Goosemaster
Well-known member
How do you teach a hunter to shoot more than once when a bird flushes, there are members of my family, who only shoot one time for some reason.
Shooting once
- Thread starter Goosemaster
- Start date
birddude
Well-known member
Get a whirley bird! Best 300.00 I ever spent. Grandsons love it.
benelli-banger
Well-known member
I preach that a hit bird should be shot at a 2nd time, if it can be done safely…I routinely search for “dead” birds that were shot once…happened several times opening weekend. And I have buddies that miss on the first shot and don’t shoot again for some reason. Most guys will go for a double if they hit a bird on the first shot and there’s another in the air…probably better to shoot the first hit bird a 2nd time and mark it well. But, it’s fun to get a double…hard to not try when given the chance. Some guys are frugal and don’t want to “waste” ammo…or, keep track of shots taken vs birds harvested, and like to boast about that. I hate losing birds…I Don’t fret about how much ammo I shoot…most of my shells are .50-75 cents each…closer to .50…I don’t care about that cost. TSS? I’d be more careful. I occasionally shoot some non-toxic stuff in a 28 gauge that run $1-2/shell, but that’s pretty rare…sharpy hunting in a WPA, for example…not enough shells used to get excited…bottom line, pheasants are tough, and I hate losing them, as well as putting my dogs through the rigors of the search when it’s hot and dry in the heavy cover that they usually end up in when they’re evading hunters.
Labs
Well-known member
I would suggest throwing doubles with the backyard trap. The drill is if the shooter hits the first clay, he has a go at the second. If he misses the first clay, he sticks with it and shoots a second shot at it. Once the student/shooter starts getting comfortable, you can add a wrinkle that if he hits the first clay and there is a decent sized piece still in flight, the student/shooter tries to hit that piece rather than the second clay. That simulates anchoring a hit but still flying bird.
You'll go through a lot of clays with this drill but they're cheap and there's no better way to teach/learn how to use that follow-up shot. Even after all the decades I've hunted, I still do this drill myself getting ready for Fall.
To a degree, this can be practiced shooting doubles at a trap club, but that competitive environment is not conducive to learning/teaching. Another factor is the traps at clubs throw birds much faster than most backyard-type traps (with some notable and pricey exceptions) which is discouraging to the student shooter trying to learn the technique.
You'll go through a lot of clays with this drill but they're cheap and there's no better way to teach/learn how to use that follow-up shot. Even after all the decades I've hunted, I still do this drill myself getting ready for Fall.
To a degree, this can be practiced shooting doubles at a trap club, but that competitive environment is not conducive to learning/teaching. Another factor is the traps at clubs throw birds much faster than most backyard-type traps (with some notable and pricey exceptions) which is discouraging to the student shooter trying to learn the technique.
Last edited:
Goosemaster
Well-known member
That's exactly what I'm talking about, shooting once and missing, and not shooting again. I have family members who will only shoot one time no matter what. A lot of times you can get a bird on your second or third shot.
Labradinger
Well-known member
This thread is a very good example of why a semi auto shines. I have a couple doubles and carry them, but for multiple bird flushes you really cant beat a semi.
Plannerman
Active member
Too much indecision and overthinking..."if I missed it must be too far", or the age old excuses I hear "they get up too far away". Actually had a buddy ask "do shotgun shells go bad? I miss a lot".
Carguy2Banker
Well-known member
My bad habit is shooting once and as soon as the bird either folds by my shot (or more likely my hunting partners shot) I break open my gun to reload that 1 spent shell.
Most of the time, it seems like their is another rise at the same instant as my gun opens. The more I rush and scramble the slower the reload process happens. This is the feeling as when my zipper is down before entering the field and the birds start flying 10 yards from where I'm parked!
For those taking notes, don't make habits of doing either of these things.
Most of the time, it seems like their is another rise at the same instant as my gun opens. The more I rush and scramble the slower the reload process happens. This is the feeling as when my zipper is down before entering the field and the birds start flying 10 yards from where I'm parked!
For those taking notes, don't make habits of doing either of these things.
I guess it all depends on personal choice.
Of the obviously wounded birds I’ve seen I think many of them are a result of second or subsequent shots. I hate to see one fly clean away then flinch on the second shot. Certainly a bird wounded but not dropped on the first shot requires a second attempt.
Of the obviously wounded birds I’ve seen I think many of them are a result of second or subsequent shots. I hate to see one fly clean away then flinch on the second shot. Certainly a bird wounded but not dropped on the first shot requires a second attempt.