Except for the differences between your fine CHE Bernard barreled Parker and his well-worn Winchester M97 "cornsheller" you have a lot it common with Nash's "The Shootin'ist Gent'man" circa 1916. No misses or cripples- that is great shooting indeed.
Many years ago, I owned and shot a HE Fox 12- 32" F&F, restocked, but in the era of Federal copper plated Premium loads (before steel) it was one great waterfowling shotgun. I now used a Smith Ideal 12 Longrange with Bismuth loads "on special days", but in really nastier weather, tend to use a M12 3" Mag.
I also related to your wise comment about not going out to that "hole" surrounded by ice alone. Safety on the water when hunting, or in this case, on the ice as well, comes first. Do you and your hunting pals ever shoot the big lakes for divers from layout boats. Takes a fair amount of many power to set up the dekes, handle the layout boats and the pick-up boats as well, but when everything "clicks" and the flight birds are in, the fastest and most challenging of all waterfowling develops.
