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Post by Purebred Redneck on Dec 15, 2007 10:28:28 GMT -5
This was on another forum Is it sporting to shoot birds on the water (or upland game on the ground)
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Post by jimiowa on Dec 15, 2007 15:35:56 GMT -5
Thats always going to be debatelable. Iowa law says it's illegal to shoot Phesants except with a shotgun. I have in the past of violated that law. I consider it just as sporting to head shoot phesants at 50 yds with a .22(if not more so) as it is to throw an ounce and a quarter of shot at them on the fly. I think the idea that shooting sitting ducks on the water goes back to the market hunting practice of shooting them with punt guns?
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Post by Jack on Dec 15, 2007 17:43:14 GMT -5
In my opinion, if you need to finish off a cripple, OK, shoot a bird on the water or on the ground. Otherwise, no. I'm talking strictly using a shotgun. In NY it's illegal to hunt game birds with a rifle.
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Post by Bubba on Dec 15, 2007 17:50:18 GMT -5
Jim's right, it's debatable. I think it's up to the individual. I've shot ducks on the water when they're crippled and can't fly. I've shot ducks on the water after I have knocked them out of the air and just stunned them and they're trying to get back up in the air... but I don't think I've ever had one land and then take a shot at them.... (even if its 11 AM and we haven't seen a duck all morning)... most of the time all you have to do is stand up and the duck will take off... taking that "on the water dilemma" out of your hands and gives the advantage back to the duck...
I have hunted with younger guys (guys that are still in their "meat hunter" mode) that have shot ducks on the water but at 60 years old and having hunted waterfowl for over 45 years, I think I'm beyond that stage of my hunting life. Now it's the experience that I'm looking for. The fun, joking, bull-s*it that goes on in the blind and not necessarily killing birds... but there are those that just want to boost the numbers of birds they kill. That’s ok too. There’s nothing like a good time in the blind and with friends AND a limit of birds….
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Post by klsm54 on Dec 15, 2007 19:41:39 GMT -5
It is illegal to shoot waterfowl on the water in Pennsylvania, unless finishing a cripple. Even if it weren't, I put that in the un-sporting category. Shooting grouse or ringnecks with a 22 rifle or pistol, where legal, seems sporting enough to me. Upland birds with a shotgun, on the ground, seems to be un-sporting.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Dec 15, 2007 23:42:47 GMT -5
I think it's fine. I've been known to do this on doves before. You want to know something truely unsporting --- when those birds are in the air. I don't stand a chance Here's my thoughts. We sit there and wait for a deer to come by and then we whistle to stop it before shooting. Shouldn't we be whistling at to get the thing running before shooting it??? If you see a rabbit sitting, I know of no one who will intentionally jump it instead of blowing off the top of it's head with a shotgun. Shoot squirrels with a shotgun - or is that unsporting? Ok, another bird situation. You call in a turkey (similar to calling in a duck) and then wait till just the right second to shoot. Why not spook him and shoot on the run or fly? Shooting birds on the ground is just smart hunting. If you call in a bird or if you put in some miles, then you did your fair share and worked for it. I think this "unsporting" definition is created by the typical bird hunting snobs and it has brainwashed all the hunters.
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Post by klsm54 on Dec 15, 2007 23:59:34 GMT -5
Somehow I knew this would be your feelings on the subject, Red. To each his own, I guess. For me, yes, shooting squirrels with a shotgun is unsporting too. Hopefully you'll get to the point, like Bubba posted, where the enjoyment of the hunt is not dependant on a full game bag.
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Post by Jack on Dec 16, 2007 1:33:59 GMT -5
In my area, a lot of squirrel hunters use a shotgun when the leaves are on the trees, and switch to a 22 when the leaves fall. No one seems bothered by it. I guess the conventions are different for different game. A lot of people consider it a no no to shoot at a turkey that's flying, because their feathers are so heavy you won't kill it cleanly.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Dec 16, 2007 12:45:34 GMT -5
Shotguns and squirrels are very popular here since the season starts in may and kinda unofficially ends at the end of october (really feb 15) when deer hunting really picks up.
As far as turkeys go, it's a tricky thing. If you can't see the neck you have to shoot for the body and hope you break a wing. Then you have to hope you can keep up with him as he's crashing down to the ground and is sure to run.
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Post by Bubba on Dec 16, 2007 18:24:34 GMT -5
If you see a rabbit sitting, I know of no one who will intentionally jump it instead of blowing off the top of it's head with a shotgun. Yes you do Red, I won't shoot a sitting rabbit either. I have missed a passel of rabbits because I won't kill one sitting. I just don't think it's the "right thing to do".
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Post by jimiowa on Dec 16, 2007 18:49:24 GMT -5
Oh I will shoot sitting Rabbits, my favorite way of hunting them is to head shoot them with a .22. Hate biting into shot! Rabbits are my favorite upland eating game. When I used to hunt over beagles it was almost always shotgun though often when my brother and I hunted together one would take rifle and the other shotgun. I remember my Father in law giving me Hell for shotgunning Squirrels and have never done it since. It is legal to use Shotgun on Upland game in Iowa. Waterfowl is one thing I never got into much, though with my son it's a toss-up between Waterfowl and Deer hunting.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Dec 17, 2007 10:16:38 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm with jim.
There's nothing worse than biting into lead and a great big wad of hair.
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Post by Bill on Dec 17, 2007 10:29:29 GMT -5
Shotguns on Rabbits and Squirrels Whats this world comming to.
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Post by Bubba on Dec 17, 2007 13:51:12 GMT -5
Well, again, it's Delaware ... we can't use anything else but shotguns on rabbits.... NO rifles... we can shoot 'tree rats" with rimfire rifles but I don't hunt them any more.... so .... it's the ole 20 ga again!!
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Dec 17, 2007 13:58:58 GMT -5
20 ga modified can't be beat for shooting squirrels with shotguns.
You can usually kill a squirrel with only 3 or 4 pellets hitting the body.
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