hen question

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eg92b16a2

New member
What do you do if you accidently shoot a hen? Do you leave it or finish it off if it is still alive but wounded?
 
This should be interesting.

By the way what is the statute of limitations on wild game violations? 5 years?????
 
I'd focus on trying not to shoot hens! In 40 years of hunting I have seen and been a party to one hen shot accidentally, and one early out of season rooster, my advice is leave it where it fell, and ignore it. Pick it up at your own peril. Make some sacrificial donation to Pheasants Forever and vow to make double certain before you shoot next time.
 
eg92b16a2 said:
What do you do if you accidently shoot a hen? Do you leave it or finish it off if it is still alive but wounded?
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It it's still alive, please do yourself and the bird a favor and finish it off.

However, this shouldn't happen in the first place. I've only seen two hens killed, one was by an overly-anxious twelve-year old on his first hunt (which is somewhat understandable but still far from right), the other was a hen that flew into a power line, and broke her neck on it (true story, craziest shit I've ever seen bird hunting).

Please identify your game prior to even putting your finger in the trigger guard. If a bird happens to fly into the sun and you can't identify it - don't shoot. It's either an incredibly lucky or smart bird.
 
-Wildcat- said:
However, this shouldn't happen in the first place. I've only seen two hens killed, one was by an overly-anxious twelve-year old on his first hunt (which is somewhat understandable but still far from right), the other was a hen that flew into a power line, and broke her neck on it (true story, craziest shit I've ever seen bird hunting).
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I've seen both of those happen.

I was also the 12 year old at one time.

It shouldn't happen, but it does occasionally. Hadn't had it happen in our group in many many years until last year when a first time hunter shot one off a point even after 4 of us were yelling 'hen, don't shoot'. We left it lay. One time when I was younger we were hunting with a local farmer, he had pheasant for supper.

I could never leave one wounded without putting it down.
 
-Wildcat- said:
It it's still alive, please do yourself and the bird a favor and finish it off.

However, this shouldn't happen in the first place. I've only seen two hens killed, one was by an overly-anxious twelve-year old on his first hunt (which is somewhat understandable but still far from right), the other was a hen that flew into a power line, and broke her neck on it (true story, craziest shit I've ever seen bird hunting).

Please identify your game prior to even putting your finger in the trigger guard. If a bird happens to fly into the sun and you can't identify it - don't shoot. It's either an incredibly lucky or smart bird.
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We once had a hen hit the pole support cable,she did 2-3 sommersalts,feathers flying all directions. Hit the road dead as hell.
This sounds bad,but we laughed are asses off,then got worried that someone might off saw the bird fall,and report us as shooting hens.We just kind of nudged her into the ditch,under some weeds.
 
one plus for those who have pointing dogs that pin pheasants- very hard to confuse a hen with a rooster

while I was out today, playing in the corn, two vehicles pulled up- dog boxes in each- think they were just watching me and the Britts- they'd seen the point, back, and dropped rooster- maybe they thought to ask about hunting-

short of it was- I asked how they were doing- one guy was sitting on the tail gate- we got 6- I looked- 6 hens- no! prairie chickens- I said don't be showing them to anyone- you could loose your guns- I'd throw them in the ditch-

If accidently shot- and that's a hard one to understand- do what you think is right- best not have any witnesses- think what a game warden would do if he had binocs
 
I took hunters safety some 16 years ago, but if I recall the warden at one of the stations said that what you should do in that case is leave the hen in the field.

Ive been the 14 yr old newbie that shot a hen due to all my excitement and then Ive also been with an overzealous dog that caught a lazy hen. We tried to get her away b4 he chomped down but too late. We just rung her neck and left her for coyote food. Unfortunately, as much as we've lectured "Tater" my buddies GSP cant tell the difference between a rooster and a hen ;)
 
Kind of off the topic but isn't it legal to shoot hen in Wyoming or Montana? I think there is one state where it is legal. Not saying I would shoot them but just curious.
 
FCSpringer said:
It doesn't matter if you have a pointer or a flusher, no advantage either way as far as being able to identify birds. Birds in range are easily identified. If not you just let it fly. And prolong the hunt. If a bird flys to the sun or whatever. Now I think the bird should be dispatched and would not recomend taking it home with you.
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I can't agree, I have both pointer, flusher, and if my Springers is on the limit of shooting range and a bird flushes straight out, and low in low light winter light, it can be hard to tell the difference. I pass on plenty of shots because I wasn't sure in that split second, but with my Setter unless I'm shooting at a bust or wild flushes its pretty hard not to tell. Not saying it can't happen either way but it's not really close in my experience.
 
Fenway said:
I can't agree, I have both pointer, flusher, and if my Springers is on the limit of shooting range and a bird flushes straight out, and low in low light winter light, it can be hard to tell the difference. I pass on plenty of shots because I wasn't sure in that split second, but with my Setter unless I'm shooting at a bust or wild flushes its pretty hard not to tell. Not saying it can't happen either way but it's not really close in my experience.
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and there you have it-

I've hunted pheasants behind flushers- and pointer that flush- over a pointer that holds- can't see someone shooting at a hen- unless they just don't care
 
interesting- I say the reverse- I've seen flushing dogs clear out more pheasants than a pointing dog

properly working- now that's a good point- your springers are working like windshield wipers 20 yards out- or are they closer- because a pheasant would hear that dog and most likely get up 10 yards away- thus coming up at 30 yards-

properly working- my Britt's are anywhere from 20 yards to 600 yards- they are moving and slam to point- I walk up facing them and the pheasant gets up 6-10' in front of them-

which is better to tell hen or rooster-

sure some will flush wild- same for you as me- why- because they are feeding in a grain field-

granted- I like big fields- you probably like small fields- I've hunted mine in Minnesota- well- not these three youngsters-

1/2 mile away is a strip of grass- goes 1/4 mile- the grass is heavy and waist high- so yours would be back and forth sweeping it maximum range out would be where you could kill a pheasant- you going to tell me pheasants won't get up at the end as you work into it- and the ones your dog flushes is always in range

my Britt's hit that- first working close then furthur- sometimes 1/2 way- sometimes down at the end- they slam to point- I walk in facing them-

now in both cases- if the pheasants are grouped like early morning- they are going to really come up- in a bunch- you going to tell me a pointing dog that freezes when it hits hot scent is worse than a flusher that just bust thru and scatters everything

now- to me it looks like you have FC springers- they must be real good-

if we both took our best dog, hunted that grass- then went out in the 1/2 by 1/2 mile dirty corn field- I'd say I have the edge on you

I've also hunted a pair of Britt's in cattails in SW Minn- if no noise, such as talking, beepers, whistles- I'll say both types of dog can do well-
pointing dog it's easier to tell hen vs rooster- hands down- if they will point and not move

feeding pheasants in a dirty feed field- big field- are a blast- both my pups can pin and hold them- but yes- feeding pheasants are nervous- but for sure mine are covering ground and hens and roosters will freeze sometimes- if they are in a group- they aren't going to hang arround- although few days ago Shadow with Lizzi backing way out there- I again approached watching their eyes- two roosters came up close- I got them both- why- because they caught the two and froze them- at 15' it was easy to tell both were roosters

there are places I'd rather have a good handling flusher-

you ever hunt your Springers on quail- like quite a bit on wild quail- I'd like to see your flushing dogs do better than my Britt's- like to see how you handle a covey rise 20 or so yards in front of you as yours blast thru them- vs- mine locking up and the covey coming up within 15'- think I'd take my Beretta auto
 
Shadow, I hunt my springer regularly on wild quail. They may not be the "gentlemen" you are used to but they are wild covey birds. I regularly take doubles off of a covey rises with my sxs, and follow up on singles quite well. If your dog did point and hold a covey you would have to try to flush them yourself from rank cover and be in a poor position for a shot. Your dogs may have an advantage following up singles, but I bet I would get more birds off the covey rise. Now on Bob birds I would give you the great advantage with ranging dogs, but I guess it depends on the species.
 
quail hound said:
Shadow, I hunt my springer regularly on wild quail. They may not be the "gentlemen" you are used to but they are wild covey birds. I regularly take doubles off of a covey rises with my sxs, and follow up on singles quite well. If your dog did point and hold a covey you would have to try to flush them yourself from rank cover and be in a poor position for a shot. Your dogs may have an advantage following up singles, but I bet I would get more birds off the covey rise. Now on Bob birds I would give you the great advantage with ranging dogs, but I guess it depends on the species.
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what do you mean- if mine did point and hold- you've got to be kidding- what do you think they will do-

I'd sure like to see you do better on a covey rise- perhaps you are coming to Kansas
 
Shadow said:
what do you mean- if mine did point and hold- you've got to be kidding- what do you think they will do-

I'd sure like to see you do better on a covey rise- perhaps you are coming to Kansas
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Shadow I didn't mean to doubt you or your dogs, I was just trying to show different hunting situations call for different approaches. I am talking about our quail here (california &mountain quail). These birds are hunted year round by a healthy population of foxes and bobcats and don't hold still very long in the face of danger.

You said your dogs range 20-600 yards right? Let's say your dog is on point 300 yards up a steep gully from you, you think these quail will wait for you to get to the point? No way, that's why I said they are not the gentlemen you are use to. That is why there aren't many pointing breeds running our hills after quail. Different approaches for different birds. You would however have good luck on the singles that are more apt to hold well.

I know my springer wouldn't hunt bobs nearly as effectively as your britts but he sure would try. I imagine I could scratch down a double flushed 20yds out. I would love to hunt Kansas, maybe I will try to make it out next year.

Sorry about hi jacking the thread.
 
no problem quail hound- I lived in Eastern Kansas since 1972- all I hunted was quail- then I moved out here in pheasant country-

lots different- quail VS pheasnts- my pups aren't quite sure about quail- course they haven't seen many quail- except the ones in the quail pens- think they're not sure- need to find a place where we can get into a bunch of wild quail- then they'd figure it out

heck- I thought maybe you were challenging that your spaniels were better than my spaniels-

and that just made me sit up and pay attention- you care to come to Kansas anytime- I'll go afield with you- think I have a spaniel that would do ok with your spaniel in the field

your birds out there you don't think would put up with a good running pointing dog- ever seen a young pointer learn- I can show you these Britt's learn quick- you ever seen one point from long distance- I've had some of my past Britt's in prairie chickens- now that is a bird- takes a smart no nonscense pointing dog to figure out not to crowd- I've had mine lock up 90 yards away- they would do the same once they figured out not to crowd on your birds

I've got 2 16 month pups- they are learning- different birds, different country, different situations- makes a bird dog real smart- they are good- but I won't risk them in the field with another dog who isn't real good-

no problem for me to take two out and get a limit of pheasants- quail- now that is another matter- but we don't have any quail arround here- so heck- putting the pups down in good quail country- heck yes- they need the experience and how to handle them- think they'd figured it out real quick
 
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