Duck season on the sounds and rivers means wet, cold mornings, and a shotgun that gets covered in mud. The Mossberg 500 Waterfowl is a pump-action 12 gauge with a 28-inch barrel and a 6-round capacity, finished in Mossy Oak Shadow camouflage so it blends into a blind.

Pump shotguns are simple, and the Mossberg 500 has a long record as a reliable field gun. It shoots any shell that fits the chamber, from light target loads to heavy steel waterfowl loads. A 28-inch barrel gives a smooth swing on flying birds, and choke tubes let you adjust the pattern for decoys at different distances.

Wipe the gun down after every wet hunt, especially around the action bars and the muzzle. The camo coat helps resist rust but it does not replace care. Pump guns also ask for practice working the forend smoothly, which helps keep the gun on target for follow-up shots.

This shotgun is new. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer of your choice for the background check and transfer. Check federal rules on steel shot before you hunt.