“maxus”

Contributor Barb Melloni had the opportunity to check out the new, limited-availability Maxus II Hunter from Browning. Read on for her thoughts on this beautifully crafted autoloader.

Two days into a goose hunt outside of Hecla, South Dakota, we were sweating both figuratively and literally. Unseasonably warm and still conditions had combined with a bright moon to keep most birds grounded, and uninterested in feeding in sileage fields.

In the market for a waterfowl gun? Follow these guidelines to choose one that won’t disappoint.

The new Maxus II shares the same foundational design and performance of the original Maxus, but includes an array of new features that have elevated the versatility, performance and handling of the revered semi-auto.

Versatility is key with the new Maxus II All-Purpose Hunter, featuring Mossy Oak Break-Up Country camo that fades into the background of most environments, an easy to swing 26-inch barrel and 3½-inch chamber that reliably cycles a broad range of factory loads.

The Maxus II sets its sights on whitetails with a new Rifled Deer model. Featuring a 22-inch long, thick-walled, rifled barrel and an attached cantilevered Weaver-style sight rail, the Rifled Deer offers all the accuracy features necessary for the deer woods.

The Browning Maxus II Wicked Wing autoloading shotgun is now available with a "new" retro Vintage Tan camouflage finish.

Any way you measure it, the tundra swan is a lot of bird. But it can’t be hunted in a lot of places. Only eight states, in fact, offer a tundra swan season. Utah is one of them, and near the Great Salt Lake the author sought a wide-winged trophy.

The big island is home to an abundance of game including Sitka blacktail, ducks, and fox … and of course, very large brown bears. If you’re looking for adventure, Kodiak is calling. Just be warned: getting there may be the easiest part.