Four big honkers appeared over the far corner of the field and talked excitedly as they centered on our decoys. The huge wing spans were at least six feet wide, and as their hulking bodies arched into the wind, their feet slid down beneath their bellies, and their toes splayed out to find the ground. I whispered to my wife Stef to “shoot them.” The lead bird tumbled to the ground after a perfect hit from her Franchi Affinity 3, and as she continued to shoot, I shouldered my shotgun to participate in the games.
The experience was a great way to start the season. Having 40 pounds of birds on the ground after the first volley was impressive. Our twin girls sprinted from the blind when given the green light, and the giggles were about as loud as the geese were when trying to land. We finished the day with more honkers, some specklebellies, and some mallards. The early-season success meant the girls were menu planning on the way home with duck cutlets at the top of the list, followed by pulled goose sandwiches. And I was making a plan to get hold of my wife’s Franchi Affinity 3 to give it a once over in the field.
New Shotgun – Franchi Affinity 3
The previous autumn, I had the opportunity to borrow a Franchi Affinity 3 and appreciated how it handled and shot. I managed to shoot some prairie chickens, pheasants, and ducks with the shotgun I had never picked up. When I got home, I bought one.
Unboxing a new firearm is always exciting, and when the big reveal occurred, my wife was impressed with what she saw. The shotgun has a sleek design, and with an inertia-driven system, it cycles clean and helps manage recoil. The gun talk widened Stef’s eyes, and the next thing I knew, she had the shotgun shouldered and concurred about how smooth the gun came to the shoulder and the clear sight picture down the vent rib. There was a moment of pride when taking credit for knowing about shotguns and finding the new Franchi to add to my collection. I didn’t expect Stef to look at me and say, “The Franchi fits me so well I think it should be my shotgun.”
I smiled and nodded, knowing the claim was real and not for selfish reasons. The better the fit and feel of any firearm, the better the person can shoot it. Part of that equation is confidence, and Stef was certain the shotgun handled better than anything she had shot to date. Some time at the range and the first day of waterfowl season proved her instincts were correct, and the birds paid the price.
Using Grace and tact to get my hands on her shotgun
We had some incredible hunts during the fall and enjoyed continued success. Stef had outright claimed the shotgun, and when we were preparing for an adventure, she would ask, “Did you pack my shotgun?” Of course, it was cased and ready to go, along with the choke tubes and accessories for field adjustment.
In late December, I got to do a late-season honker and mallard hunt in southern Alberta. The boys at Chinook Waterfowl (www.chinookwaterfowl.com) specialize in late-season waterfowl adventure and know how to deliver. Hunter Jarvis and Josh Luedtke were ready for action, and I packed the truck for the drive south. When I came upstairs with two shotguns, Stef looked at me with a cocked eye and said, “Are you taking my shotgun?”
I replied, “Ah, yes, it will be so cold that I want to take it as a backup in case I encounter any shotgun issues in the field.” The answer was satisfactory, and a nod of approval was granted. The truth was that the mercury dropped to a bone-chilling -34 °F. The thought of spending hours in a layout blind might seem outright stupid to some, but it spelled adventure for me with a capital “A.” I finally had a chance to try the Franchi Affinity 3 on a hunt and got it out of the house with grace and tact.
Chinook torture test
The days are short in December, and getting ready for the morning activities meant being in the field at 9:30 a.m. to set decoys and build layout blinds into snowbanks. The temperature was below -30°F, as predicted, and ice, fog, and snow filled the air. It was challenging to see 150 yards, and the distant sun looked like the faint glow of a low-wattage light bulb. We used a snow shovel to push the white stuff onto our blinds and fill the spaces between hunters. The hide looked spectacular, and we would be well concealed from incoming birds if they hadn’t taken off for the Gulf of Mexico and warmer climates.
The Chinook Waterfowl boys had great equipment, but I asked if I could bring my layout blind. There was no question about working conditions, but I did not want to lay flat on the ground, already chilled by the lung-biting air temperature. The ALPS Legend Layout Blind with matching Legend Snow Cover has several features that cannot be ignored. The zero gravity chair and tarpaulin floor were things to appreciate for comfort and shotgun maintenance.
We were set up with vehicles out of the field by 10:00 a.m., but there was still no sign of bird life. When the temperatures drop to extremely cold, and with the limited number of daylight hours, ducks and geese hit the fields once a day and spend a significant amount of time before returning to whatever open water is available.
We clapped heavy gloves and ran laps around the decoys to stay warm and make it look like birds had been rooting through the snow for food. If you let the cold get a good hold of your body, it would be impossible to warm up, so movement was critical. It was close to noon when Hunter yelled, “Geese!” we all scrambled to get into our blinds and close the doors.
A big flock of Canadian geese emerged from the horizontal snowfall, and there was no doubt they saw the decoys. The birds had been using the same feeding area for days, keeping the snow trampled and moved to find feed—a bit of calling finished the birds without even circling. Huge wings backpedaled off our toes, and when we rose to shoot, it rained big honkers. The crew had shot extremely well, considering we were dressed in layers with more bulk than normal.
More geese appeared out of the snow, and it was like déjà vu from minutes earlier. Flocks of geese lined the sky, and the action was fast and furious. The Franchi never missed a beat, spitting steel at a killing pace and with accuracy that meant we weren’t chasing cripples. The waves of geese continued for about 45 minutes when we had a full limit of 40 geese for five hunters. The best part of the day was that the ducks started flying as the geese waned.
Huge flocks of fattened mallards flew to the field like squadrons of fighter jets. The birds were fast, determined, and focused. It was a magical sight when the ducks saw the decoys and cupped their wings for a fast descent. You could hear the air whistling through wing feathers as they soared to find the ground. The shooting was intense, and the big greenheads stood out like neon signs. We shot our lanes, and it wasn’t hard to find enough green to ensure everyone could empty their shotguns.
We had a double-double, a full limit of 40 ducks and 40 geese. I ran the Franchi dry with no oil that could freeze up, and it worked flawlessly. The hunt was followed up the next day with another huge pile of late-season ducks and a handful of geese.
Dog’ N Duck Outfitters trip
The next fall, we enjoyed more early-season action as a family, and Stef proved that the Franchi was worthy of her claim. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I shot the gun well but never complained about having to take my Benelli Ethos into the blind. A hunting opportunity arose in early October to spend three days with Dog N’ Duck Outfitters in central Alberta. With a mixed bag of honkers, specks, snows, Ross’, and plenty of mallards and pintails, it wasn’t something I could overlook.
Several of my friends were coming from the States. When I packed, I told Stef the Franchi Affinity 3 was cased if anyone needed it or if there were troubles with other shotguns. As luck would have it, nobody had issues, and the opportunity to shoulder the Franchi was available.
The first morning out saw ideal conditions: a good breeze, partly cloudy skies, and a field covered with feeding fowl the evening before. We set up blinds and decoys and waited in the pale morning light for the games to begin. The specks and snows were the early birds, and some circled our blind before legal shooting light. Our guide, Keith, is an award-winning dog trainer and had his favorite four-legged friend eagerly waiting by his side. With changing winds predicted, we set the decoys in a teardrop shape with the blind situated off the narrow end.
The first birds were a family unit of specklebellies approaching from the left. With five guns loaded with Hevi-Shot, all eight birds hit the ground. Five snows approached from the front, and as they passed over the blind, we sent several to the ground. The action was quick-paced, and the dog did an incredible job cleaning up the downed birds.
Some small-framed Canada geese worked in from the left and finished perfectly. There was more shooting, feathers floating in the air, and a dog going 100 mph—a smattering of ducks provided more shooting opportunities. However, the ducks seemed always to show up when we had geese working. We considered it a first-world problem and shot whatever presented itself best.
At the end of the morning, we had over 50 ducks and geese on the ground. It was a great start to three days of excellent wing shooting. The Dog’ N Duck crew does an excellent job of caring for hunters with clean, comfortable, and roomy accommodations. The meals are outstanding, and with bird cleaning included, there was always time for an afternoon nap before the evening excitement to work on open limits.
The experiences leave me rich with memories in the field with friends and family. The Franchi Affinity 3 might see more action with Stef, but the trips when I get to take “My wife’s shotgun” are always a treat and remind me why it was purchased in the first place. Maybe two Franchi Affinity 3 shotguns in the house would be reasonable.
In the field review of the Franchi Affinity 3 (click here to buy)
The ergonomics of the Franchi Affinity 3 or Affinity 3.5 make shooting intuitive. The shotgun finds your shoulder quickly and consistently with the same sight picture every time. The result is downrange accuracy and more meal planning for my girls. The vent rib guides your eye between the target and the bead for accurate leads and pattern delivery.
The entire Franchi Affinity line of shotguns can be altered for fit, feel, and balance with shims. The inertia-driven action cycled a variety of magnum loads without missing a beat. In cold, dry, and varying conditions, the Cerokote finish protected all metal parts from corrosion and added a layer of strength and durability.
The Franchi Affinity 3 features became apparent on the cold hunts, with the ease of operation with an oversized and textured bolt handle, making it easy to operate with gloves. The inertia system sucks up recoil and works in conjunction with specialized Twin Shock Absorber (TSA) recoil pads to reduce felt recoil. The recoil pad can be used to alter the length of pull and ensure proper fit. The included shim kit makes quick adjustments for quick drop and cast adjustments.
The semi-auto Affinity 3 shotguns also have an oversized loading port, ambidextrous safety, and a ventilated and chrome-lined barrel. The receiver is drilled and tapped for optics and accessories and has sling swivels.
The Franchi inertia-driven action cycles shotshells fast and prevents powder residue from fouling working parts for easier cleaning and maintenance. The simplified design has fewer parts, which makes the shotgun consistent and reliable. The trigger and action are removed as one piece for cleaning and reassembling. Franchi stands behind its design with a seven-year warranty.
The Franchi Affinity 3 and 3.5 Elite are available in a 12 gauge with a 28-inch and 20 gauge with a 26-inch barrel and start at $1,249 for 12 or 20 gauge. The shotgun includes IC, M, and F choke tubes and a wrench. The Franchi Affinity 3 is adjustable to help make any family member look like a skeet or goose shooting champion.
HEVI-Shot (click here to buy)
We used an assortment of HEVI-Shot products on the Dog’ N Duck waterfowl hunt. We had the following options to maximize opportunity and success with changing daily conditions.
The blended load is 12 ga. 3″ 1-1/4 oz. #4 Tungsten #1 Steel
12 ga. 3″ 1-1/4 oz. Hevi Metal Long Range #2
12 ga. 3″ 1-1/4 oz. Hevi Metal Long Range #BB
12 ga. 3″ 1-3/4 oz. Hevi-XII #2
There is no doubt that the HEVI-Shot products hit hard with lethal results. It was easy to get spoiled with the Long Range and XII options that can increase a shooter’s confidence quickly. www.hevishot.com
ALPS Legend Layout Blind and Snow Cover (click here to buy)
No assembly is required for the Legend Layout Blind, making it ready to hunt. The best feature is the comfortable chair design with zero-gravity springs to keep the hunter off the ground and remain low-profile. With snow and cold, the waterproof tarpaulin floor would keep me comfortable, protect my shotgun, and help keep shotshells organized. The padded headrest was another thing to appreciate, along with a flagging port on the side and a zipper under the headrest to access stored things. The blind turned heads and was a game changer on the cold-weather hunts when the biggest limiting factor is how long you can stay comfortable and in the field.
The Legend Snow Cover made it easy to blend into the field with little extra work. A snow shovel helped turn our line-up of blinds into a shallow snowdrift to stay concealed.
Final Approach Branta Gloves (click here to buy)
The late-season cold hunt with Chinook Outfitters was a test for ideal gloves. The Branta Gloves were designed for waterfowl hunters and feature a waterproof finish and 200g of Primaloft insulation. There was plenty of dexterity in loading the shotgun and finding the trigger with perfect pressure. The glove finish makes it shed water, but it is still breathable. A tacky material is added to the palm and trigger finger for added grip.
