USA: Grouse Hunting With My Son & A Double

[Carson]

Usually when people post about hunting with doubles on this site, it's for dangerous game. I've wanted a side by side shotgun for several years. Last week I bought a nice looking AYA side by side 12 gauge. I needed to break it in so I took my son grouse hunting yesterday. We got one grouse 5 minutes into our hike and bagged it. 30 or 40 minutes later we had filled our limit!

The new (to me) shotgun worked great. The weather was beautiful and the fall colors were impressive. It was a day to be remembered for my son and me. He couldn't stop talking about how awesome it all was.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Wow! That is a great day afield. I’m sure your son will never forget it

 

[MontanaPat]

Looks like a great time

 

[BC.Pat]

I do a fair bit of grouse hunting here on Vancouver island with some youngsters. You might want to keep your eye for a SxS 20 , my empierce is a twelve tears up bird a bit too much for my liking. And when you son gets older it is a nice place to start him with light loads.
Cheers
Pat

 

[Rare Breed]

I know just what you mean!!! I just got a Beretta Silver Hawk SxS 12 gauge that shoots like a dream!!!

 

[WyoBull]

That’s awesome! I grew up shooting my dad’s double.

 

[Carson]

I do a fair bit of grouse hunting here on Vancouver island with some youngsters. You might want to keep your eye for a SxS 20 , my empierce is a twelve tears up bird a bit too much for my liking. And when you son gets older it is a nice place to start him with light loads.
Cheers
Pat

Yup, I've already got my eyes peeled for a side by side 20 or 28 gauge for my boys to shoot. I thought my kids had to be 12 to start hunting, but apparently they can upland bird hunt at any age. So we're gonna get them setup.

 

[HankBuck]

I do a fair bit of grouse hunting here on Vancouver island with some youngsters. You might want to keep your eye for a SxS 20 , my empierce is a twelve tears up bird a bit too much for my liking. And when you son gets older it is a nice place to start him with light loads.
Cheers
Pat

@BC Pat - I know what you mean about a 12ga for Upland birds (bigger then needed) but just switching to simple 12ga target loads ie: 1oz of #8s at 1180 fps solves any problems…and you can also get 7/8s oz loads for a 12 ga. While I like my 20 ga & 16 ga —- I think the 12ga is the most versatile and offers a wide range of loads from 2 1/2” 7/8s oz up to 3 1/2” 2 1/4oz “jaw breakers”. What i really like best about the 20 ga is the smaller and lighter shells — take up less room in your pockets

 

[Altitude sickness]

My 20 gauge grouse gun actually patterns better than the 12 I bought for grouse.

So I use the 20 and it’s plenty.