How to Shoot a Bird

remy3424 said:
Often a miss is when I get twisted-up in deep cover, when the bird busts-out in a direction not anticipated. It make sence about gun-fit and everything else brought up, but I am just an old farm-kid, still shooting the first shot-gun I bought as an adult (11-87) and you eventually just figure it out and it is instinctive if you do it enough with the same gun. Sound like a bunch of folks are switching guns during season, I have a few spares/back-ups/loaners, but they seldom see the light of day. Might try a Berretta 20 this season, loaded-up a few boxes for it last winter...figured it might be a decent "old man" gun for me someday when gun weight becomes an issue. A little off topic...starting to get wound-up for the opener already! Nice that the posts and activity is picking-up on the board now.
Click to expand...
If a shotgun fits reasonably well and you shoot it often enough then yeah you learn to shoot it well. Off the rack shotguns are normally set for the average build and they would have us all being 5'9" and 170 lbs. If you have a long neck, long arms and or are 6'5" then it would surely benefit from some kind of alteration to your stock. Length of pull can be added or cut down easy enough and drop to comb these days can be done with some of the newer Autoloaders and their shim adjustments. Those can likely get you close enough unless you are of extreme dimensions. The closer the gun is to fitting you well the easier and more natural the gun mount will become without having to adjust to it.

Eye dominance is a whole different can of worms and one that could be continued altogether on another thread. 😀
 
Last edited:
Munster927 said:
They forgot to add falling in a gopher hole or through the ice in a slough while the bird gets up
Click to expand...
Been there! First time in new boots right up to my knees through the ice on a 4* morning , fortunately it wasn't any deeper and I had another pair of boots and socks along cause we were a couple hours from camp.
 
Madislander said:
Been there! First time in new boots right up to my knees through the ice on a 4* morning , fortunately it wasn't any deeper and I had another pair of boots and socks along cause we were a couple hours from camp.
Click to expand...
Yeah that's the worst haha I also forgot about being stuck in chest high snow drifts. Those are always fun too.
 
Regarding taking your time. (whether you don't want to destroy a close bird; you just think you'll make a better shot; or whatever)
My preference is to NOT mount my gun right away on close birds & THEN wait. I wait first; then finish mounting my gun.
I think I see the bird much better if I bring my gun about 2/3 or 3/4 up, really see the bird, & then finish my mount, make the shot, & follow through in a smooth, single motion.
I feel this allows my brain to better find the bird's head, establish its TRUE flight path, & be "on" the bird (lead subconsciously established & pulling forward) before my gun is completely mounted. I also think it makes foot position easier & follow through a more natural part of the motion, as opposed to mounting completely, waiting, firing, & following through. If I do that, my head gets into the shot too much, & I'm more likely to whiff.
 
Last edited:
How do you shoot a woodcock? When the bird flushes, try to turn it the direction of the flush, raise your gun in the direction he was going when he flushed, pull the trigger even if you no longer see the bird, wait for your dog to bring him back! don't worry about shouldering the gun or still seeing the bird when you pull the trigger. Most times you have about 1.5 seconds to get a shot off. No time for thinking. It must all be instinctual. Pheasant shooting is much easier, but the more instinctual it becomes, the better your results will be.

I only have one goal when it comes to pheasant shooting. Never ever pull on an empty chamber. That is my only goal on my annual 6 day hunt and would you believe I have failed every year. You can throw every tip and shooting lesson out the door when you pull on an empty chamber.

I have never had a lesson but what I do know is if you are aiming, you are screwed. Snap shooting is mostly what I do. The hardest shot for almost anyone is watching that bird come from 200 yards away right at you, and then you miss. WHY, you had too much time to shoulder the gun, raise the gun, track the bird, look at your sight.... whoops... you just missed the bird because you looked at your sight. Pull, move, and shoot! Anything more than that, chances are you missed the bird or your buddy next to you is putting the bird in his vest.
 
Idk the last time I pulled on an empty chamber with my automatic, but the last time I did in general was when I used my old pump gun for nostalgia. I shot, missed and click. Totally forgot to pump. Too many years of using my auto so I didn't even think to do it. Idk how some of you guys can use different guns and not get tripped up. Unless you're using the same style and gauge is all that's changing. I stick with my auto and I can be in auto pilot when it comes to gun handling.
 
Speaking of an empty chamber, I did it last year on a "textbook point' with both my gsps locked up. They had them pinched in a corner to a ploughed field, 3 roosters got up staggered/one at a time. grrrr-still eats me up! Lol 🤣
 
Munster927 said:
Idk the last time I pulled on an empty chamber with my automatic, but the last time I did in general was when I used my old pump gun for nostalgia. I shot, missed and click. Totally forgot to pump. Too many years of using my auto so I didn't even think to do it. Idk how some of you guys can use different guns and not get tripped up. Unless you're using the same style and gauge is all that's changing. I stick with my auto and I can be in auto pilot when it comes to gun handling.
Click to expand...
There's an ole saying "Beware of the man with one gun, he knows how to use it and use it well" :)
 
sjohn said:
How do you shoot a woodcock? When the bird flushes, try to turn it the direction of the flush, raise your gun in the direction he was going when he flushed, pull the trigger even if you no longer see the bird, wait for your dog to bring him back! don't worry about shouldering the gun or still seeing the bird when you pull the trigger. Most times you have about 1.5 seconds to get a shot off. No time for thinking. It must all be instinctual. Pheasant shooting is much easier, but the more instinctual it becomes, the better your results will be.

I only have one goal when it comes to pheasant shooting. Never ever pull on an empty chamber. That is my only goal on my annual 6 day hunt and would you believe I have failed every year. You can throw every tip and shooting lesson out the door when you pull on an empty chamber.
Click to expand...
The thing about woodcock or grouse hunting is you end up killing more trees that actual birds. ;) Preferably you select a light weight, open choked gun that comes to the shoulder quickly and is not hindered by too many clothes. It is more instinctual and many time you are mounting the gun to a flash and likely will not see detail on a bird. But then again they fold up even when marginally hit as apposed to a Rooster Pheasant which is a much tougher bird and requires multiple pellet strikes in a vital to anchor the bird. I can't count how many times I thought a rooster was dead in the air only to find it nowhere in sight.

I have never had a lesson but what I do know is if you are aiming, you are screwed. Snap shooting is mostly what I do. The hardest shot for almost anyone is watching that bird come from 200 yards away right at you, and then you miss. WHY, you had too much time to shoulder the gun, raise the gun, track the bird, look at your sight.... whoops... you just missed the bird because you looked at your sight. Pull, move, and shoot! Anything more than that, chances are you missed the bird or your buddy next to you is putting the bird in his vest
Click to expand...
It can be hard waiting for that bird to come into range. Resist the temptation to mount the gun early.... The discipline is to wait long enough till the bird is in range then acquire the bird as you are mounting the gun tracking/matching it's speed for a moment, eyes on the head (very important) then depending on the angle stretch to the lead as you fire the gun. As you said looking back at the gun, barrel or bead kills any gun speed you have acquired. Result.... missed behind.

These shots can be replicated at a decent sporting clays range if there is a stand that is throwing a long incomer.
.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
gettinbirdie said:
Speaking of an empty chamber, I did it last year on a "textbook point' with both my gsps locked up. They had them pinched in a corner to a ploughed field, 3 roosters got up staggered/one at a time. grrrr-still eats me up! Lol 🤣
Click to expand...
Gettinbirdie, Now you know why it is my only goal for the trip! Of course it always happens on the best point/flush and all you can do is watch them fly away in all their glory. It's still a beautiful sight to see, but not beautiful to be a part of.
 
Munster927 said:
Not much in the way of tips there haha I've hunted grouse my whole life and the best way to describe it is this: Your best shot is the one you have the moment you see the bird. Which of course, you are never ready unless you walked around the woods with your gun shouldered.

Grouse have an uncanny ability to flush when you're crawling under or over a log. Busting through brush or you're stuck in the thickest shit imaginable with absolutely no way to raise your gun let alone swing it. It's like they watch you and wait for those moments.

There's a reason ruffed grouse hunters count success by the number of flushes instead of birds in the bag haha
Click to expand...
That pretty much sums up Grousing, lol I tell guys that you don't have time to mount your gun. Sometime you have to shoot off the hip and hope, just hope you get one pellet on the bird.
 
Birdman2 said:
That pretty much sums up Grousing, lol I tell guys that you don't have time to mount your gun. Sometime you have to shoot off the hip and hope, just hope you get one pellet on the bird.
Click to expand...
My uncle swears by hip shooting too haha I swear I get birds and say "idk how I did that" Ruffed Grouse hunting than any other upland bird.
 
Wolfchief said:
Of course it also depends on the bird.....Duck? Grouse? Quail in a multiflora Rose thicket? Sharptails flushing wild on an unending prairie? Rooster hammering out of the cattails about 3 feet in front of you? Makes a difference....
Click to expand...
I agree. There are so many variables in bird hunting. One important thing, is to be aggressive. Another, is to know your gun well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top