How many of you let birds go?

I've seen enough young ones that barely had a speck of red by their eye with a couple adult feathers got shot and seriously wonder how they determined it was a rooster. They must have superman vision or something. I definitely am not going to rely on a cackle to determine sex either. I'd rather pass than shoot a hen, there's always more birds to find.
 
remy3424 said:
I think you are pretty safe to reply on a cackle to determine the sex...if it cackles, it is a rooster.
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Not sure that a game warden would buy that if you were found with one that "cackled" before you shot it.

You need to prove that it's not a hen. If there is no color and no spurs, an LEO isn't going to buy that you heard it cackle as evidence of it being a rooster.

I need clear visual confirmation before I pull the trigger. Luckily, all my hunting is from November and beyond, so I don't encounter them.
 
Golddog said:
I've seen enough young ones that barely had a speck of red by their eye with a couple adult feathers got shot and seriously wonder how they determined it was a rooster. They must have superman vision or something. I definitely am not going to rely on a cackle to determine sex either. I'd rather pass than shoot a hen, there's always more birds to find.
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It is easy to mistakenly shoot a hen. Everybody has done it, but I do agree with your comment.
 
I don't hunt enough out of state to have shot a lot but the ones I have shot were easy to id. With the red cheek and lighter head they look bald to me.
 
gim said:
Not sure that a game warden would buy that if you were found with one that "cackled" before you shot it.

You need to prove that it's not a hen. If there is no color and no spurs, an LEO isn't going to buy that you heard it cackle as evidence of it being a rooster.

I need clear visual confirmation before I pull the trigger. Luckily, all my hunting is from November and beyond, so I don't encounter them.
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Gim, if cackles it is a rooster. If someone who is authorized to check you checks, I will say they can tell the hens from roosters in their hands. Maybe someone here has an idea when the young roosters gain the ability to produce a cackle.
 
remy3424 said:
Gim, if cackles it is a rooster. If someone who is authorized to check you checks, I will say they can tell the hens from roosters in their hands. Maybe someone here has an idea when the young roosters gain the ability to produce a cackle.
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Exactly. If it cackled & you shoot it, a game warden will have all the visual proof he needs to verify it's a rooster. It becomes a question of whether your ears are as reliable as your eyes. I've heard of people shooting hens they thought cackled. No. It didn't. I've flushed very, very young roosters no more than 5-6 weeks old that have produced a baby cackle. Not much like an adult rooster cackle, but way more of a cackle than any hen produced ever.
 
benelli-banger said:
This group thinks about pheasant hunting year round; the opening weekend warriors who rarely hunt are the ones who need to brush up on this stuff…I’ve seen a lot of bad decisions over the years…usually the novices who rarely hunt…
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Newbs and unfortunately the olds with poor eye sight. Only time I shout rooster is when they are around. I agree 100 percent
 
remy3424 said:
I will say they can tell the hens from roosters in their hands.
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And if there's no color or spurs, how would that be done?

Not like birds have plumbing between their legs like mammals do.

If you cannot prove it's a rooster, it's a hen. If you say to an LEO "it cackled so I shot it" but there is nothing beyond that to show any distinction that it's a rooster or a hen, you could be cited for sure. Otherwise anyone could shoot a hen and simply state "it cackled" when it flushed.
 
Goosemaster said:
It is easy to mistakenly shoot a hen. Everybody has done it, but I do agree with your comment.
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I've never shot a hen. Ever. I've pheasant hunted for 25 years and no one with me has ever shot a hen either.

If you are shooting hens, you do not belong in this. If you cannot tell its a rooster, you do not shoot.
 
I chatted with a good friend who is as knowledgeable as any biologist, he said wing feathers are a telltale sign down to 6 weeks. He shows us interesting stuff on ducks, geese, cranes, sharpies, pheasants, prairie chickens, huns, ruffed grouse, you name it…this guy is a very successful wildlife photographer…gets a lot of covers of all the high profile mags, including DU, PF, etc, as well. Personally, I’m not interested in shooting tiny pheasants…I’ve flushed plenty that cackle, and have the red eye marking…they fly away. Some guys shoot anything that they believe is a rooster. Whatever. 2 weeks til prairie grouse trip!
 
Minimizing hen mortality while afield matters a lot to me; I get nervous when there’s snow on the ground, especially 4-6” or more, as birds hold pretty tight and dogs will grab them…especially in heavy cover…I usually have some time to stop this, not always. I’d like to say those hens always survive, but not the case. I’ve stopped hunts before due to this, especially years ago when my groups were larger.
 
When I hunt in a larger group, heck, even 2, if I can tell it is a rooster (and I am not in a position to shoot at it) I am calling it out, but I do hens also. I usually hunt right at 8:00 and at times during the season, the sun is low for the first part of the hunt, I call them as someone else that might be in position to shoot, but maybe isn't 100% sure with the sun, can take the shot. All most a courtesy. I am with BB protecting hens, I call out the hens, as I don't want one shot on accident. It seems odd to me, that everyone doesn't do this, but I am also not in the camp that thinks it changes success substantial, trying to hunt silent. My environment might differ from others.
 
I’m surprised more hens aren’t shot when someone yells rooster! and there are multiple birds flushing at the same time, especially by less experienced hunters..ther are times when a lot of craziness is happening at the same time!
 
gim said:
Stop yelling hen or rooster. Great way to announce your presence to the entire countryside that you're there.
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I’m not usually in charge of the group hunts I am involved in..I have 3 dogs, several farmer friends of mine that often have groups will ask me to join them…I don’t overstep and run their hunts…not a big deal one way or another…there’s lots of birds, being quiet vs blaring a boombox doesn’t really matter…there’s usually more birds no matter what goes on. I’m ok with guys yelling rooster whether it’s 2 of us or more…I have gotten away from it as I find myself hunting solo a lot or my partner is a decent distance away from me…I kinda don’t think about it. But if several of us converge on a slough, or a field edge, especially if light isn’t great, I think it’s a good idea…if birds are way spooky, maybe not, but it’s never a big deal to me. Trespassing, unsafe gun handling or unsafe shot choices will always cause me to react…shooting an immature rooster, yelling hen/rooster, etc, doesn’t really get a rise out of me. I’m usually alone, this stuff isn’t that pertinent…when I’m filling spots on my hunts, I find myself gravitating to guys that are very safe hunters, are ethical, are respectful to landowners, and are good to their dogs…good cooks, good shots, good walkers are nice to have, but are secondary skills to me…
 
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