FEATURE: Choosing the Right Gun for Birds

TEXAS IS A WINGSHOOTER’S PARADISE. There is no state quite like Texas when it comes to opportunities to hunt game birds.

From by far the largest population of doves in the nation to pheasants in the Panhandle and quail in the cactus thickets, Texas is a destination for great bird hunting opportunities.

Throw in the fact about ⅓ of the Rio Grande turkeys in North America live here and that we are a major migratory state for ducks, geese, and sandhill cranes, it’s obvious Texas is next-level for wingshooting enthusiasts.

As this issue reaches subscribers and dove season kicks off, we thought we would check in with our friends at CZ-USA and look at a variety of shotguns to match specific hunting needs.

UPLAND BIRDS

Simple, strong, and smooth, CZ’s 612 FIELD is designed to shoot everything from targets to turkeys. Wearing a walnut stock and satin chrome finish, this rugged pump will hunt for generations to come. Capable of shooting 2 ¾ and 3-inch shells and supplied with three chokes, it’s a workhorse shotgun that won’t break the bank.

The CZ 620/628 FIELD SELECT is for those who want a light, classy pump gun to carry in the field. It is built on a gauge-specific 7075 aluminum action, this 20 or 28-gauge pump has a deep glossy blue finish and select-grade Turkish Walnut. A set of interchangeable chokes lets you tune constriction and the full forend and pistol grip help make this lithe shotgun feel good in the hands. With a 28″ barrel, both variants clock in at well under 6 lbs., lightening the load for those full days chasing birds.

CZ’s 1012 uses a gas-less inertia operating system. Instead of redirecting gas from the barrel to run the action, the 1012 uses a spring within the bolt to store energy during the shotgun’s recoil, spending this energy a split second later to rotate and unlock the twin lugs from the barrel extension and withdraw the spent shell.

 

The major advantage of an inertia system is the less stringent maintenance schedule. Unlike gas guns that need periodic cleaning of the piston and magazine tube, the 1012’s needs are vastly fewer. 

During CZ’s field testing, they pushed 1012s to 5,000 rounds without a drop of oil or cleaning of any sort, while experiencing zero parts breakage or malfunctions. 

In normal field use, the occasional cleaning and oiling should be more than enough.

Additionally, the gas-less system itself is tuned to run a wider variety of shells — from light-recoiling target loads up to the smoking hot 3″ magnums currently on the market.

1012 SYNTHETIC BOTTOMLAND, with its iconic camo pattern, is a bird-hunting machine. Using the same uber-reliable inertia semi-auto system that was used to set a clay shooting World Record in 2019, this auto-loader is built for serious use in the field.

The CZ CTP STERLING’s unique dimensions of this gun create a stock that looks very different from most other shotguns, allowing smaller female and youth shooters to keep their heads up and eyes on the target. A four-way adjustable comb helps fine-tune the fit and increased pitch makes it much more comfortable to shoulder (around 8 degrees).

This classy shotgun is built on the Upland Sterling receiver and is chambered in 12 gauge with 30″ barrels. It handles both 2¾ and 3” shells and comes with five interchangeable chokes.

Waterfowl

Built for the goose blind, the CZ 612 MAGNUM WATERFOWL boasts a waterfowl camo pattern combined with a 3 ½ inch chamber for magnum shotshells. This machine is for making big birds like snow geese fall from the sky. The 612 Magnum Waterfowl ships with five extended black choke tubes.

CZ 612 Magnum Waterfowl
(Photo: CZ-USA)

 

Available in 12 gauge with a 3½-inch chamber and a 28-inch barrel, the Magnum Waterfowl is hydro dipped in appropriate camo.

Turkey

The CZ 612 MAGNUM TURKEY was created for the turkey woods and since Texas has both a fall and spring turkey season there is ample opportunity. This pump gun comes equipped with two chokes, one extra-full to deliver maximum pellets to the kill zone, and one modified for upland hunting and steel shot. 

CZ 612 Magnum Turkey
(Photo: CZ-USA)

It is available in 12 gauge with a 3½-inch chamber and a 26-inch barrel and is hydro-dipped in camouflage.

A Wingshooting Tour of Texas

A hunter could take a tour of Texas wingshooting in numerous ecological regions and never repeat species.

Ever heard of the chachalaca?

Texas is the only state to have enough of these unique birds to offer a season, and they are available to hunt in four counties (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Willacy) along the Mexican border.

Swing up the coast a bit and a hunter could enjoy incredible opportunities and large rafts of redhead in Lower Laguna Madre. These gorgeous ducks are more common here than anywhere else in the Central Flyway and are considered “trophy ducks” for their stunning beauty.

Head due west and hunters find themselves in the best quail hunting left in America. This year may be tough due to drought conditions but well-managed ranches always have bobwhites to hunt here.

A couple of hours north, hunters will find the largest population of Rio Grande turkeys in America in the Texas Hill Country. Counties like Llano and Kimble are loaded with big, beautiful Rio Grande gobblers, especially along river bottom corridors.

Stop virtually anywhere in the state and get a great opportunity at doves. The San Antonio and Uvalde areas are great for whitewings, but mourning doves are pretty much abundant everywhere.

Traveling north to the Panhandle, hunters will find ring-necked pheasants, Canada geese, and sandhill cranes.

Texas really is a unique place for those who like to hunt birds and if you choose the right gun, adventure awaits in every corner of the state.

 

 

 

—story by AUTHOR

 

< PREV Return to CONTENTS Page NEXT >