Do u shoot a second time at a bird that’s been hit?

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benelli-banger

Well-known member
I see enough”dead” birds run away that I’m a fan of shooting a second time if it’s possible to safely. May be overkill, literally, but I hate losing birds…and I will happily help others find downed birds, but I’m growing tired listening to the adjective-laden descriptions of just how “hard” the bird was hit! On my current trip we’ve had a few birds that were hit, albeit not too hard, reflush and fly…one was shot again…had unique tail feathers, same bird. The other one was likely the same bird, too, based on various factors. But I preach to my guys to shoot again at a hit bird…worth it, IMO.. yes, some birds are really dead, and it’s obvious, but every once in a while even those disappear!!!
 
Absolutely! I shot a rooster yesterday morning, didn’t think it was a kill shot so shot at it again. dog brings back the bird that is totally lifeless. Put the bird in the bag. About 5 minutes later the bird kicked a couple times. Next thing I know the little bastard jumps out of my bag and I’m chasing this thing around in circles. Finally got it and wrung its neck. Their will to live is amazing!
 
I normally do not because by the time I see that they are not hit well, they are getting pretty low. I always look at their head when they're on the way down. If that head is up, you'd better get there quick.
 
I shot one last year, bird up, bang, all motion ceases and it falls to the ground on the other side of a small but deep cut. 10ft deep and 10 ft across. As I stand and assess how to cross the cut, my lab catches up to me and we both look across the cut at the bird laying motionless between 1" tree/shrub trunks. The dog works his way down and back up the bank and his nose is 2ft from the downed bird when it jumps up and takes off into the nearby brush. We tracked the thing 30-40yds through several direction changes before the dog loses the trail. I even found blood so it was more than stunned. They are tough buggers.
 
birddude said:
I normally do not because by the time I see that they are not hit well, they are getting pretty low. I always look at their head when they're on the way down. If that head is up, you'd better get there quick.
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Right, that’s why I clarified with “safely”….your’re right, many you can’t…
 
benelli-banger said:
I see enough”dead” birds run away that I’m a fan of shooting a second time if it’s possible to safely. May be overkill, literally, but I hate losing birds…and I will happily help others find downed birds, but I’m growing tired listening to the adjective-laden descriptions of just how “hard” the bird was hit! On my current trip we’ve had a few birds that were hit, albeit not too hard, reflush and fly…one was shot again…had unique tail feathers, same bird. The other one was likely the same bird, too, based on various factors. But I preach to my guys to shoot again at a hit bird…worth it, IMO.. yes, some birds are really dead, and it’s obvious, but every once in a while even those disappear!!!
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If a rooster still has his head up........I will keep shooting everytime!!
 
I rarely do. Once in awhile I'll shoot again, if I KNOW he wasn't hit hard, & time permits for an actual shot (as opposed to just pulling the trigger again quickly). I can't remember the last time I shot again at a falling bird & thought I actually HIT it again. Just doesn't happen for me. Seems like almost all the time, if a bird is falling (regardless of how well he's hit) he's on the ground out of sight before I could get off another shot.
 
A5 Sweet 16 said:
I rarely do. Once in awhile I'll shoot again, if I KNOW he wasn't hit hard, & time permits for an actual shot (as opposed to just pulling the trigger again quickly). I can't remember the last time I shot again at a falling bird & thought I actually HIT it again. Just doesn't happen for me. Seems like almost all the time, if a bird is falling (regardless of how well he's hit) he's on the ground out of sight before I could get off another shot.
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Yes, this is me.

Probably more often I take a shot at a bird wounded by a companion if it flies past me.

Anyone who shoots trap knows a falling target is a difficult shot.
 
I shot a cock 2 days ago and it fell like a rock. I walked over to Ryder and tapped his head and he took off, right past where he marked{and me too} and went maybe 25 yards further and caught up with the dead bird (still alive and kicking) , Without him to make the retrieve I can still amagine I wouid be out there kicking the weeds looking for the pheasant. With a broke dog, you dont need a second shot.
 
Unless that bird is still able to provide some bit levitation, my reflexes and brain aren't reacting quick enough to make this happen. To make that falling bird shot, after you determine in your brain "it might not be dead", " I think I should maybe shoot it again". Your brain is working at a faster speed than mine, or you are always thinking "I might need to shoot this guy again, be ready".
 
It’s just something I do, not a lot of thought…not too different than taking a 2nd shot after a miss…I’ve just seen so many “dead” birds get away… I’ve been doing this “shoot again” deal for years, if it’s safe to….as far as falling targets, lots of sporting clays presentations feature those shots…maybe I’ve never hit a previously hit bird with the 2nd shot, but I’m thinking I do with some regularity. I don’t know why, but more than one of my hunting buddies won’t take a second shot at a missed bird…and most don’t shoot a 2nd time at a hit bird, despite the suggestion the last time they “crushed” a bird with one shot, then couldn’t find it. Whatever. It’s like anything else…work on it, practice, etc. I’m the one with multiple dogs in my party, assuming I’m not hunting solo, and I’ll travel decent distances to help recover birds…I’m just interested in recovering birds with the least effort possible, especially when it’s hot and dry, which seems like it is much of the time. My primary dog overheats very easily. Am I the only one who will shoot at a piece of a clay target that’s already been hit? I don’t do it a lot, but probably do a few times each time I shoot. I’m not shooting league, or with a group…solo or with one guy. Our sporting clays course has a separate “hunters” course with the newfangled technology that has pause for the solo shooter (probably been around for decades)…fun to hit pause and walk a few steps and create quasi-hunting scenarios…I never mount my gun first, or have the safety off…which plays into when I mount my gun, and put my safety off when shooting at birds…
 
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I’m guessing I may have a bigger “sample size” of hunting buddies throughout the fall than many others here…some without dogs, or decent dogs…some have to be reminded of the difference between IC, M, F choke…and why #5 shot is better than #7.5…my groups have decreased in size over the years, thankfully, but this week will be 6 or 7 of us…a repeat of a group from last year, which was much fun, with a newbie or two…lots of guys commit a month in advance, then disappear…this isn’t “my” group, per se, it’s being put together by one of my good hunting pals…I’m happy to host. The “shoot again, even if it’s hit” mantra has evolved over the years…but it didn’t take long after I started in SD in ‘93…the cover was so thick, and so many birds, and scent, I wanted every assurance I could recover birds…
 
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