Gil,
Good thing there wasn't a cottonmouth in that thicket. Might be hard to explain how your dogs are snake-proofed, but, you, not so much.
Hope the gun helps to bring many pleasant memories for you, and many woodcock for your daughter to rustle from the freezer.
I have already committed to that guns replacement, a bit higher grade, and have located a used bretelle Darne assembly, in the correct gauge for the gun, without having to leave the hamlet of Minneapolis, MN. There will be some other subtle changes made to the gun to suit my tastes, which, are different from the previous British Isles owner, but, exactly the things that would have been available from the French factory to a discriminating owner.

Stay tuned. It should be interesting.

Best,
Ted