NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: https://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1540878
October 2025 • Nebraskaland 45 Philosophy Back at the cabin sipping coffee, Greg said he wasn't bothered that Harper hadn't taken a shot or bagged a duck. "She still had fun, and I got to spend some quality time with my daughter," he said. He believes that parents often think their kids need to harvest animals to stay interested, but he disagrees. While success is obviously important, he believes that occasional failure to harvest game can build more interest and drive. When hunting with Harper, his focus is never on how many ducks, geese or pheasants they shoot. "My main goal is to teach her to value wildlife and nature. If she has an adventure, she'll keep hunting." When I asked Harper about her favorite part of the hunt, she said, "I liked playing cribbage and just coming to the cabin." Then after a pause: "And walking around in the water in my waders and helping Dad pick up the decoys." She had enjoyed her weekend adventure. N Tungsten .410 Reloads Greg and Harper carried .410-gauge shotguns on our Calamus River hunt, and they use these guns for most of their upland bird hunts. Some readers might question a .410's ability to bring down a tough rooster pheasant or a big Canada goose, but not Greg. He makes up for the .410's small bore by using hard-hitting tungsten reloads. Tungsten pellets are 60% denser than lead and more than twice as dense as steel, allowing the smaller tungsten pellets to deliver the same impact as larger lead or steel shot. For example, a No. 9 tungsten pellet, which Greg uses in his duck hunting reloads, weighs the same as a No. 5 lead pellet or a No. 3 steel pellet. He can also pack more of the smaller tungsten pellets into his .410 reloads than are found in standard 12-gauge lead or steel shells. Tungsten shot holds its shape and speed better than other shot types, resulting in tighter patterns and better penetration. Because of the high number of tungsten pellets in his reloads and his desire to expand their pattern, Greg uses an improved cylinder choke for the most effective hunting results. For him, the main benefit of tungsten shot is that it allows Harper to hunt with a .410 when a larger gauge might still be too much for her. "The gun is light, has little kick and isn't loud," he said. "It's the perfect gun to begin her journey into hunting." Greg admitted that tungsten shot has some downsides. The pellets' hardness can be tough on shotgun barrels, so he uses special protective wads in his reloads. Manufactured tungsten shells are expensive, and few companies make .410 tungsten loads. Luckily for Greg, his reloads cost only about a dollar each. Greg's .410-gauge No. 9 tungsten reloads (right) pack a similar punch to 12-gauge, 3-inch No. 3 steel shells (left).