Comfort biggest factor when choosing shotgun for bird hunt

Spend enough time talking bird hunting with your friends and eventually the discussion will turn from dogs to guns. And somewhere along the way, someone will ask which gauge of shotgun is best for hunting a particular bird species. While that question seems innocent enough, it could lead to anything but a civil discourse on the finer points of shotgun shooting.

Discussing guns can be dangerous territory because everyone has an opinion, and his opinion usually is the only one that's right.

For the sake of today's discussion, let's look at the question of gauge from the perspective of hunting Gambel's quail. These speedy little birds prefer to run and can cover rough desert terrain faster than the average hunter. When quail do take to the air, they reach their top speed of about 35 mph just 3 feet off the ground. That means you have to be able to shoulder, point and accurately fire your shotgun before these little speed demons are out of range, or before they set down and run again.

You will notice I didn't use the term gauge anywhere in the last sentence. It doesn't matter. The best shotgun for hunting quail, doves, chukar, pheasants or any other game bird is the gun with which you are most comfortable and familiar. Each shotgun, regardless of gauge, has its own feel.

Choosing a shotgun is similar to selecting a sweetheart. If a potential sweetheart always leaves you unsure of yourself and the situation, you might want to hold off on making a long-term commitment. If your shotgun makes you feel that same way, it might be time for a trip to the gun store.

Years ago I was given a beautiful pump-action shotgun as a birthday gift. From the moment we were introduced, the gun came naturally to my shoulder. It didn't take many boxes of shells before we began to feel and perform well. She was a perfect fit then and still is, though the stock carries several character marks, and her bluing is all but gone. On days when I can't seem to hit anything, I'll pull that pump-action out of her case, and within short order she puts me back on track.

That old gun doesn't make me a tournament-quality shooter, but she makes me a better shooter. Why? Because I have fired that gun so many times in so many settings that we have developed a comfortable relationship. That relationship makes me faster and more accurate. It also helps me bag more birds.

For all but the most experienced shotgun hunters, I recommend shotguns in either 12- or 20-gauge. Both will do an admirable job on quail or chukar even with off-the-shelf ammo. If a 12-gauge makes you flinch, go with the 20. For most upland game-bird hunting in the desert, I also recommend using a modified choke. With this option, the shot pattern spreads fast enough for birds that break loose at close range but holds tight enough for those speedy birds that get the jump on you.

Freelance writer Doug Nielsen is a conservation educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. His "In the Outdoors" column, published Thursday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NDOW. Any opinions he states in his column are his own. He can be reached at intheoutdoorslv@gmail.com.