Hey guys, I wanted to share my experience using an Air Shotgun because I believe it's an often overlooked hunting tool in the Airgun community.Before ever having my hands on one I really had not seen many people actually using them and felt as though they were somewhat of a novelty type Airgun. I watched a few videos that Jim Chapman had done and had decided to give it a go, definitely looked interesting. Here is documentation of my own experience and will say it was the most fun I've had with an Airgun in a long time, hope some may enjoy! 
Today Marley and I got up very early and headed into the mountains for the Dove opener, this would be a first for me. I had not really ever hunted many birds, through curiosity had been reading as much as I could on the subject as well as watching a few videos. The rifle I would be using was a Seneca Double Shot that I had received from Air Venturi, essentially a double barrel version of the WingShot. I had received the rifle to review and had spent several weeks prior to this hunt working with getting to know it the best I could, definitely something new to me. This would be my first real hunt with any type of shotgun, let alone an Air Powered one!
A few weeks before I had experimented with several different shot shells that I had received that included #6 shot size, they worked well but had trouble at longer ranges. I suspect the #6 was just not heavy enough to carry the pattern at distance. I had decided the night before to pull apart several of the #6 shot shells and replace them with 20 Crosman Copperhead BB’s. When we arrived I tested out several that I had loaded on a tin can at 35 yards, the shot seemed to hit with much more authority. I had packed my larger backpack with close to a gallon of water, snacks, as well as all my camera gear to keep us out for most of the day. For this hunt I mounted a small Sony action camera to the barrel of the Double Shot, hopefully to capture the action a lot easier.
We headed up through a rugged canyon that had many fallen trees and tall dry grass that eventually lead us into some very thick brush. I wanted to get up into the higher elevations to get to where the Cottontail would most likely be, as well as some birds. This area can get fairly windy and sometimes the the thick brush can act as a windbreak. Within about 20 minutes of hiking I spotted several Doves fly overhead and land in some nearby brush. Marley and I quietly made our way closer where I was able to take one at 35 yards as it was perched on a branch.
The shot took the Dove down fairly violently and Marley was quick to make her first bird retrieval.
This was the second hunt with this Shotgun so I was pleased to finally have some success in this very tough to hunt terrain. What a beautiful bird, I was hoping several more were around but I think we would have to work hard to find them.
Marley and I bagged our prize and headed further South following a small animal trail, this took us through a creek and up a steep ravine into the higher points of the mountains. By this time it was close to 9:30 am but fairly cool in the high 60’s, perfect weather for hiking. As we followed a small but busy animal trail I spotted out of the corner of my eye a small Cottontail scurry under a bush at 20 yards, THWACK!!!
Marley ran to find it with me close behind, it got hit so hard that it literally drilled it into the ground. I think 20 yards was a bit to close haha! After the recovery I filmed a little as well as taking some more photographs along with a much needed water break.
After our break Marley and I continued down the small animal trail along a ridgeline that was fairly flat giving us a fairly good view in front of us. As we slowly walked I soon spotted another Cottontail sitting under a nearby bush at 30 yards in front of us. THWACK!!! Another one down with authority, I actually hit a bit in front of it, but still managed to take it down.
As we continued down the trail I spotted two jackrabbits with one leaving me a great shot, in the excitement I aimed a bit to low just missing it. Very exciting watching Marley chase the huge jack into a big circle where I was able to take a good running shot hitting just behind it. I think with some more practice behind the gun I could really get used to hitting moving Jackrabbits. This rifle is so much fun, I love it the more I use it, and have found it to be near the perfect tool for this type of hunting. Using a shotgun can get frustrating when we see a shot that is beyond 100 yards, still at close range it’s versatility is well above a standard pellet shooting rifle. I'm kicking myself for returning the rifle after the review I did on it, definitely a super fun rifle for birds and close range rabbits. Enclosed is the video of this hunt followed by several short Varmint hunts I did throughout 2018! Remember, "The best Airgun is the one you're shooting"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8TFd_hiHSY&t=301s
Today Marley and I got up very early and headed into the mountains for the Dove opener, this would be a first for me. I had not really ever hunted many birds, through curiosity had been reading as much as I could on the subject as well as watching a few videos. The rifle I would be using was a Seneca Double Shot that I had received from Air Venturi, essentially a double barrel version of the WingShot. I had received the rifle to review and had spent several weeks prior to this hunt working with getting to know it the best I could, definitely something new to me. This would be my first real hunt with any type of shotgun, let alone an Air Powered one!
A few weeks before I had experimented with several different shot shells that I had received that included #6 shot size, they worked well but had trouble at longer ranges. I suspect the #6 was just not heavy enough to carry the pattern at distance. I had decided the night before to pull apart several of the #6 shot shells and replace them with 20 Crosman Copperhead BB’s. When we arrived I tested out several that I had loaded on a tin can at 35 yards, the shot seemed to hit with much more authority. I had packed my larger backpack with close to a gallon of water, snacks, as well as all my camera gear to keep us out for most of the day. For this hunt I mounted a small Sony action camera to the barrel of the Double Shot, hopefully to capture the action a lot easier.
We headed up through a rugged canyon that had many fallen trees and tall dry grass that eventually lead us into some very thick brush. I wanted to get up into the higher elevations to get to where the Cottontail would most likely be, as well as some birds. This area can get fairly windy and sometimes the the thick brush can act as a windbreak. Within about 20 minutes of hiking I spotted several Doves fly overhead and land in some nearby brush. Marley and I quietly made our way closer where I was able to take one at 35 yards as it was perched on a branch.
The shot took the Dove down fairly violently and Marley was quick to make her first bird retrieval.
This was the second hunt with this Shotgun so I was pleased to finally have some success in this very tough to hunt terrain. What a beautiful bird, I was hoping several more were around but I think we would have to work hard to find them.
Marley and I bagged our prize and headed further South following a small animal trail, this took us through a creek and up a steep ravine into the higher points of the mountains. By this time it was close to 9:30 am but fairly cool in the high 60’s, perfect weather for hiking. As we followed a small but busy animal trail I spotted out of the corner of my eye a small Cottontail scurry under a bush at 20 yards, THWACK!!!
Marley ran to find it with me close behind, it got hit so hard that it literally drilled it into the ground. I think 20 yards was a bit to close haha! After the recovery I filmed a little as well as taking some more photographs along with a much needed water break.
After our break Marley and I continued down the small animal trail along a ridgeline that was fairly flat giving us a fairly good view in front of us. As we slowly walked I soon spotted another Cottontail sitting under a nearby bush at 30 yards in front of us. THWACK!!! Another one down with authority, I actually hit a bit in front of it, but still managed to take it down.
As we continued down the trail I spotted two jackrabbits with one leaving me a great shot, in the excitement I aimed a bit to low just missing it. Very exciting watching Marley chase the huge jack into a big circle where I was able to take a good running shot hitting just behind it. I think with some more practice behind the gun I could really get used to hitting moving Jackrabbits. This rifle is so much fun, I love it the more I use it, and have found it to be near the perfect tool for this type of hunting. Using a shotgun can get frustrating when we see a shot that is beyond 100 yards, still at close range it’s versatility is well above a standard pellet shooting rifle. I'm kicking myself for returning the rifle after the review I did on it, definitely a super fun rifle for birds and close range rabbits. Enclosed is the video of this hunt followed by several short Varmint hunts I did throughout 2018! Remember, "The best Airgun is the one you're shooting"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8TFd_hiHSY&t=301s
