No, not us, our shotguns. The ones we used this morning at a place that produces about this many each time we visit. Morning began very slowly with the first flight (unusually so) flaring off due to something. But, they returned. Larry the Master Machinist (“Der Meister” as he would be addressed in Germany) and I each got three and each of us muffed one creampuff shot, low and slow bandit each. (*&^%$($#&*) As you can see, we are missing bandit #6--a hopper that was “Iron Bird”—he hit the ditch and took three rounds on the ground at about 50 yards, before he slipped into the blueberry bushes never to be seen again. In this case the coyote gets a warm meal. Sorta cold this a.m. before sunrise and even colder with the 12-14 mph wind. The usual at this place, luxury parking, a partial wind break from the pump house, and a few bandits. We joke about parking, but in these berry and other farm fields, trucks and other equipment are there all the time. I don’t think it matters, except I think the crows record license plate numbers sometimes. A few photos follow.
Oh yes, the guns, from L to R: I decided it was time to take the old 1914 Meffert 16 ga out, since it had not been used in a couple of years and I only had two of the shorter 2.5” rounds left (old, shorter, Euro chambering). Got crow #1 with it. Then used the 1926 “canoe paddle” for #s 2 & 3. Larry had his 10-year-old Benelli Super Black Eagle, which always works. He has done in a whole lot of geese and a multitude of species of other waterfowl with this piece. Then we parted after a fine morning and each reconned turkey spots on the way home, as the season is only a month off. We might get one or two more hunts in before the end of the Michigan March season.
NOTE: Darn memory. The old girl is a model from 1915, not 1914. See my response to Randy, below. I was close, like all of my missed shots......
-- Edited by Old Artilleryman on Friday 23rd of March 2018 07:54:07 AM
Nice looking arsenal. What's the barrel length on the double gun and how is she choked. The Model 12?
Thanks for the report and pictures. Keep after 'em.
Randy
Randy:
Here's the link to a discussion from a while back on 16s in general and this old double hammer Meffert. It covers your questions and more. Enjoy. (BTW, the old Meffert is from 1915....)
It's now 0444 and I'm off to see if I can fool some educated birds in a friend's 100 acre backyard to come in and take a look at my whirly.
More, later, if I can down at least one.
Craig
I forgot to answer on the Model 12: it started out back in 1926 as a full choke. However, according to my old friend from whom I bought it, the original owner (back in the 50s) put a PolyChoke on it. That took care of any collector value it had, making it a perfect piece for me.
-- Edited by Old Artilleryman on Friday 23rd of March 2018 07:54:54 AM
-- Edited by Old Artilleryman on Friday 23rd of March 2018 06:30:16 PM
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"Arms are the only true badges of liberty. The possession of arms is the distinction of a free man from a slave." -- Andrew Fletcher 1698
O.A... must admit your "old and older" post ( since I qualify as old myself ) got me thinking about the close of the crow season here that ended in Feb. I always enjoy anticipation of a new season..June 1st here in N.C. and have done so for over 60 years. But always, summer's heat, chiggers, ticks, and snakes prevent any serious "crow operations" till mid/late October when the temps cool, corn/soybean crops have been harvested, pecans begin to shed their hulls and peanut harvest looms. I grin to see the small "year round" bands of birds grow larger, buttressed by migratory flocks pulled here by the abundance of food. Half the autumn leaves have fallen by then, exposing shooting lanes in most of my favorite ambush points! That's a signal to charge the FoxPro, remove the 3-shot plug from Maxus, change chokes, tune up the FF5 "crow flapper", break out the camo and set the alarm clock to "crow time"! I get roughly 4 months of opportunity hindered (greatly) by deer season, weather, and number of crows that head my way. This season's TBC was 1,258..a fine number but was below average as we simply had fewer birds than usual, as others also have reported. Regardless, I am quite fortunate. This scenario, more or less, repeats each year.
It's March now. My season ended 3+ weeks ago. I see birds pairing off, nest building has started, new "targets" are in the making. Yesterday I saw an old familiar sight... nesting crows chasing off Red Tailed hawks. I will be seeing that more frequently. With the fledging of the new birds, life for the crows and me will have come full circle.... and today I topped off my supply of CrowZac...next crow pursuit is only 7 months away..
Strange season breakdowns, everywhere. I like Alabama's best. At least, at the end of one in MI, we're only four months away from the next one. Of course, our DNR gives us the worst months, because deer and turkey hunters and almost anyone else is more important (read, Revenue) than us relatively few serious Crowbusters.
Just returned from my morning hunt. not a big deal, 3 down. Report later today.
Craig
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"Arms are the only true badges of liberty. The possession of arms is the distinction of a free man from a slave." -- Andrew Fletcher 1698
. At least, at the end of one in MI, we're only four months away from the next one. Of course, our DNR gives us the worst months, because deer and turkey hunters and almost anyone else is more important (read, Revenue) than us relatively few serious Crowbusters.