You can. I have been dove hunting with my Mossberg 590a1 20" unchoked. I did OK. Obviously, you lose acuracy and force after 50-75 meters. I took plenty of birds as long as I caught them as soon as they went up, but also hit some doves a little way out and watched waver, start falling, then get going again and fly away. I want something that can reach out and hit hard at longer range. Also I'm picky about guns and like to be difficult.