be, "I've gone ORGANIC".
You are harvesting 'free range' birds, which are not laden with hormones and growth chemicals.
Wild birds, when prepared correctly are delicious. Just remember to keep the lean meat with no fat marbling moist and covered, to eliminate drying out. We cook many in a baking bag and put a covering of plastic wrap on the meat when on the table, to protect cut sections.

There is nothing more satisfying than knowing you are eating healthy, and you contributed to the meat on the table with your skills!

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Hunt Tips
Wear head and hand protection. Keeping them warm will enhance your shooting.
Wear fingerless gloves, or slit/clip your trigger finger. Bring Hot Hands warm packets to keep in your pocket during cold months.

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Taxidermy Tips.

1.Choose to take birds that are more mature, which will have less pin feathers which will fall out.
2. If you drop a bird you want to have taxidermy, then don't let the dog retrieve the bird.
3.Never ring the neck!! Try not to disturb the feathers.
4. Do not gut your bird.
5. Do not wash off the blood. This can be done later.
6. Handle with care. Wrap the feet with paper or cloth and secure. This is to prevent freeze burn to    the feet. Fold the held towards the chest. Use a nylon stocking, inserting so the feathers are    disturbed, or double bag in sturdy plastic bags.
7. Keep cool and freeze as soon as possible, before you can deliver to the taxidermy.
   Best to store in below zero freezer, before you transfer to the taxidermy.
8. Be prepared with the license info to give to your taxidermist.
8. Take care of the specimen and you will have a great mount.  

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Top 10 Ways to Miss a Wild Turkey with a Shotgun.
from Washington Game Bird Club newsletter Spring 09

1. Too Close. Tight chokes and tiny targets don't mix inside 12 yards.
2. Too Far. 45 yards should be your maximum, regardless of gear.
3. Running. Don't waste your ammo on terrified toms.
4. Flying. Seriously, who do you think you are, Annie Oakley?
5. Feeding. A moving turkey head/neck is a recipe for disaster.
6. Too Thick. It doesn't take much brush to stop or deflect shot pellets.
7. Too Perfect. You get "cute" an try to hit a toms's forehead, sending your shot high.
8. Recoil Sensitive. FLINCH! Always sight-in with a Caldwell Lead Sled.
9. One Bead Wonder. Grandpa's hand-me-down gun is special, but carry something you can aim effectively.
10. Guide Nearby. Think "stage freight" while standing at the men's restroom trough during halftime.

Pattern your Gun/ From Wildlife Harvest 2005

     Much of the fun in hunting, and shooting games like sporting clays, comes from meeting the challenge of uncertainty. But most of us would like to take at least some of the mystery out of hitting the target.
But most of us would like to take at least some of the mystery out of hitting the target. OUr forefathers learned that constricting the bore of shotguns tended to increase the percentage of a shot charge that will strike within a given area at a reasonable range. This concept of choke-boring dates from time of muzzle-loaded guns. IT is invented in 1868 by Fred Kimble of Knoxville, Illinois, and is still in use today.
     It's a "sorry-fact" that too-many shooters ASSUME good performance from a given barrel or choke-tube without testing the gun with the LOAD, which is to be used. The practice of patterning a gun for intended loads often gives quite different results from those that might be expected on the basis of bore constriction alone.
     Many modern shooters, with limited income, must buy a gun "of the rack." Thus, improved shotgun performance can only be achieved by pattering the gun with a specific LOAD. Pattern DENSITY can be achieved by adjusting either the bore constriction, or the load itself.
   Changing a choke tube is rather simple. Altering the bore tube is rather simple. Altering the bore constriction in a barrel with out choke tubes (such as many of our classic doubles) means a job best-assigned to a "reputable gunsmith".
     A less permanent and less expensive alternative is load alteration. Here, the hand-loader has the advantage. But even those who do not "roll their own" may achieve desired patterns by experimenting with different brands, loads, and even shot sizes.

Shooting Lens: Which is right for what circumstances? (Woman's Outlook 2-2004)
Strongest material: Plycarbonate lenses are tougher than glass or CR-39.
     However, CR-39 is more scratch resistant.

Polarization: Glare-reducing which can be incorporated into lenses. It is needed in various circumstances.

Color of Lenses: Brightness vs Contrast
Clear Day: Purple, bright yellow, subdued grays and browns.

Gray tones are the most popular.
Preserve natural contrast and makes the images appear darker.
 Gray lenses do not block 'blue" (dark) light, which focuses imperfectly on the retina while scattering in the eye. This is called blue blur, is intensified by moisture and dust particles on clear days, and haze, fog, rain and snow on overcast days.

Brown-based Lenses (brown, amber, yellow, rose, vermillion) naturally block more blue light and can increase visual acuity from 3 to 10 percent. BLue (dark) light is at the dark end of visible light spectrum and is the most difficult light to focus, especially as the eye ages. BLue blockers are especially beneficial on overcast days when blue light is prevalent. Brown tones also enhance contrast and the intensity of warm colors- yellow, red and green. When contrast is enhanced, target identity and acquisition are also enhanced.

Tint Level:
Dark or light dictates the amount of visual light transmission (the light the lends lets in) but doesn't affect glare or protection from UV rays. Visual acuity is somewhat lessened with the darkest-tint, but in low light conditions, a lightly tinted gray lens can let in more light than a dark amber lens.

Choices: So many. For competitive shooting choose interchangeable lenses.
For Hunting choose nature colors to blend into the setting, that still allow your good vision.
Of course you still have to choose the frame material, temple design, coating of the lenses ( hard scratch resistant, anti-reflective coating glare-absorbing layer on the back or inside, mirror coating and hydrophobic coatings to shed water).

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