Most Satisfying Shot

[Greg Johnson]

I had the opportunity to help as a mentor for a local youth pheasant hunt sponsored by our PF chapter with my dog. A young 12-year-old boy was assigned to me and we had multiple opportunities but he wasn’t able to harvest a bird. The group met at lunch time to share stories of how the other groups had fared; unfortunately, the boy I was helping was taking a lot of razzing from his twin brother that had successfully harvested a pheasant.

I could tell the “pressure was on” my partner and he was pretty tensed up to perform but I assured him we would have additional opportunities. We started to hunt a field with another couple of groups walking in a line as his brother tagged along. As luck would happen, a rooster flushed in front of us and presented a perfect crossing shot for my partner – he literally shot the head off of the bird. The perfect shot in front of his brother and friends; it can’t get any better than that. Great memory.

 

[BritChaser]

I had the opportunity to help as a mentor for a local youth pheasant hunt sponsored by our PF chapter with my dog. A young 12-year-old boy was assigned to me and we had multiple opportunities but he wasn’t able to harvest a bird. The group met at lunch time to share stories of how the other groups had fared; unfortunately, the boy I was helping was taking a lot of razzing from his twin brother that had successfully harvested a pheasant.

I could tell the “pressure was on” my partner and he was pretty tensed up to perform but I assured him we would have additional opportunities. We started to hunt a field with another couple of groups walking in a line as his brother tagged along. As luck would happen, a rooster flushed in front of us and presented a perfect crossing shot for my partner – he literally shot the head off of the bird. The perfect shot in front of his brother and friends; it can’t get any better than that. Great memory.

I made a close shot once where the wad hit the bird in the head leaving a clear circular 12 gauge wound.

 

[Al Bonkers]

I've seen phez go straight up like that, die, and then plummet. My huntin' buddy says this results from a head shot.

It's mostly a miss but a pellet ruptures an artery, resulting in a bleed-out. It is like bleeding out deprives them of oxygen, making them think they are under water, and they fly straight up trying to get to air.

We had one of those a few years ago. Only one pellet hit the bird, but that pellet hit the let artery. The rooster flew off after the shot like it was not wounded at all, but at about 400 yards it climbed upward until it lost consciousness. Landed in a harvested sunflower field so it was easy to find.

 

[airmedic1]

I was hunting some rough CRP on the side of a valley. My good old dog Gibby pointed and I walked up beside her and a rooster flushed on my right but behind me. I swung to my right and shot, saw feathers ruffled but he kept flying. The second shot ruffled more feathers but he kept flying like he had never been hit. I watched him fly over the valley, probably a good half mile or more and then just fall out of the sky. There was snow on the ground or I probably wouldn't have been able to see him flying that far away. I picked some landmarks that I could recognize and circled down wind of him and back to the area where I thought he dropped. After a few minutes we found him stone dead. His chest cavity was full of blood when I cleaned him.
That rooster taught me a valuable lesson and when they fly away seemingly unhit I watch them until I can't see them anymore. I've seen them fall out of the sky a few times since and found a couple. Makes me wonder how many that are hit and fly away are actually hit and die a short time later?

 

[Al Bonkers]

I was hunting some rough CRP on the side of a valley. My good old dog Gibby pointed and I walked up beside her and a rooster flushed on my right but behind me. I swung to my right and shot, saw feathers ruffled but he kept flying. The second shot ruffled more feathers but he kept flying like he had never been hit. I watched him fly over the valley, probably a good half mile or more and then just fall out of the sky. There was snow on the ground or I probably wouldn't have been able to see him flying that far away. I picked some landmarks that I could recognize and circled down wind of him and back to the area where I thought he dropped. After a few minutes we found him stone dead. His chest cavity was full of blood when I cleaned him.
That rooster taught me a valuable lesson and when they fly away seemingly unhit I watch them until I can't see them anymore. I've seen them fall out of the sky a few times since and found a couple. Makes me wonder how many that are hit and fly away are actually hit and die a short time later?

Too many, but all we can do is keep trying to get better at shooting, and at knowing when not to. And, yes, watching them until they are out of sight!

 

[Limitless]

It's mostly a miss but a pellet ruptures an artery, resulting in a bleed-out. It is like bleeding out deprives them of oxygen, making them think they are under water, and they fly straight up trying to get to air.

We had one of those a few years ago. Only one pellet hit the bird, but that pellet hit the let artery. The rooster flew off after the shot like it was not wounded at all, but at about 400 yards it climbed upward until it lost consciousness. Landed in a harvested sunflower field so it was easy to find.

That's a good theory, but I have seen them do it the instant they are hit too, which makes me think something is off with their ability to tell direction.

 

[Carguy2Banker]

Tell us about your most satisfying shot. Here's mine:

Gus the Brittany and I are alone again and on a long hill, a ridge, that runs north-south for a half mile through a beautiful CRP field. All the ambers, umbers, ochres, and, and beiges of fall decorate the flora and the sky is deep and so blue. We’ve been here before and have expectations of flushing pheasants. We’ve started at the north end so as to be heading into the slight southern breeze. Nature has provided us a gorgeous early winter day on the high plains of western Kansas.

We are about a fourth of the way along the long ridge just strolling along, no hurry and . . . point! I hasten forward. When I am about 40 feet from Gus, he breaks point and begins scurrying madly back and forth and ahead searching for the scent. This dog loves the hunt. (I don’t train my dogs to hold point until released. I leave that decision to them.) Point! I hustle to catch up hoping to make the flush. Point broken again and Gus is quartering and racing ahead to find the bird. I am speed walking with my gun held out front as I lean into the effort. Point! Point broken! Gus dashes on and quarters about. I’m breathing harder now. I stay leaning forward for speed, gun held away from me ready to snap to my shoulder. But I am not keeping up with Gus. I try to quicken my pace, give it more gas. But I don’t seem to have much more gas. Now I am catching up. I’m getting within range. Point! Point broken! Gus is quartering, on the run again. I am panting and sweating and feeling the strain in my not young legs. Point! Point broken! Point! Point broken! Gus is out of range again. But now I am catching up again somehow. Gus is now just 20 yards ahead. Point! I drive my legs and pant for air to close the distance for the flush. Point broken! But . . . Flush! The bird tears away in terror to the southwest. I shoulder and snap off a shot, hoping that I led him correctly. Knock down! I can’t believe it. I have no more in me and stand motionless and panting while Gus goes down the west slope for the retrieve. I feel the sweat dripping down my back and my neck as I finally catch my breath. I look around to get reoriented. We have chased the running bird to a point two-thirds of the way south along the half-mile long hill top. Gus trots up with the bird. Now all is not merely well, but wonderful. I just made the most satisfying shot in my years of hunting due entirely to the brilliant work of a minimally managed bird dog.

Great story, with a great ending! Thanks for sharing. The whole time I was reading this, I kept hoping you weren't carrying a Benelli and the story was going to end with the infamous "Benelli click" that has happened to me too many times! Please tell me I'm not the only one?!?