Winchester Waterfowl Shotshells are Duck and Goose Ready

A bull sprig flew circles around our decoy spread, slowly descending towards the surface of the coastal waters. When it finally flew within range, a well-placed pattern of steel ended its flight. We were admiring the incredible colors and plumage of the bird when a flock of redheads motored toward the outer edge of our decoys. The flock dipped and rose like they were choreographed in perfect sequence. The bead of my shotgun swung hard to get in front of a beautiful drake, and when the trigger was depressed, it tumbled to the water. I was hunting ducks, but my shotgun was loaded with Winchester Xpert Snow Goose Steel loads. The high velocity steel is ideal for knocking down fast flying ducks that are decoying or cruising past at breakneck speeds.

We were hunting southern Louisiana and started the day cruising down the Mississippi River and through a myriad of channels that led to the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf Coast is changing—fast. More powerful than the current state of the Mississippi River are the forces of politics, economics and climate that are reshaping this critical region. From the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 to the complex environmental conflicts depicted in the award-winning movie The Pelican Brief, this land has long been a crossroads of consequence. Today, however, the stakes are higher than ever. The Gulf’s coastal marshes—essential to millions of migrating birds and home to incredible biodiversity—are vanishing.

Ducks Unlimited (DU) noted that over 1.1 million acres of coastal marsh have been lost, nearly 300,000 acres of rice fields have disappeared and invasive species are wreaking havoc. These habitats are irreplaceable for wildlife and generations of waterfowl hunters who know the value of a flooded rice field or a brackish marsh at first light.

DU’s response is bold: massive habitat restoration projects, partnerships with the USDA to make rice farming more sustainable and conservation of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley’s remaining wetland forests. Why? Winter-flooded rice fields and resilient marshes provide the food and cover that keep migratory birds alive.

There’s still time to stand up for the land, the birds and the traditions we hold dear. And when you head out into these wild, changing frontiers, your gear needs to work as hard as you do.

The second day of our hunt had us tucked into a bay surrounded by towering vegetation. Big gadwall drakes, locally known as gray ducks, were added to the bag early. Green-winged teal stole the show as the sun lifted into the sky, descending on the decoys in large flocks. Birds in tight were ideal for Winchester Drylok Super Steel, with water-resistant hulls and primers, was made to withstand wet, muddy blinds and salt spray.

Shotshell options can improve your success rate when hunting in different conditions or birds that cooperate or challenge your shooting ability. The various options are always worth having on hand to take advantage of whatever the birds offer in a given day or hour. Hunting from the agricultural fields of western Canada to the coastal marshes of Louisiana and Texas, knowing your shotshell options and how they perform makes a hunter lethal.

I remember hunting the big waters of Washington when Blind Side shotshells first hit the market. We decoyed everything from big mallards to wigeons, redheads and hooded mergansers. The stacked hex-shaped shot proved lethal with dense and consistent patterns. A highlight was freshly grilled duck in the blind boat as we waited for the next flight. Since the first experiences with the shotshell line, Winchester has developed Blind Side 2. The Blind Side 2 line is noticeably lethal, with large and deep wound channels. Avoiding cripples is easy with shot that kills clean.

Hunting in Louisiana late last season, we were treated to various ducks. The first morning, we were on a flooded pasture, where we shot a diversity of dabblers. The ducks were a bit shy, and they tested our shooting abilities and ammunition. Winchester Xpert, shooting at 1,550 fps, was deadly. It is hard to beat the fast steel loads when getting in front of fast-flying birds. At 1,550 fps, the loads help the average hunter who tends to shoot behind the intended targets.

Winchester Bismuth showed its value when hunting a flooded rice field. One of my hunting partners was shooting Bismuth and made some spectacular shots that everyone noted. The lethality of bismuth is impressive, making it an excellent consideration for easy retrieval and preventing birds from escaping into cover. I had tried the Winchester Bismuth early in the fall on an Alberta snow goose hunt where we shot 250 birds in under an hour. The bismuth was used to target birds on the edge of the decoy spread, and it proved its value.

The Louisiana hunt gave me the first opportunity to shoot Last Call TSS. Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) is almost like cheating, providing the ultimate in performance. The high density of tungsten has a devastating energy transfer, an insane pellet count and unmatched lethality even when compared to lead. The TSS loads were perfect for targeting special birds. For me, a trophy sprig was high on my list. I continually watched the sky for the long-necked duck with a matching tail, and on day three, it finally happened. A big bull circled several times but never closed the distance to less than 70 yards. When it looked like the drake would leave, a long lead placed my pattern on the pintail, killing it instantly. It was a shot and hunting moment I will never forget.

The true test for the TSS load came when one of our hunting party knocked down a big mallard drake. The duck kicked and splashed its way into the open water, stretching the distance from our blind to 100 yards. Aiming well over the bird, the TSS pellets killed it clean and prevented it from escaping. The Last Call TSS has a steep price tag, but it was worth every penny for what it provided. At the end of the day, the ammunition used to harvest seven ducks is much less than the overall adventure with licensing and travel.

Consider Your Options

Winchester Blind Side 2

The Blind Side series is known for its stacked Hex Steel Shot and diamond-cut wad, which promotes a tight pattern and effectiveness on waterfowl.\

Winchester Bismuth

Winchester Bismuth is tin-plated bismuth shot for nontoxic, high-density performance. The No. 4 shot, 3-inch, 1.375oz (213 pellets), shoots 1,450 fps. Winchester Bismuth shotshells offer high density and the ability to maintain effective patterns at longer ranges.

Winchester Xpert Snow Goose Steel

Xpert Snow Goose Steel offers premium performance at a great value, with a diamond-cut wad for dense, downrange patterns and velocities of 1,475 to 1,550 fps. The Xpert Snow Goose load is specifically designed for snow goose hunting, offering high velocity and a distinctive shot mix, but should not be overlooked for any waterfowl hunting.

Last Call TSS

Last Call TSS is the ultimate in performance with devastating energy transfer, insane pellet counts and unmatched lethality. The 3-inch, 1-1/4-ounce shotshell loaded with No. 7 TSS has buffered 18 g/cc tungsten pellets, and the sealed wad and primer ensure maximum water resistance for safe and reliable performance. The pellets shoot at an impressive velocity of 1,500 fps.

Winchester Drylok Super Steel

Water-resistant hulls and primers withstand wet, muddy blinds and salt spray. The specialized Drylok wad system and lacquered primer provide superior water resistance, keeping your shells reliable in the wettest conditions. A heavy payload combined with high velocity means more pellets hit harder, delivering greater energy at extended distances. The rust-resistant plated precision steel shot is engineered for accuracy and maintains tight, consistent patterns for deadly performance. The Drylok line offers excellent value for budget-minded customers.

Be Prepared

No matter where you waterfowl hunt, go prepared and have a variety of shotshells to optimize every opportunity. Different habitats, conditions and duck species can be challenging, and changing conditions often mean a change is needed in ammunition. When choosing a Winchester shotshell, consider the specific waterfowl you are hunting, the distance of your shots and your preferences. Note how your gun performs with each different shell.

Winchester covers the bases with shotshell options for 10-, 12-, 16-, 20-, 28-gauge and 410 bore. Waterfowl hunting continues to change, like the coastal marshes. Adapting and taking advantage of different shotshells and what each offers to make you a better and more successful hunter. Take the challenge to use the different Winchester waterfowl shotshells to see and know the benefits of each. It will make sure you are eating duck and goose regularly.