doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com How many hunting seasons for you?

1948 here, but I do remember riding along in my dad's '39 Plymouth with his buddies road hunting ditch parrots in western MN during the early '40's. He shot his trusty Nitro Special, having already given up semiauto machine guns during the drought years. Still use his Alumacraft Ducker from 1947...still the best duck boat ever made in my opinion.

Your opinion of the "Ducker" was also supported by the late Nash Buckingham. When you mention your father's Nitro Special, wonder if you have it yet today.? One of the best economy boxlock shotguns ever made- and a break-action shotgun is a first class choice for a road hunt--better than a magazine loaded repeater.

Years ago, a neighbor was detailing road hunting for grouse in Michigan's UP-- the gunner(s) rode on the front fenders of a Jeep (WW2 surplus) and used .410 single shots- popped the pat in the head with a load of birdshot-- Not the GBE approach to "Sir Ruff", but meat in the pot-

For families that made it through the Depression years, hunting was not so much for sport, but for food--

Reading this post I'm young to the hunting scene and doublegun as well. This is my 28th season. Growing up Dad had a plethora of rifles/shotguns/handguns. We were always going to the range. Not until I left the house did I start hunting and all that I had to learn on my own. I've killed many bucks with a rifle but this year (I'm 48) was my 1st kill with stick and string! What fun that was.

48 years for me, took my first squirrel with a 410 at 7.

Yes Daryl, hunting rabbits over ferrets start here when the hunting saison is almost finish and I like it more when it is cold and with snow on the ground. I dont have the exact number of rabbits that I have shot in my hunting carriere but sure around or over 4.000.
Cheers, Marc.

Yes Run I have my dad's Nitro Special and several others in my motley collection of American doubles. He made a gorgeous checkered beavertail for it and shot trap with it for years, getting his share of 25 straights. Have two Duckers that I trailer as clamshell, holding all gear inside out of the elements. Also have a couple original oars that are far scarcer than the boats themselves.

64 hunting seasons. I didn't expect to live this long (78), and am surprised that I can still hunt birds. A new metal knee helped a lot. I bought a new bird dog last year....

Good to know, Halk. Ithaca produced the LeFever Nitro Special from about 1922 to 1948, I think. Years ago, I had a 20 ga. Nitro Special, 28" barrels and non-selective single trigger- great grouse gun with open chokes-- My former hunting partner and next door neighbor bought it from me, for his teen-aged son to bird hunt with--after about 3 years of me "loaning it to his lad" and apparently he shot it quite well.

Your Dad's Nitro must have had tightly choked barrels for him to score that well at trap- 16 yard line--Back in the day, when I shot trap, Win. Model 12's were "King", but the Ithaca "Knick" single barrel trap gun was also often seen, also over-unders.
The confidence a man has in his gun, no matter what make or model, often has a lot to do with how well he scores with it.

Fox you are allowed one reply in this thread.

1978 was my first taste, so I guess 40 years for me. I wish I could keep going for another 40 seasons, but that's a bit optimistic.