Waterfowl Clients - Shotgun Safety

If you’re guiding duck and or goose hunters, constantly remind your clients to be careful that NO debris gets in their barrel via the muzzle. Since duck and goose hunting normally takes place in and around swamps or grain fields, and given the large diameter of the shotgun bore to begin with, the odds are fairly good that something could end up in the barrel. Bits of leaves or tiny branches from the duck blind or bits of grain stalk or even mud or snow can end up in the barrel without your client even knowing about it. This can happen easily, especially during an action-packed hunt when everyone is excited and having a blast, so to speak.

As you likely know… if you discharge a shotgun (or any gun) and there is even the smallest obstruction in the barrel, the barrel will almost certainly rupture and cause injury to the shooter or bystanders. If in doubt, have your client remove the barrel (or do it yourself if he/she is uncertain how to do so) and have a look through. An easy remedy is to have a pull cord and cloth with oil on it (in a zip style bag) with you and simply run it through. Always bring along a ram rod and a copper or wire brush too. This way you can always clean out the bore, even if it’s jammed with mud. At that point your client can continue hunting. Otherwise, their hunt is over for the morning and they won’t be happy about it. And, as a bonus – nobody (including you) gets killed!