Ground-poundin'

[Daisybuck]

OK, here's a philosophical question: When, if ever, is it OK to swat a bird on the ground?

I was discussing this at work as a bit of a debating point. My view is, I swatted some grouse on the ground as a kid, but now that I have dogs and some sense of fair chase, I only wingshoot. My debate adversary, a salty fellow who grew up on a farm, said if you are hunting you mean to feed yourself -- abandon the pretense and fill your bag. You bought the license and you follow the rules take `em any way you can.

Thoughts?

 

[goldeneye]

I thought you were going to tell us how many miles you walked today??

I agree with you as a kid no promblem shooting on the ground but I have to much money into my dog to take a chance like that.

 

[Daisybuck]

I wish. I called my Dad today at his cabin in the woods. He says he's not seeing any birds (ruffs) but that he got some mowing done and is enjoying the cool weather. I told him he should have brought Daisy -- he still would not see them for the leaves but he would have heard them going up. Forget fishing opener and deer opener, gimme that bird opener. Soon gentlemen, soon. The smell of freshly emptied hulls, the sight of a dog getting birdy (that tail!) and nosing into cover... Crisp autumn mornings with equally crisp leaves... WHY? Why do I have to work?

To buy gas, shells, kibble and, well, beer... I suppose (you can't hunt `em after dark)

 

[1pheas4]

. Soon gentlemen, soon. The smell of freshly emptied hulls, the sight of a dog getting birdy (that tail!) and nosing into cover... Crisp autumn mornings with equally crisp leaves... WHY? Why do I have to work?

Now we're talkin':cheers::thumbsup:

 

[jmac]

OK, here's a philosophical question: When, if ever, is it OK to swat a bird on the ground?

I was discussing this at work as a bit of a debating point. My view is, I swatted some grouse on the ground as a kid, but now that I have dogs and some sense of fair chase, I only wingshoot. My debate adversary, a salty fellow who grew up on a farm, said if you are hunting you mean to feed yourself -- abandon the pretense and fill your bag. You bought the license and you follow the rules take `em any way you can.

Thoughts?[/QUOTE

When you have winged a bird and THERE IS NO DOGS IN THE FIELD. Shooting low, with out a clear sky behind a bird is asking for trouble. I agree with Goldeneye,No dogs life or persons life is worth taking a shot on the ground at a bird. IMHO.

 

[oldandnew]

Ground swatting a wounded running rooster when no dog is clued in and in pursuit is OK with a clear safe background, and certainly for a dogless hunter, better than a lost bird. Most of us have had dogs for so long, we don't even consider any alternative. I've had my dogs retrieve a three bird limit of cripples, at dawn on the second day of the season, would have prefered to shoot my own! Maybe those presumably dogless cripplers should have swatted a few. Now a guy who would shoot a healthy bird, in a ditch or a hedgerow, or a covey of quail, is just a gutter snipe of the lowest rank. No excuses, no apologies.

 

[moellermd]

Now a guy who would shoot a healthy bird, in a ditch or a hedgerow, or a covey of quail, is just a gutter snipe of the lowest rank. No excuses, no apologies.

What he said

 

[jmac]

Ground swatting a wounded running rooster when no dog is clued in and in pursuit is OK with a clear safe background, and certainly for a dogless hunter, better than a lost bird. Most of us have had dogs for so long, we don't even consider any alternative. I've had my dogs retrieve a three bird limit of cripples, at dawn on the second day of the season, would have prefered to shoot my own! Maybe those presumably dogless cripplers should have swatted a few. Now a guy who would shoot a healthy bird, in a ditch or a hedgerow, or a covey of quail, is just a gutter snipe of the lowest rank. No excuses, no apologies.

Yes old and new, I didn't what to stir the pot to much. I think the op has the same Idea. No need to blast birds on the ground, that have not been shot out of the air first. I have dogs in that field, there is going to be a major problem for the shooter........

 

[jeffstally]

I will only shoot birds on the wing unless they are cripples as well.

 

[esetter1]

I would have to say I agree with the rest of you guys on this. I too have hunted with dogs my entire life. So, I think other than shooting a cripple, no where near my dog, it would not be my first reaction to shoot a bird on the ground. That being said I can see a dogless hunters point in shooting a running bird or something along those lines.