How many shells in a shotgun? Please help.

[Faceman]

I had an argument with a hunting buddy today about how many shells can fit in your shotgun while hunting.
He said the only time the plug can be out so the gun holds more than 3 shells is when big game hunting. He swore up and down that this is the truth.

I told him as far as I know you only need the plug in if you are hunting migratory birds which includes waterfowl, woodcocks, rails, snipes, and probably some others i am forgetting. But you do not need the plug in the gun to hunt grouse and mammals. I am not sure about pheasant as I have not hunted them yet.

From what i can tell from the regulations, I am right and he is wrong.

Who is right?

[Mayfly]

Heck..I think it is just waterfowl. Ducks and geese.

I've never used a plug and hunt grouse and pheasant.

[Cody Gruchow]

just waterfowl im sure, i mean because i put an extended tube on my shotgun for squirrel lol but for dove snipe woodcock and rails you have to have a plug in the gun. for pheasants it dont say but do you really need 5 shells for a single rooster. i just leave my plug in

[Big E]

Yeah it's only for migratory birds. I agree with Cody though and I just leave my plug in all the time. I've never had to shoot more than 3 times at a grouse, pheasant or rabbit. I do wish I could have 5 shots when hunting geese and ducks that's the only time I would need it.

[Faceman]

The reason I ask is because we are taking our annual grouse trip in two weeks and this year I am bringing my son. My son bought a used shotgun and there is no plug in it. I will have to get one or make one if or when he ever duck hunts.

[jjawz]

An unused pencil works pretty well as a plug, or a pen with pen caps on each end. I've had to do this before on the fly, works well. Try it out, may work for you.

[TNT]

in N.D. i think it's 3 rounds, but ask and know. i've heard guys say in N.D. 3 for waterfowl and upland, just check and see. in MN i shoot 5 for upland, and three for waterfowl.

[Mayfly]

Don't need 5 shells in your gun for pheasants?? Hmmm  '

So what happens when you bust 3 or more birds? Or when you bust one shoot twice and then two more get up?

[Spinach]

Don't need 5 shells in your gun for pheasants?? Hmmm  '

So what happens when you bust 3 or more birds? Or when you bust one shoot twice and then two more get up?

I agree......

[ChrisWallace]

Last two early season honkers in mn you could have unplugged guns and we had our snow tubes on as well. Nothing better than loading up half a box of shells...

[thunderpout]

Tim... reload!

[Bobby Bass]

Don't need 5 shells in your gun for pheasants?? Hmmm  '

So what happens when you bust 3 or more birds? Or when you bust one shoot twice and then two more get up?

You need to shoot twice at a bird?    Heck I only go grouse hunting with 5 shells in my pocket, anymore is just extra weight! 

[Cody Gruchow]

do you really need to shoot at 3 birds at once? i would pick one shoot and kill it then pick off the other one if i can otherwise i would just watch were it goes. so you need 5 shells for one bird?

[Mayfly]

 

[Bobby Bass]

do you really need to shoot at 3 birds at once? i would pick one shoot and kill it then pick off the other one if i can otherwise i would just watch were it goes. so you need 5 shells for one bird?

Of course you assume he does get the bird with five shots.. 

[Cody Gruchow]

i agree with bobby lol sure you dont want a tube extention to fit 9 shells in the gun?

[thunderpout]

  You guys are cruel!

[ChrisWallace]

i agree with bobby lol sure you dont want a tube extention to fit 9 shells in the gun?

My tubes bigger than your tube!

Mine holds 12....

[Cody Gruchow]

lol holy  must be 2 3/4 inch shells but still its holy 

[Bobby Bass]

Forgive me..    But I can't get this picture out of my head.  I see Tim on a ATV with a shotgun mounted on the rear that looks a lot like a civil war gattling gun. I see a bird flying away in the distant and spent shotguns shells around a smoldering barrel.    Tim is trying to reload a tall magazine of shells into the gun and the bird is making a circle to come back again...

[huntr42]

well now I knew a guy who claimed he could hit 8 out of 10 grouse in the head while they were flying with a .22,but he was a known liar.and Tim the military tac shotgun has a 30 round drum clip and is fully auto,it should be easier to haul on the back of your wheeler than the gatling gun

[thunderpout]

  I get by just fine with my OU & SxS, Baby! ........ you'll never hear me say I hit everything though, unless someones been forcing quality beverages on me for a short period of time...

[Cody Gruchow]

i hit everything but clay rabbit targets

[The General]

Don't need 5 shells in your gun for pheasants?? Hmmm  '

So what happens when you bust 3 or more birds? Or when you bust one shoot twice and then two more get up?

I agree......

I third the notion.

[kenhuntin]

i hit everything but clay rabbit targets

You may get 'em with five shots

[Cody Gruchow]

if i cant hit them with the first 2-3 shots why even try the 4th and 5th shot. maybe some of you need to join sporting clays so you only need 1 shot lol

[Mayfly]

maybe some of you need to join sporting clays so you only need 1 shot lol

I hope your kiddding.  Talk about easy.

I'm glad the guys that actually pheasant hunt agree with me. Do I need 5 shots for one bird? No I do not...well maybe sometimes

The point is this:

So what happens when you bust 3 or more birds? Or when you bust one shoot twice and then two more get up?

I grew up pheasant hunting mainly in Minnesota. When I was young the bird numbers were not always the best so if you did get into a pocket of roosters you had better be ready because these may be the only birds that you will see and actuall have a shot at the whole day. This is not hunting on the game farm or preserve. There I need a shell per bird. Wild burd hunting is A LOT different.

Anyways.................

[Auggie]

I chase roosters with an over & under, but some days I wish I had over,under, side by side and one in the middle. I have had many opportunity to shoot 3 birds in SD and only had 2 rounds. Nothing wrong with 5 for the upland, other than turkey. Then it better not take more than one!!!!

[Cody Gruchow]

you think sporting clays are easy tim? well for that you only get 2 shots also so i guess your  out of luck

[Mayfly]

you think sporting clays are easy tim? well for that you only get 2 shots also so i guess your  out of luck

Easier than live birds. At least you know how fast and the general direction.....