PhilBourjaily

Phil Bourjaily

All articles by Phil Bourjaily

Image for Saskatchewan Skies
Saskatchewan Skies

The airspace over this prairie providence can get very crowded during the fall migration

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Image for Shotgunning: See Your Way to Better Shooting
Shotgunning: See Your Way to Better Shooting

Strong, healthy eyes can be the difference between a hit and a miss

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A Quest for Cacklers

For the goose aficionado, a late-season trip to the Pacific Northwest offers spectacular hunting for a variety of white-cheeked subspecies

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Building a Better Duck Load

A look back at the evolution of waterfowling ammo, from the black powder era to today’s state-of-the-art shotshells

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Shotgunning: Beating a Slump

Because shooting poorly is no way to end the season

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Image for Shotgunning: How Far is Too Far?
Shotgunning: How Far is Too Far?

There are a number of variables to consider before pulling the trigger on a long shot

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Micro-Spreads

When placed strategically, a small number of decoys can achieve big results

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Shotgunning: My Duck Guns

After decades of trial and error, these are the shotguns the author hunts with today

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Shotgunning: A Primer for Pheasants

Everything a waterfowler needs to know before heading to the uplands

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Shotgunning: Stacked Loads

These versatile and affordable shotgun shells can be an effective option for many waterfowlers

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Image for Shotgunning: Making a Duck Hunter
Shotgunning: Making a Duck Hunter

Watching a novice waterfowler thrill to the sight of birds dropping into the decoys can be as rewarding as shooting a limit of your own

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Shotgunning: Snow Goose Guns

When hundreds of white geese are hanging over the decoys, you want firepower and reliability in your hands

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Shotgunning: Shoot Like a Champion

One of the country’s most accomplished clays shooters shares his secrets for improving your shotgunning skills

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History of the Semiauto

More than a century of creative design and skillful engineering led to the development of today’s autoloading shotguns, which are more durable and dependable than ever

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Image for Shotgunning: Working the Angles
Shotgunning: Working the Angles

How to connect on some of waterfowling’s most challenging shots

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Image for Shotgunning: Turkish Delights
Shotgunning: Turkish Delights

These imported shotguns are gaining favor with American waterfowlers

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Shotgunning: Young Guns

Youth shooting programs teach discipline and safety while supporting conservation

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Shotgunning: Timeless Tools

Tips for enjoying waterfowling with a classic shotgun

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Image for Shotgunning: Shooting from Blinds
Shotgunning: Shooting from Blinds

How to quickly and safely make the transition from hiding to shooting

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Image for Shotgunning: Tips for the Timber
Shotgunning: Tips for the Timber

Essential knowledge for hunters heading to the flooded woods

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Five Perfect Setups

You can't miss with these deadly decoy spreads designed for classic waterfowl habitats

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Modern Classics

DU’s Gun of the Year program has been going strong for half a century. Here’s a look at some of the most memorable shotguns in the collection

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Shotgunning: Going Light

New nontoxic loads have made 20- and 28-gauge shotguns increasingly popular among waterfowlers

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Image for Shotgunning: Preseason Workout
Shotgunning: Preseason Workout

Shoot better this season by getting your body and mind in shape now

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Image for 2023 New Guns and Gear: Shotguns
2023 New Guns and Gear: Shotguns

Start your new season off with a bang with this year's selection of shotguns for waterfowlers

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Image for Shotgunning: Double Guns for Ducks and Geese
Shotgunning: Double Guns for Ducks and Geese

Some modern over/unders and side-by-sides are made with waterfowlers in mind

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Image for Shotgunning: Have Gun, Will Travel
Shotgunning: Have Gun, Will Travel

Pro tips and hacks for road-tripping waterfowlers

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Image for Shotgunning: The Beretta Story
Shotgunning: The Beretta Story

The legendary Italian gun maker has been producing high-quality firearms for nearly 500 years

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Image for Shotgunning: Next Generation Shotshells
Shotgunning: Next Generation Shotshells

Some of the NEWEST nontoxic waterfowl loads rival or exceed the performance of lead

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Image for Shotgunning: Early Birds
Shotgunning: Early Birds

Dove hunting is the perfect tune-up for waterfowl season

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Early-Season Spreads

Set up for success with these specialized decoy strategies for the first hunts of fall

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The Belgian Brownings

Many waterfowlers consider these classic shotguns to be among the finest firearms ever employed in a duck blind

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Off to a Good Start

Get off to a good start in waterfowl hunting with expert shooting tips. Improve your skills and increase success in the field.

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Image for The Case for a 10-Gauge
The Case for a 10-Gauge

The popularity of these big-bore shotguns has waned, but they continue to fill a niche

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The High Overhead Shot

Good technique and plenty of practice can help you master this wingshooting challenge

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Wood Duck Shooting

Connecting with these colorful aerial acrobats is one of wingshooting's toughest challenges

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Hands On Shooting

Your eyes find the target and guide your hands to it; the gun just goes along for the ride

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Is One Enough?

Some of us are one-gun hunters; others like to have more options in their waterfowling arsenal

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The Late Show

Four experts explain why the end of the season can be the best time to hunt Canada geese, and how you can make the most of it

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The Physics of Shotgunning

How Einstein and Newton can help you squeeze the most performance out of your scattergun

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Shotgunning: Distance Learning

Accurately estimating distance and knowing your effective range is crucial to being an ethical hunter

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The Specialists

When does a passion for a particular duck become an obsession? Four fanatical waterfowlers share their stories and species-specific strategies.

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Image for Shotgunning: Famous Foxes
Shotgunning: Famous Foxes

These legendary shotguns evoke the spirit of waterfowling in the early 20th century

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Image for Shotgunning: The Churchill Method
Shotgunning: The Churchill Method

This instinctive shooting style might be the key to improving your success in the duck blind

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Shotgunning: Retrievers and Guns

How to keep your dog and your hunting partners safe in the blind

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Image for Shotgunning: Timing Is Everything
Shotgunning: Timing Is Everything

Make the most of the last few moments before you pull the trigger

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Image for Shotgunning: High-Performance Duck Guns
Shotgunning: High-Performance Duck Guns

Thanks to advancements in technology, today’s waterfowl guns are more effective and dependable than ever

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Battling the Elements

Keep your shotgun functioning in even the worst weather conditions

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Don't Miss!

To correct the most common shotgunning mistakes, learn to stop thinking and let your eyes and hands take over

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Image for Shotgunning: Ducks over Decoys
Shotgunning: Ducks over Decoys

Be ready when the moment of truth arrives

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Image for Shotgunning: Gun Buying Tips for Waterfowlers
Shotgunning: Gun Buying Tips for Waterfowlers

Whether you’re looking for a new or used shotgun, here’s how to get the most for your money

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20 Off-Season Shooting Tips

Prepare for next season with these pointers on guns, ammo, and shooting techniques

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Finding the Range

Take aim at trap, skeet, and sporting clays to fine-tune your waterfowl shooting skills during the off-season

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Image for Shotgunning: Breaking Bad Habits
Shotgunning: Breaking Bad Habits

Follow these five tips to fix any flaws in your shooting form before opening day

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