Safe shotgun carry condition for pheasant hunting

[JoeH]

I'm planning to take my 12-yr-old son out to a game farm for his first pheasant hunting experience. He has his FAS and we have shot trap together. His gun handling is safe but things change when you get into the field and birds flush.

I was thinking about having him carry his 20 ga pump with a round or two in the tube and an empty chamber. He'll have to pump in a round to fire on a bird. Am I being too cautious? Should I just have him carry, safety on, with a loaded chamber? I know that safeties on many shotguns are just trigger blocks and are not drop-proof.

I hunt with a good pointer that usually gives a lot of advanced notice to an imminent flush.

[McJohnny]

Too cautious? Never. I'd go with the empty chamber as well.

[tman]

At twelve, I carried a single shot H&R 20 gauge. No safety. Hammer down on a loaded chamber.

Never was as nervous as when I was trying to thumb that hammer down.

[mmcnx2]

I'd have him carry loaded with the safety on. Teach him right from the start.

If you have concerns then get anohter hunter to walk right behind him and watch his handling while you work the dogs.

Introducing new hunters to birds can be pretty exciting and another set of eyes and hands can be a big help.

[mattxd]

My first season I only got one in the chamber on a 20 ga 870 with a full choke. It definitely taught me to slow down and take one good shot, thankfully we were still using lead back then so I had a fighting chance to reach out a little more then I can today with steel

[Norsesmithy]

It's still legal to shoot Pheasants with lead. The Non-toxic shot laws are for waterfowl.

[JJ]

It's still legal to shoot Pheasants with lead. The Non-toxic shot laws are for waterfowl.

Unless you are hunting on WPA's. Lots of them scattered around. We hunt them a ton because they don't get hunted as hard as WMA's.

Back to the OP. I learned on a single shot 410. Hammer down, loaded chamber.

My young cousin had a ND with a mossberg 500 his first season. He was carrying the rear of the gun against his shoulder and bumped the safety off. A bird flushed, he reached into the trigger guard and hit the trigger before it hit a 45deg angle.

[Lunchbox]

I'd have him carry loaded with the safety on. Teach him right from the start.

If you have concerns then get anohter hunter to walk right behind him and watch his handling while you work the dogs.

Introducing new hunters to birds can be pretty exciting and another set of eyes and hands can be a big help.

It's how me and all of my cousins learned, tried counting them and ran out of fingers(still have 8 fingers and 2 thumbs).

[grousemaster]

I'd have him carry loaded with the safety on. Teach him right from the start.

If you have concerns then get anohter hunter to walk right behind him and watch his handling while you work the dogs.

Introducing new hunters to birds can be pretty exciting and another set of eyes and hands can be a big help.

+1. I started at 12 with a shotgun on safety with a loaded chamber.

[brado]

I'd have him carry loaded with the safety on. Teach him right from the start.

If you have concerns then get anohter hunter to walk right behind him and watch his handling while you work the dogs.

Introducing new hunters to birds can be pretty exciting and another set of eyes and hands can be a big help.

+1 He can do it!

[LarryFlew]

Both of my sons (now 38 and 40) spent the first 2 years with 1100 with one in chamber and that's it. Both still talk about how much safer they felt and how much better they shot knowing they only had one shot.

You taught him to be safe, you have to trust him to be safe or make him think you don't!

[Thunder71]

Here's how I started out...

Single shot, bolt action .410 with a full choke, loaded with safety on. Having one shot will help force him to concentrate on his shot, because he'll only have one chance.

Have fun!

[JoeH]

We have a field reserved for Sunday afternoon. We are both excited.

I'll report back...

[JoeH]

Well, I went out with my son this afternoon. His mom (my wife) came with and just walked with us. We had a great time. The hunting was done safely which was the priority.

My son carried with one in the chamber of his 20 gauge. He shot well, killing three birds. He never rushed his shot. On his first flush, he took his time and dusted a bird on a long shot. The look of surprise, excitement, and joy on his face when he realized that he made the shot was one I'll never forget.

The dog worked magnificently, finding and pointing many birds. She never broke point and retrieved all of the birds. We even dropped one bird in a pond and my Shorthair jumped in without hesitation and retrieved to hand. It's nice having a pointing dog that loves the water.

I think we will be doing that again.

[mmcnx2]

What game farm did you go to? I'm always looking for feedback on the local farms.