PM chokes and Hunting dogs

[Johns4killen]

I have two questions that some of you might be able to help me with. The first one is if anyone has some tips one how to get your dog to carry geese decent. my dog will carry them but he makes it look like such a struggle? secondly, I have a rem. sp10 and had bought a PM choke for it but I seem to have much better luck with my factory choke. Has this ever happend to anyone else. Your help is very much appreciated. [/list]

[Kelly Rees]

As far as the PM choke goes:

Yes you will probably have better luck with your stock chokes (mod) at first. Why? You bought a PatternMaster, it's a full/Xtrafull choke. That means you dont have a huge pattern out there when you shoot. You have to actually put a good shot on the bird but when you get used to shooting it you will KILL more birds with one shot and your cripples will go way down.

Go out and shoot a few rounds of trap with a full choke to get the feel for it and you'll never turn back.

[Johnny McDonnell]

I'm with Kelly, you have to put it on 'em to or you'll miss especialy at close range. I have shot a PM since they came out, last year I went back to the stock mod choke on my SX2. I might have hit acouple more at close range, inside 20 but I missed or gimped alot more past 35yds. Once you get used to it, it's blood guts and gizzards. As far as the dog problem goes, I'm no dog trainer but I'd say try out the Dokkens Dead Fowl goose. Almost all sporting goods stores carry them. I stopped to see my new lab last Friday at the trainer, and he was carrying the DDF goose by the A$$ end when I questioned it they said when the dog comes up to heel rearrange the bird in his mouth make him hold it for a few seconds before taking it. They also said with experience he will learn how to carry them the easiest way. Johnny mcDonnell

[Killer Miller]

Kelly is right, you are used to shooting a much more open choke so you have less margin for error with the Patternmaster. I just got a PM a few months ago and haven't shot it too much yet. I do know that everything I've shot with it was dead so far (just a few geese and a teal so far), except for one goose. That was my fault though, I didnt lead the bird enough and clipped a wing and his butt. That bird had a band by the way. I know that my buddy (Iowawaterfowler88) had some trouble shooting his last fall, but he shoots it well now. He couldnt hit anything for a while but is good with it now. I thought I would be the same way, but havent had any trouble shooting it. I'm not saying I am a great shot, but some people will just have to keep shooting it until they get it. I LOVE MY PATTERNMASTER! Its gonna be hard taking it out for the duck opener, but I know if I dont Ill be blowing them to hell.

[mlgorecki]

Dog Question:

I'm no dog trainer either but I've been training "Scout" with a Dokken Deal Fowl Goose and it seems to be helping him. After a few retrieves it gets waterlogged and a lot heavier which, in turn, gives him a better workout. In the end, bringing a goose into your blind shouldn't be a problem for your dog.

The other thing I would recommend, if you can, is to get your dog out to a blind with a ramp before the season starts and give him some retrieves with the Dokken Goose from the blind. This way your dog will get that much better at negotiating the ramp with the waterlogged dummy in his/her mouth. "Scout" is now to the point where he can jump onto a ramp in shallow water with the dummy in his mouth.

The other nice thing about pre-season training from a blind is that you can work more realistically on "blind" retrieves. Example: While he is swimming out to a dummy in front of the blind you throw one behind that he doesn't see. Once he's back with the first one you direct him to the second. Way better then training him from the shore.

"Scout" is no OLN TV dog but, after only one season, he knows his way around a blind

Good luck.

[Johns4killen]

Hey thanks for the input fellas, After reading you replies It dawned on me that although I do a ton of sporting clay shooting in the summer I am always shooting a briley improved or a briley modified and they are so much more forgiving than the PM. I guess sometimes hearing it from someone else it what it takes for the light bulb to turn on. Thanks again, and until next time.