They're dark meat, but surprisingly not gamey. Like any wild game, a knowledgable cook is important. I'm not that guy.
What i can say is that if wild rice is ripe when hunting, gather a little in a 5 gallon pail and serve with the bird. They are quite small so you need 4-6 depending on species.Plenty of reloading data out there for the .410 and tss shot.Nothing says you're going to have a good hunt better than seeing a bird or two clinging to a piece of grass in a flooded marsh where they can't run! Of course, they swim too.
When we walk up clappers and virginias on hard spartina marshes, sometimes you see what looks at first glance to be rats running around in a couple of inches of water. But it's them, just like soras they'll do anything not to fly. One time when we were kids, we canoed out to a spot and were walking them up. When we got back to the canoe what I think was a clapper (possibly virginia) was standing on it. He jumped off and ran away rather than fly. They are a lot of fun.
What is a bit disappointing in recent years is that I can't use a .410 with 2 1/2" shells. Nobody makes a decent non-tox load for it, and the reloading recipes are non existent. Before non tox, the .410 with skeet shells was big medicine for rail. It just seems perfectly scaled for them. The 28 is now the gauge of choice, which is ok.
Jeez, did a good job of hijacking Bob's thread! Photos of a nice rail skiff get me goin'.
You are correct with 3" hulls and TSS. I want to use 2 1/2", and as you have mentioned previously, TSS shoots far too tight for use on rail. I would only use bismuth or similar shot.
I know of some 2 1/2 hull data.
.
Sora taste like a tiny wood duck. My friend says they're like peanuts. Takes a bunch to fill you up!
I saw boss is selling a two and three-quarter number eight steel shot shell. In 20 gauge and I believe you can order them in 28. They might be able to make you some 410sI know you aren't considering the TSS too seriously, but 9's are downright scary to think about in the rail marsh. 9's are behaving like 4 or 5 lead - that is a far carrying pellet and an overly potent pellet to be slinging around the rail marsh. if you could get some 12's in TSS that would be an impressive load (for the wallet too). Then again, steel 7s are impressive for soras
Steve, the clappers are thick on our Delaware bay marshes. They flock to the cabins and often entire families live among the framework and decking. It's a real good way to keep the dog occupied!
Agreed, the TSS is great stuff for larger birds but way too much for rail. I have a bunch of Bismuth #9's I've been loading in the 28. I reduce the powder 1 grain, and the shot is 5/8 oz by weight for a 3/4 oz recipe. The recipe acknowledges it as a Lead or Bismuth recipe but doesn't reduce the weight of the shot charge to account for the density difference vs Lead. Throwing 5/8 oz Bismuth is very close to 3/4 oz Lead by volume so the crimp isn't messed up or the wad crushed. They work ok, you can tell they're a little weak but for rail at 20 yards or less it's a tank gun.I know you aren't considering the TSS too seriously, but 9's are downright scary to think about in the rail marsh. 9's are behaving like 4 or 5 lead - that is a far carrying pellet and an overly potent pellet to be slinging around the rail marsh. if you could get some 12's in TSS that would be an impressive load (for the wallet too). Then again, steel 7s are impressive for soras
I like Boss Bismuth for ducks over the decoys. Bummed that they stopped production. I bought a couple cases of 12's, and a case each of 16 & 28's. The 28's are 7/8 ounce of #7's at 1350 fps, that's a pretty stout load for rail out of a 5 pound gun. When Lead is outlawed for upland game, I can use them for grouse. Good thought about the .410, maybe I'll ask them once they figure out what they're doing post-Bismuth.
Those marsh hens are something! Cool to hear that video. You don't hunt them? Is that marsh too soft to walk them up in shorts and old sneakers? That's fun if you don't feel like pushing.
It's walkable. There's a ton of them out there. I just prefer the Soras . Clappers kind of become like family pets lol.
Walking them up is great on a really hot day. Shorts and old sneakers, looking forward to crossing a chest deep ditch to cool off.
They are tasty if--and only if--you let them get out a ways before taking the shot. The first one I shot was a snap shot at about 10 yards with an ounce of 20 gauge steel #7's. We retrieved nothing but the tail and the beak! Light loads and letting birds get a bit of distance are good!
Let me know how that stuff works out.
All true for sure. Give 'em some distance and open chokes. With the 28 I use cylinder chokes, .410 skeet chokes. I'm not sure I ever shot at one over 30 yards.
I have high hopes for it. There's a youtube video someone made of before and after, applying wetlander to the bottom of his jon boat. The guy attached a scale to the bow and measured the force required to pull it across his yard. The starting force went from about 150 pounds to 50 if I recall correctly. No way to account for possible changes in moisture on his lawn, but in any event a quite substantial reduction. My biggest fear is losing the boat out of the pickup bed.
Pretty sure it's mild insanity. Every time I build a boat to hunt these little birds, I think I'm going to get out at least ten times. It always ends up being four or five. To top it off I normally jump out of the boat, chasing them up on foot when I can't get the boat to them. Channeling my inner bird dog.
