1. When in Doubt, Don’t
Shoot
No one minds a hunter who can’t hit a
bird, but an unsafe hunter is totally unacceptable. Upland bird
hunting puts hunters in closer proximity to one another than
most other pursuits, and bad things can happen fast; it is
absolutely crucial that you exercise safe gun handling and sound
judgment in this dynamic environment. The No. 1 principle to
adhere to is: If you have any doubt as to the angle of the shot,
the location of another hunter or the dog or you just don’t feel
right about it—hold your fire. There will be more birds—no human
or canine’s life is worth risking over a bad decision.
2. Don’t Give Commands
to Another Man’s Dog
The dogs are often the shining stars
of bird hunting but the unsung heroes are the guys who spent
months training them. Ever see a painting or a sculpture of a
dog handler? Give them the respect they are due and don’t
confuse the canines—if it’s not your dog, don’t tell it what to
do.
3. Shoot on Blue Sky
When hunting “flushing” birds such as
quail, woodcock, snipe, partridge, grouse and pheasant, let the
bird get above the undergrowth into “blue sky” before you shoot.
In other words, make sure that the direction of your shot is
safely above the heads of dogs and hunters. This is especially
important if you are hunting with “blockers” as in pheasant
hunting. Don’t be afraid to yell “low bird” if you feel the shot
is unsafe.
4. Pick Up Empties
Your host has spent countless hours
and dollars creating bird habitat, the least that you can do is
pick up your empty shotgun shells after you shoot so the ground
doesn’t become littered with hulls.
5. Maintain a Parallel
Line
Shooters and guides should maintain a
constant parallel line on flushing hunts, this allows each
shooter the widest possible latitude to shoot safely. Adjust
your walking pace as needed to ensure that the line is straight,
especially when approaching a point. If your path takes you over
uneven ground, be sure that everyone knows the location of other
hunters that may be hidden by terrain or brush.
6. Shoot Your Zone
Each hunter has a slightly overlapping
“zone” in which he or she can safely shoot. This zone should
take into account other hunters, guides, dogs, vehicles, etc.
Visualize your zone before a shot presents itself so you know
where potential danger areas will be.
7. Don’t Be a Game Hog
Nobody likes the guy who shoots more
than his share. When you’ve had a few good shots, be gracious
and let others get the chance. You’ll make more friends
demonstrating your restraint than your marksmanship.
8. Don’t Make Excuses
Everyone misses, but the hunter who
constantly makes excuses gets on everyone’s nerves. “The Sun was
in my eyes” or “I have the wrong choke in” or “These quail don’t
fly like wild birds” or “My Purdey is in the shop”—we’ve heard
it all before, we don’t care.
9. Use the Right Gauge
I’m not suggesting that you run out
and buy a new shotgun, but there is an expectation in bird
hunting of matching the bore and shot size to the game. Example:
the hunter who shows up to a “plantation style” quail hunt with
a 12-gauge may be viewed with a bit of a raised eyebrow. If you
don’t have the right gun for the hunt, see if you can borrow or
rent a suitable arm. While we’re on the topic of guns,
break-open over-unders, side-by-sides and single-shots are
preferred to repeaters for many styles of upland hunting because
they can be carried safely with the actions open for all to see.
10. Dress the Part
An upland hunt doesn’t mean that you
need to look like a walking Orvis catalog, but proper attire
does require some thought. Camo is fine for hunting dove and
ducks, but if you’re after birds like pheasant or quail, you
can’t go wrong with earth tones mixed with a healthy splattering
of blaze orange.
Follow these steps, be safe and enjoy
yourself —you’re in for a treat.
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