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Eleanors38

(18,318 posts)
Sun Jun 22, 2014, 12:46 PM Jun 2014

Wing-shooting: How valid is its nobility?

Virtually all promoters of an ideal, fair-chase hunt value taking game with practical, well-placed shots to maximize recovery and use of the animal. There is much more to fair-chase, but my concern here is with the killing practice. Typically, I sit tight, or slowly still-hunt into the wind, spot a suitable deer, and take that ethical shot. That's with deer.

Then there is wing-shooting.

Drift through the hunting innertubes, and just the mention of "ground sluicing" (practice of shooting birds on the ground or water) or "pot shooting" (shooting birds from trees) will be met with charges of "unsporting," "overkill," "market hunt practices," "poor shooting skills," and even "crippling." Are these charges valid when dove "hunting?"

Last year, I took a daily limit (15) of dove in Texas. On this wonderful hunt, I stood in a field and got most of my bag by wing-shooting; but 2 I "puffed." Though I tried to recover them, they flew off to become Artemis' share. I also dropped a few from distant trees. I put the sneak on them and shot when in range. All these I recovered.

Now, my wing-shooting is fair, but am I a better hunter or human to have taken most birds this way, but leaving 2 to waste? Better than when my Mr. Hyde crept through oak and cedar for a few sure-shot birds-in-hand? Where were my hunting skills best displayed, waiting in a field of sunflower for Mother Nature to yell "Pull!," or when slippin' & slidin' through trees, brush and cacti to shoot birds that hadn't spotted me?


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Wing-shooting: How valid is its nobility? (Original Post) Eleanors38 Jun 2014 OP
When I did a lot of waterfowl hunting years ago Jenoch Jul 2014 #1
Likewise on ducks, only for more prosaic reasons... Eleanors38 Jul 2014 #2
 

Jenoch

(7,720 posts)
1. When I did a lot of waterfowl hunting years ago
Tue Jul 1, 2014, 06:34 PM
Jul 2014

I never shot birds on the water. It just didn't seem sporting and that's what I was taught.

I moved away from the prairie and farm country a long time ago where also did a lot of pheasant hunting (at least in the years there were abundant pheasants).

We bought some hunting land in northern Minnesota almost 15 years ago and took up ruffed grouse hunting. We don't shoot them while they're on the ground, but if they're on a tree limb they are fair game.

Minnesota's first dove hunting season almost 60 years was in 2004. Since there isn't much of a tradition of dove hunting, it's been a bit slow to catch on. I know I would be hunting doves if I still lived in farm country, but I haven't made the effort to do it yet.

 

Eleanors38

(18,318 posts)
2. Likewise on ducks, only for more prosaic reasons...
Tue Jul 1, 2014, 07:10 PM
Jul 2014

Supposedly, the thick wings over abundant feathers increased the likelihood of swim-away cripples, or sending your max load shot skipping toward the blind across the way.

I've always puzzled over the arguments when it comes to dove. Many hunters "walk up" dove, often intentionally, during slow mid-days. You get good enough and they won't see you, or better, others will fly into the trees or brush you are easing toward. I am rather proud of that ability.

If you know dove are in a certain area, it is advantageous to have some buddies to "keep 'em circulating!"

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