15 March 2008, 05:44
miles58Kroil,
That's something. I can tell the case hardening colors don't photograph well but you can see in the pics they are gorgeous. The plates are incredible.
Thanks
15 March 2008, 05:51
miles58quote:
Posted 13 March 2008 22:15 Hide Post
Miles58:
I hunted ruffs for over 60 years and never saw a "juvenile" shot during hunting season in NY. Hereabouts, ruffs mate around late April thru May. Chicks are all hatched no later than about mid June. Birds are fully grown by end of summer or at the latest by early Autumn.(before end of September and certainly by early October) Our NY hunting season in Southern Zone was From November 1 on. Thus I never saw any "juveniles". Maybe you have an earlier opening day in your neck of the woods?) As to the width of band I have seen too many variables to trust that either -ranging from what year of the cycle to diet to just simply the usual "exceptions". If you can tell sex and age of a ruff from loooking at tail feathers, then more power to you! I never could.
Gerry,
A juvenile defined as a bird of the year. Look at the broken primary sticking out. It looks like it is either P1 or P2. It is obviously well worn. Adult grouse molt all of their primaries. P1, P2 and P3 are not molted in juveniles.
The band is not diagnostic, but the length of the tail feathers can be helpful. What is diagnostic is the rump feathers. Look at the white "spots" on them Hen birds have one cock birds have two. That's the way I learned from Gordon.
15 March 2008, 21:31
gerrys375Miles58:
As the old expression has it:" You learn something new every day!" Thanks for an informative post. I simply never knew what you have told me and, I, indeed hunted ruffs for some 60 years or more - I guess I didn't learn much along the way. But then I've had people ranging from a wife to strangers telling me along the way that I didn't know much. This is just one more example!
15 March 2008, 22:58
miles58Gerry,
In the coming season practice aging and sexing ther birds and you will see it's a lot easier than you ever thought.
16 March 2008, 06:07
KroilHey Miles58:
hows this for a little more detail on the case colors?
Woodcock in flight...
16 March 2008, 09:47
miles58You are quite possibly the meanest person I ever met.
16 March 2008, 09:52
miles58The detail present in the engraving tells me this was done by someone special. Do you know who?
17 March 2008, 16:23
Kroil"Mean"??? Well, then this should qualify as genuine abuse.
The engraver was some gifted Italian named Albardi who had the eyes of an Angel and the hands of God. The style is Bulino.
Photos just don't do the gun any justice. It is striking.
18 March 2008, 03:34
miles58Kroil,
Please tell me you didn't drag that gun out in the woods to shoot the grouse. Below is what I've been dragging out in grouse woods for the last twenty some odd years. That's only a couple thousand or so worth of gun. I think I'd have to have a logging road fully carpeted with padding, before I'd consider dragging yours out no matter how bad I want to shoot a grouse with one like that.
18 March 2008, 03:37
miles58All right how the hell do you do that?
18 March 2008, 06:18
AglifterI think fit probably matters more than anything else. I have a Superposed w. 30" barrels and Briley chokes that I'm incredibly fond of. I have another that's stocked differently that I can't hit the broad side of a barn with.
09 June 2008, 20:37
470CapstickA2I have both and prefer the sxs..... but you have
to understand how each is designed and made. You
have to pattern, and practice your mount with
each gun to figure them out... my order of pref
from my recent inventory...my consec #'d matched
pair definitely lead the pack
William Powell and sons sxs #1 gun for sporting
William Powell and sons sxs #2 gun for Helice
Perazzi MX8 (stolen last OCT
)
Holland and Holland Badminton 12g sxs (stolen
last OCT )
Winchester 21 32" Duck with Briley tubes
Beretta 682 gold with 20,28,410 tubeset
Shoot what you like, then learn to shoot it well
