12 excellent ways to totally botch your duck hunt

#10 USE A DIRTY GUN

During a hunt, dirt, mud or stubble can easily accumulate in your shotgun’s action. While this is especially true for semi-autos, I’ve also seen it happen with a dirty pump-action. Whatever the case, you can’t shoot ducks if your firearm is so dirty it jams or won’t cycle shells.

To prevent my shotgun from letting me down, I give it a quick cleaning after every outing. I’ve found that air compressors work great for blowing off dust and grit, allowing me to clean my gun without having to break it down every time. After every three or four hunts, though, I will strip down the gun and give it a more thorough cleaning, then lubricate the action and ensure it works smoothly.