Bench-Talk

   For most people in South Dakota, a shotgun means a 12 ga. I really enjoy my Benelli M1 semi auto 12 ga. but have been looking at adding a lightweight 20 ga. to the lineup. After looking around a lot, I've decided to try a Benelli 20 ga. pump gun. They are well balanced and at 6.5 lbs. it should be a nice carry gun. With a load of 1 oz. / 6 shot lead through a Modifed choke it patterns well and seems to have good speed. I tossed some 7/8 oz. #4 steel shot through it and things looked pretty good with that as well. The steel gets used for Public land and the lead goes in when we hit the private ground.

  Once a bit more corn gets out over the next week or two..the fun will really begin. There is nothing more enjoyable than a good day kicking up some cacklin' roosters!

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 Light weight is a Benelli 20 ga. auto at 5.6 lbs with an improved choke and #3 steel.  Attached is a picture of last weekends 20 ga safari.

 Why wait for the corn to get out, the roosters are out there now and just waiting for a good dog to flush them up!

 My iron of choice in 20 GA is a Berreta White Wing in IC and Mod w/ #6 lea.  If you are available and have fields handy 11/8, we can do an IA/SD challenge??????

your court now

David

 Hello David,  Beretta White Wing..man that is one fine shotgun!  Does it have screw in choke tubes by chance?

 A little change in weather since last weekend when it was in the mid 60's, a blizzard swept through the west and central part of the state dumping up to 4 feet of snow in spots.  In addition the interstate from Mitchell to the Wyoming border was closed with an estimated 200 stranded or abandoned cars.  We were lucky in our part of the state, just a nice snow to get the roosters moving out of the standing corn (which we have alot of, unfortunately for the farmers).  My buddy Bryan and myself jumped at the chance today to get into the field...and it made for some excellent hunting.

 P.S.  David, in the picture is the reason why my shotgun has a synthetic stock.  My Lab (Kody, relaxing behind me getting the ice out of his paws) believes he's doing me a favor everytime I set my gun down (unloaded of course) by sitting on it.  He enhances this by first going for a swim and then dripping about a gallon of dirty slough water over and in my gun.  He sure is proud of himself when the task is completed.  My hunting partner Bryan (with a beautiful wood stocked Benelli) has learned to be ever mindful of Kody's whereabouts during a break..ha!!

 Note for Hope:  Check out my lucky hat, thanks again!!

 YUP, the White Wings and the Black Wings all have screw in chokes.  Since I use it from Grouse in MI to Pheasant in MT, I have cylinder throught F/F for it so I can hunt anywhere.  

As usual, Al and Todd - great pics and tales of the hunt! :) OK, Todd, did you get into a prairie brawl with Mr. Halblom . . . who came out best on "THE BEAT-DOWN" ? ;)  Boy, Todd, yer Lab sure makes successful bagging of game look "normal" . . .and what good is a huntin' gun if it, "aint all beat up" ??  ;)RG

 We did not get to play out the"Challenge".  Al had to beg off and I had not talked to Todd.  Maybe next weekend?  What do you think Todd?

 Hello David, next weekend deer season starts and I need to fill a couple of does tags.  Plenty of deer around but like I mentioned before, more corn in the fields than I can ever remember due to the bad storm.  It may be a challenge with deer hanging out in the corn, especially when pressured.

 On a another note, Lynn wanted to go out this afternoon for a couple of hours to get some fresh air.  Scratched down one Rooster and a nice Northern Greenhead that was lounging with some hens on a back creek.  A great time was had by all, followed by a burger and fries at a local hangout in the area where we hunt.

 Take care and be safe!!   Todd

Glad to see "The Hat" is still work'in...although Lynn''s headgear looks to be much warmer!....An afternoon"afield"outing with your lovlely bride and devoted Lab....., It can't get much better than that!.;>) .....Y'all sure clean up on anything "winged" but  there is a look on "Kody's face say'in  "Boss, put down that danged camera, I think we left one out there!!"..;>) Great stories and pictures as usual Todd!...thanks for sharing!

-H