When you hunt more than one kind of bird, a camouflage shotgun with a neutral base color is useful. The Winchester SX4 Hybrid Hunter is a 12 gauge with a 3" chamber and a 26" barrel, and holds four rounds. It is finished in flat dark earth and Realtree Max-5.

Max-5 is a pattern that suits bare timber and fall woods, while the FDE parts break up the outline in open ground. The SX4 is a gas-operated semi-auto, so recoil is softer than a pump gun. That helps with comfortable shooting through a long day of dove or duck hunting. A recoil pad and a bit of range time go a long way toward comfortable shooting.

A 26" barrel is a good all-around length. It swings well, points naturally, and is short enough to carry through brush.

Bring a plug for waterfowl, since the law limits capacity. And clean the action after wet hunts, so the gas system keeps running smoothly.

In the Piedmont, where you might hunt doves in September and ducks in December, one flexible shotgun makes sense. New. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer for pickup and the background check.