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Crusaderhunter

Crusaderhunter

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Men I have question about how to fix a shooting problem. This week I have had 4 roosters get right up in front of me in the open, not more than 20 yards in front of me, fly straight ahead and I missed all of them. The first three might have been the best opportunities to take a bird that a person could ask for. The easy shots I keep missing and the hard flushes to the side going away I’ve hit, very well. I shoot a Browning over under 12 gauge and use #5 shot high quality shells. What hurt the most was when I hit a bird on a tough shot going to the side away from my hunting partners was when one of my former players said, “it is a good thing that bird did not fly straight ahead.”
 
All I can think is that you must be getting too excited. Sounds like you haven't lost your wingshooting ability if you're still hitting the crossing shots. The only time I miss em' going away is when I get too excited.
 
First issue is the description of the event, very seldom does a pheasant offer a true straight away, angles are subtle, lead requirements are too. High on the list of probable culprits: Gun shoots high, Have you patterned it? Not getting your gun properly mounted, gun fit might be an issue, excitement as well, follow through on a subtle angle. Shooting to fast, complicated by possibly to much choke for the circumstances. If you shoot the gun well in general. I suspect what the golfers call the "yips". To much adrenaline, leading to a series of errors, if you miss the first shot, the second probably amounts to a salute. Slow down a half a second and focus on the fundementals, by the way we all have done it! whether we admit it here or not. For therapy I recommend one of the Outdoor Channel pheasant hunting shows, watching professional bigname celebrities miss pen raised bird after pen raised bird. Sure they can hit 8 targets in the air simultaneously, a 20 mph, motivated target, not so much!
 
I had this problem a few years back and it was from a cross dominance issue, you might look into that, also what the other guys mentioned are possibilities as well.
 
What chokes are you using in your O/U?
You might try opening them up a bit.
Early season for close flushers, I use a Skeet choke in the bottom and Improved in the top...later season I might switch to IC/ Mod if the birds are flushing wild.
Are you keeping your head down or raising it from the stock to watch the bird fall? Remember "Wood on wood" keep your wooden head down on the wooden stock.
Usually a straight away shot has some angle to it despite what you might think at the time of the bird flushing take your time and try to shoot where the bird is going....not where it is.
In a true straight away shot try to just cover the bird and fire.
 
keep your head down!!! Roosters are so awesome when they come up you automatically hold your head high looking at the bird. And you probably shoot the first shot too fast then panic when he doesn't fall. We've all done it!! I've always wondered if the "speed bead" (i think its called) would help. Anyone used one before?
 
Birds going straight away are hard for me as well, and I think of myself as better than average shotgun shot.

On crossing birds the head and neck is exposed to your pattern. On straight away shots you're looking at a lot of tail/butt/non-important back, with the head and neck often hidden by the body. Try and concentrate on hitting the stuff in front, rather than the stuff in back.
 
Crusaderhunter said:
Men I have question about how to fix a shooting problem. This week I have had 4 roosters get right up in front of me in the open, not more than 20 yards in front of me, fly straight ahead and I missed all of them. The first three might have been the best opportunities to take a bird that a person could ask for. The easy shots I keep missing and the hard flushes to the side going away I’ve hit, very well. I shoot a Browning over under 12 gauge and use #5 shot high quality shells. What hurt the most was when I hit a bird on a tough shot going to the side away from my hunting partners was when one of my former players said, “it is a good thing that bird did not fly straight ahead.”
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Some of us just can't hit a curve ball!!!!!!! LOL:cheers:
 
If it is a true straight away shot then put your bead just under the bird and you will nail him about 90 percent of the time. Most people shoot at the bird and end up shooting over him for a clean miss. Try it and let me know. Remember, keep both eyes open with the shotgun.
 
Crusaderhunter said:
Men I have question about how to fix a shooting problem. This week I have had 4 roosters get right up in front of me in the open, not more than 20 yards in front of me, fly straight ahead and I missed all of them. The first three might have been the best opportunities to take a bird that a person could ask for. The easy shots I keep missing and the hard flushes to the side going away I’ve hit, very well. I shoot a Browning over under 12 gauge and use #5 shot high quality shells. What hurt the most was when I hit a bird on a tough shot going to the side away from my hunting partners was when one of my former players said, “it is a good thing that bird did not fly straight ahead.”
Click to expand...

if they were #5 fiocchi i cnt hit shit with them either i truely think there so fast it leaves a hole in your pattern im done ive missed so many gimmeys this last weekend its pitifuli threwem in the @#$%%$& river when i was a kid i just went to walmart and bought shells with a pheasant pic on them didnt read fps or anything and killed the heck out of em
 
only a pointer said:
if they were #5 fiocchi i cnt hit shit with them either i truely think there so fast it leaves a hole in your pattern im done ive missed so many gimmeys this last weekend its pitifuli threwem in the @#$%%$& river when i was a kid i just went to walmart and bought shells with a pheasant pic on them didnt read fps or anything and killed the heck out of em
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HA! I'm back to the cheaper shells too. My wife bought me some fancy high-velocity quail loads and for the first time in my life, I'm taking feathers out of quail and watching them fly away:eek: WTF? A quail? That ain't right. I'm shooting up the rest of those high-velocity loads and going back to the cheap ones:rolleyes:

Remington Nitro #4's have proven to be worth the extra couple of bucks, but outside of them, I'll take a regular box of Federals or Remingtons and use the $ I saved on fuel for my trips.
 
Thanks

Thanks men for all the suggestions. To answer a few of your questions; I have a modified choke in the over and improved choke under. I have never even put the full choke in since I bought the gun back 2003. I have shot 3 & 2&3/4 #5 Fiocchi shotgun shells the past 4 to 5 years. I don’t buy 3in any more I got tired of the sore shoulder. This season I began with Fiocchi's that I had left over from last season but I'm now shooting Federal Premium Pheasants Forever #5 trying to help out the funding for habitat. No, I have never patterned my gun; I will do that after I take my daughter in-law deer hunting this weekend. I do know that I need to slow down because I get so exited and I shoot to quick. I will try to aim for where they eat. Thanks for your help and if I keep on missing I will just say I like to hunt like I fish by the “catch and release” method.

Mike
 
wingshot said:
keep your head down!!! Roosters are so awesome when they come up you automatically hold your head high looking at the bird. And you probably shoot the first shot too fast then panic when he doesn't fall. We've all done it!! I've always wondered if the "speed bead" (i think its called) would help. Anyone used one before?
Click to expand...

I have a red glow site but I only see it when I mount my gun during practice, never when I shoot at a bird. But it sure looks good on my gun.
 
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BleuBijou said:
Some of us just can't hit a curve ball!!!!!!! LOL:cheers:
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Being a high school baseball coach for the past 16 years I would have to say that is a very true statement.

My goal for my hunt Tuesday after school will be, slow down, keep wood to wood and hit him where he eats.
 
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Hey Mike,
Like some of the other guys said, I'm pretty sure you're rushing your shot. It happend to me the first 3 birds on Opening Day. I knew what I was doing wrong, but I was so excited I couldn't help it. I slowed down and let the bird get out a ways before I'd shoulder the gun and ended up shooting pretty well. A lot of it has to do with confidence as well. Take some skeet out and throw some gimmies and then stop while the goings good.
 
KansasGsp said:
Hey Mike,
Like some of the other guys said, I'm pretty sure you're rushing your shot. It happend to me the first 3 birds on Opening Day. I knew what I was doing wrong, but I was so excited I couldn't help it. I slowed down and let the bird get out a ways before I'd shoulder the gun and ended up shooting pretty well. A lot of it has to do with confidence as well. Take some skeet out and throw some gimmies and then stop while the goings good.
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Bryan; I think I need to get the "tee" out I was shooting so bad, but I had a blast and my players had even more fun making fun of me.

Mike
 
Sounds crazy but is your barrel bent. Dad had" alittle tweeky bend in his A5 barrel "this year. Switched guns and started hitting them hard. I took the gun to the gun smith and be damd if dad wasnt right the barrel was "alittle tweeky bent". All straight now. Just an idea.
 
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