Excessive shooting

[Wingman]

but you just have to do your best to resist, especially on quality ducks that are far away

On any ducks for that matter. "Quality" or not, they're all ducks and we should deliver the best, cleanest kill we can.

By the way, I guess I fall into the Full BS category.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

And if we could still legally shoot lead shot shells, we would be delivering the cleanest, best kills possible, with a lot less shooting, fewer cripples, and less commotion to bother other hunters in the same area.

But, by law, we are stuck with that darned steel schit. So, we have to do what we have to do. Sometimes, they just don't hit the water dead as a hammer. So, I try to focus on one bird out of each flight and get it down on the water. IF it is still moving on the water, follow up quickly with some cripple shots to finish it off. Then send the dog or fetch it up yourself by wading or boating. While all of this creates more commotion than would likely happen using lead shot, at least I am legal and making the maximum effort to recover the birds and not commit wanton waste.

So, its one thing for the wildlife enforcement authorities to make and enforce new rules that "may" have some environmental benefit, but decreases the killing efficiency of shot shells, increases hunter costs, and increases cripples. And then its yet another to have someone from the same wildlife enforcement authorities to be now complaining about how many shots are taken by hunters to kill ducks. So, whose fault is that? Yes, the hunters can work to improve shooting skills, etc. But, the type of shot mandated DOES have something to do with this issue.

There are some real issues out there to discuss and argue about re duck hunting. This ain't one of them.

[Wingman]

My point was, you lawyer, arguing , so and so, is that regardless of whether or not the duck is "quality", we should try to take a good shot.

Not, make good shots on the mallards, wound the rest. Alas, this was a rabbit trail that came off of the original thread.

Go back to your law books.

[Dingy]

Anat, the even more intriguing question is: Considering the area you hunt, what in the world could they be shooting at?

[Anatidae]

Shoot I hit em better at passing shots. I can't hit a duck with it's landing gear down for the life of me.. Something about having to shoot below them that just get's me everytime. Guess all that skeet and dove shooting I did growing up does not help on ducks..

When I miss a duck like that (close-up), it's usually because I picked-my head up 'cause I'm gawking at the bird, or I never got the gun all the way up.

Anat, the even more intriguing question is: Considering the area you hunt, what in the world could they be shooting at?

Mosquitos or cormorants, I guess.......

[Po Monkey Lounger]

"Go back to your law books. "



Just trying to keep you boys on the straight and narrow, between the ditches, on the right road of relevance.

Carry on.

[mixeffects]

but you just have to do your best to resist, especially on quality ducks that are far away

On any ducks for that matter. "Quality" or not, they're all ducks and we should deliver the best, cleanest kill we can.

By the way, I guess I fall into the Full BS category.

I guess I thought it went without saying that we needed the cleanest kill and be humane when possible. I mean if you're skybusting, you're in bad shape to begin with, but if you have nice mallards passing by at 85 yards all day, you can't just melt down and start sling semi-lethal steel at them out of frustration. There is no real debate about clean kills, and i'm pretty sure that claiming lead is better for waterfowl health(and all birds in the long run) is dumb, wherever i read that whole line. All i was trying to convey was, the smart guy can throttle back and improve his position on the next hunt without being "that guy" and intentionally crippling ducks taking impossible shots. Steel does suck, but it's the hunting equivalent of increasing the NBA hoop to 12feet. And i'm pretty sure you all know what I'm talking about.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

BTW. Gulfcoast, that was hysterical.

I knew there had to be an official name for that disabling condition that causes many a hunter to walk away with fewer birds on the gamestrap than otherwise. And we have it.

[mallard 187]

I do not consider a shoveler a quality or non quality duck. As a matter of fact I do not consider it a duck at all. I believe it is a carp with wings. AKA skycarp. Therefore when I am duck hunting, I do not shoot at them because I am not fishing.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

I gots me an edumacation so I wouldn't have to be no shoveler.

[Wingman]

I'm just a teal in a mallard's world.

[booger]

Some people just hunt in a vastly different style, perhaps in a vastly different universe than others.

A friend of mine continues to mention, in a bragging way, how many boxes of shells he shot that day duck hunting, or in a week etc. And he's over 40 years old, not a kid. I haven't hunted with him in about 5 years, we are just polar opposites in our duck hunting "style".

Another guy, a big money guy hunts some land next to mine. He shoots three times at everything that flies, runs his high dollar dog ragged looking for crippled ringnecks. Two woodies, a ringneck and an empty box of shells is a big day for him. I don't get it. He flares working mallards to shoot three times at, well, anything. I sip coffee and watch the show, he's done at 8:00 a.m. at the latest and packs it in.