Questions for anyone who hunts with a wood or synthetic wood shotgun.

I grew up hunting with wooden stock shotguns.

Only time I ever had an issue is when I put it in a wet soft case. Stocked turned a milky white color. Went back to normal after it dried out.

Unless you are frequently using your gun as a paddle, you'll be just fine.

I never had issues with the stock on my A-5, but I quit using it after sitting in the marsh and watching the barrel rust from all the moisture in the air.

Now have a synthetic stock with a coating on the barrel that protects it from rust.

Synthetic wasnt always around.
All my swamp/ marsh guns back in the 70,s & 80,s were wood. Never had a problem.
Break em down & clean them & keep them oiled

I have hunted with both wood and synthetic. Wood is ok but requires more maintenance, have to let it dry, wipe it down, maybe add some furniture polish or wax depending on the finish. Synthetic is wipe it down at most plus its more durable, foregrip wont crack etc. The real advance in duck guns in the last yrs are the various metal coatings – parkerize, cerakote and whatever camo finishes the major manufactures use. They are great and there is not rusting like we have w/ blued guns. This was a big deal when I hunted the salt marsh. Blued guns have to wiped down after each hunt w/ CLP but the newer finishes nope. I’m in freshwater now and I clean my duck guns 2 maybe 3x per yr. I wipe them down and not much else during the season, maybe a little (very little) CLP to keep things lubricated.

The other key w/ blued guns and wood is to keep the case dry, slide a gun into a wet case and its a problem

Before synthetic was around we shot the hell out of wooden stocks in the marsh. We would find every 5-10 years you would break a stock from it getting wet and swelling but they hold up pretty well. Of course we would also shoot 5-10 cases a season back then too.

Is it hard to replace the stock?

I have used nothing but wooden stocks for over 40 years and have never had a problem with one.