How To Pattern a Shotgun With Janis Putelis

How to Pattern a Shotgun for Hunting

No serious hunter would take a new rifle into the field without testing it at range first. Shotguns should be treated no differently. Before hunting, you should make sure that your shotgun works in harmony with your selected choke and ammunition and also that it works in harmony with you. This is done through a process known as patterning. To pattern your shotgun, get two pieces of butcher’s paper or newsprint that are approximately 48″ square...

Ep. 396: How to Learn From a “Failed” Hunt with Janis Putelis

Today on the show, I’m joined by MeatEater’s Janis Putelis to analyze his 2020 Wisconsin rut bow hunt and explore ways all of us can better learn from our hunts and unfilled tags.Topics discussed:  The dreaded November heat wave Saddle hunting  The urge to tree hop  Scent control vs. wind direction Deer sign and lack thereof  The importance of scouting What to do with limited time and intel Optimism and moving forward   Connect with Mark Kenyon...

How to Pattern a Shotgun for Turkey Hunting

When it comes to turkey shotguns, modern choke-and-load combinations are capable of throwing ultra-tight patterns out to 40 yards or more. At the same time, turkey hunters should remember that a properly outfitted scattergun’s pattern is likely no larger than a baseball at 10 to 15 yards. I learned my lesson many springs ago in Nebraska when I missed a Sandhills gobbler at 10 yards thanks to not taking the time to sight in and pattern my gun. I...