I prefer to use my old 870 Super Magnum for several reasons. First of all, my shooting can still stand some improvement. When the birds come zipping by, I need all of the pattern I can buy to get a bird to go down hard. Second, going back to the mention earlier in this article about pass-shooting geese, I prefer to have a lethal goose load in my pocket for over-flying geese. I keep a few HeviShot in 3 1/2-inch loads for any geese that are gaining altitude. I hate to wound any animal and prefer quick kills. I find that the larger and heavier loads do the number on geese and I have no worries when I hit one that it is going down. The cost may be a bit more, but in the end, I expend fewer shells per kill, which evens things out.

This season if your favorite duck blind is not producing, try hunting your local beaver swamp or slough for wood ducks. Not only will the action remain hot all season long, but also a bonus mallard, black duck or even a goose is not out of the question.

BOAT LAUNCH SITES
The following is a list of boat launches that can offer some spots for scouting your duck hunts.

• Rappahannock River-Little Falls Boat Ramp in Stafford at Ferry Farm off Rt. 3.

• Hicks' Landing on Rt. 17, four miles north of Port Royal, Port Royal Fish House at Port Royal, Wilmont Landing in King George near the Westmoreland County line off Rt. 3 and Leedstown Campground in Westmoreland at Leedstown all offer boat launches to put hunters within striking distance of good jump-shooting areas.

• Mattaponi River-Walkerton and Aylett both have ramps.

• Chickahominy River and Lake -- On the lake, check out Ed Allen; on the river at the dam, check out Riverside Camp 2 off Rt. 627. Rivers Best Marina near Mt. Airy and the ramp at Powhatan Marina have a slew of marshes in between.

• James River-Osbourne Landing off I-295, Dutch Gap Ramp off I-95, Deep Bottom Ramp off Rt. 5, and Jordan Point off Rt. 106.