Waterfowl hunting is an exciting pursuit that requires speed, precision, and the ability to perform in often harsh, low-light, and wet conditions. While many hunters rely solely on traditional bead sights, the right optic can dramatically improve target acquisition and accuracy.
Many waterfowl hunters may balk at the idea of using optics on a shotgun, because they are not commonly used, but the same could be said for all firearms at one point. At one point, all guns used some kind of rudimentary sighting system, and as optics technology evolves, so do the practical applications of those optics.
Optics like red dot sights have been used on turkey hunting shotguns for many years with great success. For turkey hunters, a red dot provides a clear aiming point that is not obscured by the barrel or rib. This is important when aiming for a small target like a turkey’s head, especially when the shotgun shoots a very tight pattern. While shooting waterfowl in flight is worlds different than precision shots at turkeys, there are some universal advantages that a red dot provides over a traditional rib and front bead.
Advantages of Red Dot Optics
Lightning-Fast Target Acquisition
One major advantage of red dot optics is their lightning-fast target acquisition. Because the sight picture through the optic is a larger area than keeping a small bead in peripheral vision, your eyes can quickly pick up the dot when the shotgun is mounted.
Unobstructed Full Target View
When looking down the rib or barrel of a shotgun, the barrel itself blocks the lower portion of your sight picture. Since a red dot is a projected reticle on a clear lens, you get the full, unobstructed sight picture.
Enhanced Low-Light Performance
Those first shots of the morning at shooting light can make it difficult to see the exact placement of a dark shotgun barrel. A bright red dot solves this problem, providing a clear aiming point regardless of ambient light conditions.
Aids Cross-Dominant Shooters
A portion of the population is cross-dominant, meaning their dominant hand and dominant eye are different. When a cross-dominant shooter mounts a traditional shotgun, the barrel often appears to be pointing off to the side, making it difficult to shoot with both eyes open. With a red dot, the shooter can easily shoot with both eyes open because the dot is simple to see in peripheral vision.
Note: If you are unsure of your eye dominance, learning this is essential for accurate shooting.
Encourages Instinctive Shooting
Anyone who has spent time waterfowl hunting knows you don't look down the bead and precisely aim. Ducks move fast and have unpredictable flight paths. Learning to shoot instinctively—swinging and shooting with the flow of the target while applying the correct amount of lead—will certainly pay off with more ducks on the strap.
Being able to see the red dot with both eyes open while focusing on the moving target and judging the proper amount of lead can aid in developing your instinctive shooting. Since the dot is so easy to see and seems to float in the sight picture, shooters are less likely to fixate on a front bead trying to precisely aim.
How do I mount a red dot to my shotgun?
While some new models of shotguns being manufactured have the ability to mount a picatinny rail, and some others are even cut specifically for a reflex style red dot, the vast majority of shotguns are not drilled and tapped for any kind of scope base. The solution to this problem is the Warne® Shotgun Rib Mount.
The Warne Shotgun Rib Reflex Mount is a revolutionary new mount design that allows shooters to mount various reflex style red dot optics to most vented rib shotgun barrel. Warne’s proprietary clamp design attaches directly to a vented rib 6-10mm wide and allows for a low-profile universal mounting plate that fits most popular reflex sights. While the Warne Shotgun Rib Reflex Mount is great for turkey, waterfowl and upland bird hunting, it is equally effective for clays, competition and tactical use.
Important Considerations
There are a few key points you need to consider when it comes to mounting optics to a shotgun for waterfowl hunting. First and foremost, you need to verify that it is legal to do so in the state or region you will be hunting. Secondly, you need to choose what style of red dot you want to use. Open-emitter red dots are more susceptible to mud, dirt, snow, or debris and may not be the best choice for waterfowl hunting (depending on where and how you hunt). Enclosed optics cover the emitter and can be easily wiped clean if your shotgun takes a tumble in the blind. Luckily, Warne offers the shotgun rib mount in 3 styles to fit reflex-style, Aimpoint® T1-style, and Acro-style optics.
After you choose your optic and correct rib mount, make sure you take some time to get used to shooting with it before a hunt. The best way to zero a red dot on a shotgun is to test your pattern on paper. You will need a large target, preferably cardboard or paper, and adjust the red dot until it is in the center of your shot pattern at your desired range. For waterfowl hunting, many shooters prefer their dot to be zeroed around 40 yards. Make sure you take some time to get used to shooting with an optic before you hunt. A day of shooting sporting clays is a great way to hone your skills and make the transition to birds a bit easier. If you have ever considered optics for a waterfowl shotgun, Warne has the solution for you.
