Can you tell if a shot rooster is going to run?

[Jerryv]

Twice I have seen hens hit power lines after flushing on a windy day. They must misjudge their speed or something. I have not seen a rooster do it.

I agree that hustling to the downed bird is important. Especially if the dog is distracted by another bird. Sometimes it takes a few seconds for a bird with a broken wing to get organized after hitting the ground and if you get there quickly you can avoid a chase.

I have been fooled many times by roosters that I thought were dead and others that looked like they would be runners, but were not.

Jerry

 

[carptom1]

Better a lost bird than a lost dog. No bird is worth the risk IMO. Personally, I just make it a habit and choose not to shoot at a running bird. Anyway, that's what we have the dogs FOR isn't it?

In a given situation, say for instance your dog is completely out of the picture and the instant you go to trigger the shot on a running bird, out from nowhere the dog appears in the sight picture. Things happen fast, too fast. Get in the habit of not doing it and there will never be an issue. Same could be said about shooting low flying birds over your dog.

Just my way of thinking, your certainly entitled to your opinion though.

I agree 100%. Shooting birds on the ground is bad practice. That is one of the few rules I have when hunting with others is no ground shooting under any circumstances. I have seen too many close calls in the past. If you have a good retriever he will find most down birds.

 

[calamari]

I guess I hunt with people I trust more and in tougher cover. Out here there are blackberry thickets, tule patches and impenetrable willows scattered all over the place. If a bird hits the ground anywhere close to any of those kinds of cover and is mobile, it's lost if it gets in there. Dogs won't go into blackberrys and can't into some of the other two. Hunting where there is no place where they can truly escape is another thing.
I'm not saying shoot over the top of your dog at a bird going straight away but if the dog and bird is travelling at a safe angle with the dog a safe distance behind the bird, I'm going to shoot it. If you don't have situational awareness and know where your companions and dog(s) are at all times you're either not paying enough attention or hunting with too many people or dogs. If it truly isn't safe don't shoot but a blanket prohibition on shooting a running bird on the ground is wasteful.

 

[oldandnew]

Good dogs make bad shooting possible! Lord knows, they have saved some bad choices when snapping off a shot. Unwise decision happily made possible by a great dog. If the bird in heavy cover, and is alert, and you can shoot safely.... shoot, apologies later. A rooster that rights itself, just at ground level, and it gets it's "legs" under it, is trouble for sure, it's a runner. Lots of times the birds will use their last strength to "turtle" down in the mote of grass, becoming invisible. It's hard to safely shoot a bird at the ground level, when you realize it may be needed. I believe, it would be better to get another round into, before it gets there, but I like a dummy, I don't, by habit I guess, or not trying to pick lead shot out of my teeth! I have hunted with tough old boot hunters who hunt solo, no dog, and never lose a bird, alas, most of us are primitive hunters, it's our dogs who make us great! My philosiphy hunt with as many good dogs as you can. Make sure a dog gets a good look at the downed bird.