A short 20 gauge with camo handles well in the thick woods of the Carolinas. The SX4 Universal Hunter has a 3" chamber, a 24" barrel, and a four-round capacity, in Mossy Oak Bottomland (MOBL).

Universal in the name suggests it was meant for different kinds of hunts. A 24" barrel with the right choke can cover turkey and deer with slugs where the law allows, and the camo means you can use it for ducks, too. Use the right shell for the job, and check your county and refuge rules before you head out for birds or deer. A shotgun this versatile can handle dove fields in September and clay targets all year.

Twenty gauge is easy on the shoulder, and the SX4 is a gas-operated semi-auto, so recoil is further reduced. That suits youth hunters and smaller adults who struggle with a heavy 12.

Mossy Oak Bottomland is a pattern made for dark, wet timber, a good match for river bottoms and swamps in the eastern part of the state.

Clean it after each wet hunt. New. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer for pickup and the background check.