Take It To the Limit With Winchester's Blind Side

Melissa Bachman offers her favorite tips for fall waterfowl season.

posted on September 17, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Waterfowl hunting is something I grew up with in central Minnesota, and it’s still one of my favorite activities to do with family. I love being able to talk and setup as a group. And when the action heats up, there are times we are limited out even before the sun comes up!  

The fun of waterfowl hunting is also directly linked with having the right gear and being prepared. If you’re cold, wet and uncomfortable it will make any experience much less fun. I love the early season hunts as it’s usually very nice out, and if the mosquitoes are bad, I throw in a ThermaCell to keep my area bug free.

When it comes to ammunition, Winchester made this easy by creating Blind Side. This is the perfect shot shell for waterfowl. They utilized a hex steel shot technology, which is more stackable, giving you more shot, larger kill zones. They also added a diamond cut wad that keeps the pellets together longer.

Personally, I like to use an EOTech optic on top of my shotgun because it forces me to get on target better, and I have much better success. Most of my fall big game hunting is accomplished with scopes, adding a scope for waterfowl was a huge help. It might not be the preferred option for everyone, but if you’re new to waterfowl, it gets you on target fast.​

Latest

Yackley Heat Start The Day With A Good Attitude
Yackley Heat Start The Day With A Good Attitude

Tips to Beat the Heat on the Range

No matter how experienced you are with your shooting sport or spending time outdoors, the heat can be a real danger. Here are some tips to build into those hot days.

What’s a Cup-and-Core Bullet?

Cup-and-core is a popular construction for hunting bullets. But what do these bullets do, and what are they good for?

The Armed Citizen® Reload July 11, 2025

A naked prowler, a carjacking in broad daylight, and an attack in the middle of the night are recalled in these Armed Citizen archives.

Precision Shooting Reminder: BRASS

The Marine Corps has a simple acronym for good precision shooting: BRASS.

New Guns 2025: Performance Center S&W Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp

The redesigned Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 didn't really need any improvements, but these modifications make it an even sweeter everyday concealed-carry pistol.

Speed Tip: Learn to Use Your Off-Hand

The more gun manipulation you can do with your off-hand, the better off you’ll be.

Women's Interests



Get the best of NRA Women delivered to your inbox.