Watch: Tim Walz, out to woo male voters, struggles with shotgun on hunting trip

Democratic Vice Presidential candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz found himself in an awkward moment when he encountered difficulty loading his shotgun during a pheasant-hunting trip on Saturday.

Walz, dressed in hunting chaps and an orange vest, participated in the Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener, a tradition that has been a staple in his home state of Minnesota since 2011.

However, his hunting trip was not without its challenges. A video posted online showed Walz struggling to load his semi-automatic shotgun, a Beretta A400.

"It never fits quite right," Walz said as he attempted to load shells into the shotgun’s magazine.

When asked by a reporter about the type of gun he was using, Walz responded, "It’s a Beretta A400. I bought it when I was shooting a lot of trap."

He explained that he chose the shotgun for its 'KickOff' feature, designed to reduce recoil. "It doesn’t hurt your shoulder as much," Walz added.

Despite his efforts, Walz didn't get to fire the shotgun during the hunt and ended the day without bagging any pheasants, news agency AP reported.

"There's good days and there's great days pheasant hunting," he said at the end of the hunt.

The trip to Minnesota comes as Walz focuses on winning over male voters in key Midwestern states. With the election less than a month away, Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign has faced questions about male voter reluctance due to her gender, and Walz's hunting trip may be aimed at addressing that demographic.

The Trump campaign took a jab at Walz, accusing him of trying to gain favour with male voters. "Sorry Tim, men aren’t voting for a gun grabber," the campaign tweeted from an official account.

Once holding a top rating from the Rifle Association during his 12 years in Congress, Walz has since supported stricter gun control measures, including expanded background checks and a "red flag law," after a series of school shootings.

In addition to the hunting trip, Walz made a stop at Mankato West High School, where he gave a pep talk to the football players ahead of a game. The Democrat has a personal connection to the school, having taught geography and served as a football coach who led the team to its first state championship.