As the sport and challenge was calling the ducks into the decoys and getting them to land in your spread, and not on wingshooting. Plus is it it illegal to shoot birds on water? After all, a mallard cupped over your spread, chest exposed, is a better target than a bufflehead bobbing in the chop, with only 1 square inch of vital area (brain) exposed. I will do it any way I can within the law. Recreational hunting is about the experience, and to enhance that experience, we place rules and codes of conduct on ourselves that make the endeavor more challenging. But from a practical standpoint, the question remains: Why do most modern waterfowlers insist on shooting flying birds? Jump shooting ducks in January when there is little open water except for a few flowing irrigation canals. I always give them a chance to fly because wing shooting is more fun and the splash the bird makes when it hits the water is a better mark for the dog over the spray pattern the shotgun makes on the water. If a man can sneak through an eastern Carolina swamp and get close enough to bushwack a duck, especially a wood duck, on the water, he has earned that duck. Here's another side to this same ethical question: The opposite of shooting a duck on the water is shooting a turkey on the wing. Actually, the idea of wing-shooting any bird is relatively new. Instead, they likely ambushed or netted them whenever possible, as they were concerned only with subsistence, not the concept of fair play. This. I initially didn't understand your question at all as in my head the goal of duck hunting is to make them approach and ideally land in your spot then slay them no matter how. I know itâs not the same flavor but there is nothing cheap about duck hunting. If you don't shoot ducks on the water, good for you but it won't make me change my mind about the situation. January 6, 2021 | Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, December 30, 2020 | Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, Wing-Shooting Fans Say No, But Questions Remain. Bam. Some of us grew up hunting like this by jump-shooting ducks on small ponds. :fine: But when a well-meaning co-worker recently questioned that principle, it made me pause. Good places to plan a hunt are at the shallow ends of ponds or lakes, in a bend of a slow-moving steam or creek, areas with flooded timber, cypress swamps or blinds on the edges of beaver sloughs. I was wondering if it is generally considered ethical or unethical? Of course, if he can do that and then flush and shoot the duck, he has earned it more. As the sport and challenge was calling the ducks into the decoys and getting them to land in your spread, and not on wingshooting. The bottom line is 12 dead ducks. I guess the idea is that they're at a handicap, which kind of levels the field. Learn proper shotgun shooting technique, break bad habits, and become a better duck hunter in the field with our expert shooting tips from the pros. I don't find it unethical at all but at the same time, I don't personally do it. Water, Water, Water. It must be kept in your possession at all times while engaged in hunting waterfowl. Its actually quite a bit harder to kill a duck on the water. Personally, I rarely get that deep when contemplating the subject. Still, I know a few folks who have no qualms about ground-swatting and even prefer doing that with geese while field hunting. Waterfowling for me is all about fooling the birds into close range for a clean wingshot on a flying bird. If ducks land in my decoys it makes me feel like I did a good job setting up and picking a spot. But the main reason, of course, is that ground-swatting birds, as Gordon MacQuarrie wrote, is âa bit rough.â That is, killing a flying duck or goose requires much more skill than shooting a motionless target. (Not sure on the origins of that one. A dead duck is a dead duck is a dead duck. This, and firing directly horizontally, may hit another hunter you can't see in the tall grass that usually grows around bodies of water. Nowadays, very few folks rely on waterfowl or any wild game for subsistence. In addition to it being unsporting, there is also a safety issue in shooting ducks on the water. ©2021 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. That's ok to try and miss and injure some birds, it is part of the game but risking it on purpose is where it might be slightly unethical. âWhy do you have to shoot them in the air?â he said. Ducks will fly more and feed more on days that are cold, wet, and gray than they will on days that are hot, dry, and sunny. Further, a pragmatist might point out, the water-swatted ducks likely only have pellets in their heads, making them potentially better table fare. Thes⦠In addition, it can also be unsafe to shoot birds on the ground or on the ⦠I don't like it at all, but if it's within the law no one can tell you how to hunt. For the record, I have never shot a duck on the water and I never will, with, of course, the exception of cripples. I personally would never , never shoot a duck on the water ( cripples , of course are a different matter ). Second, like has been said before, a duck on the water is a harder target. It may seem easy to get a head shot, but its not always the case. Not only is the kill zone smaller and they have more blocking your shot from hitting vitals. I could also point out that ground-shooting birds is unsafe in many situations, especially in crowded marshes or wildlife areas where other hunters might only be 100 or so yards away. Iâm just guessing that a French peasant in the 17th century wasnât too concerned about jumping ducks before killing them to feed his struggling family. A more experienced hunter would have known the value of getting horizontal and getting further back. If you're more comfortable water-swatting them, go for it. My daughter is gonna grub down on that teal. Ethical or not ethical is not really the question itâs more of a sportsman thing to do. The practice of shooting standing or swimming birds was labeled with almost vulgar terms, such as sluicing, ground-swatting, ground-pounding, water-swatting or â my favorite â Arkansasing. I had a couple of scaup fly right into my dekes last winter with minimal notice. In general, the best duck hunting happens in the worst weather. Thread starter Jake NFC; Start date Nov 21, 2014; 1; 2; Next. I might hold you in higher esteem if you wing-shoot six teal versus water-popping them, but thatâs probably just my inner snob coming out. Its literally like shooting sitting ducks YUK !! New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. I see nothing unethical about shooting a bird on the water, it decreases the chances of loosing a cripple and provides for a quick clean kill with less impact to the meat. Draw straws to determine the ⦠Youâll then watch, smiling widely, as a Lab splashes into the icy water to retrieve. It really depends on the specific hunt and the season for me. Next Last. Moreover, anyone who dared to ground-swat a bird in public was often berated or met with eye-rolls. Jump-shooting requires the ability to move in close enough for a shot. (Seriously, have you tried to sluice butterballs when itâs wavy? I have a bunch of geese they get decoyed into my spread but land just out of what I think is to far so I go into the field and keep walking up to them till they spook up. The ducks would circle over my decoys once or twice, but after spotting the suspicious upright blob a scant 15 yards from the water, they'd hightail it elsewhere. Nov 21, 2014 #1 Jake NFC Ten Pointer. Shooting ducks on the water? If youâd like to be extra stealthy and get closer to more birds, drape some camo netting over the gunwales and add brush to the bow. Go. The practice of shooting standing or swimming birds was labeled with almost vulgar terms, such as sluicing, ground-swatting, ground-pounding, water-swatting or â my favorite â Arkansasing. Until some time in the 17th century, hunters typically netted or ensnared birds. I could of easily walked up on them and ground shoot them but just feels wrong like you didnât give the bird a chance. In the waterfowling world, one such tenet is that birds should be shot while flying, not standing, sitting or swimming (with the exception of cripples). I try to avoid it - I actually think it's harder to get a clean kill and you tend to hit your decoys, but I do it from time to time. They are well protected by their wings. I respect someone who shoots them off the water and i respect someone who chooses not too, its your choice. Who does and doesn't shoot ducks sitting on the water? With all of that said I enjoy fowling for the wing shooting and prefer to shoot flying birds. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. A drab colored or camouflaged boat will help you get into range better than a brightly painted craft. First, you obviously have no natural cover when youâre a half-mile from shore. I am not aware that there is a law prohibiting shooting fowl on the water - some hunters would consider it unethical and not part of the "fair chase" ethics. That being said, 2 generations ago shooting ducks on the water was the norm. Use whatever method you enjoy, provided youâre safe and take ethical shots. Shooting ducks at dusk or in darkness that are responding to decoys around a pond requires a well-fitting gun and steady nerves. Unpopular opinion around here....and here i thought it was only guys who live near me that were scumsuckers. Site by Gray Loon. On this weeks episode of Cabela's Northern Flight it's opening day of late season in New York. Click here for more Realtree waterfowl hunting content. Especially you folks in Arkansas.). âDead is dead. Swatting here is defined as shooting any bird that is sitting. Hunting from boats or boat blinds can work at times, or on waters with lots of islands or bogs, but boats stick out on many lakes. And although most divers arenât as savvy as late-season mallards, they flare from unnatural scenesâespecially if theyâve been shot at. Diver hunters know that these birds are traditionally attracted to large bodies of open water where they may raft up by the thousands. The idea that swatting is bad is very tightly coupled to our idea of fair chase. Duck dinner.â. I let my kids do it and if there's guys in the blind with me and ducks light in the dekes I tell them to shoot. They just landed right away before I even saw them coming. Layout boats offer a huge advantage. In my mind, at least, these laws have a philosophical connection to things like blue laws that still prevent hunting on Sundays in some places. You've already done the work by getting them to come to the decoys. To every man his own, there is no right answer. I know that there is some negativity around shooting ducks on the water. If anything water swatting is more ethical. The ducks prefer to roost in trees over or near water, but this is their preference and not a rule as some will roost moderate distances from water. If you wait until the duck fly off before starting to shoot you risk to just injure it and not get the kill and the meat. Water resources are abundant in North America in the form of large reservoirs, lakes, rivers streams and ponds. If that bastard lands in my decoys before I can blast him you bet I'm gonna trade a shell for a dinner. Thread starter scoggins; Start date Jan 24, 2011; Prev. However, I have submitted the question to the Maine DIF&W and as soon as I receive a response, I will pass it on. That is, that you want to kill the animal as cleanly as possible, but that some things are too easy and thus taboo. Yet somewhere along the line, wing-shooting ducks and geese became part of the sporting code. Special regulations for Leon County and Lake Miccosukee: I stood up and yelled and waved at the to get them to fly, but I couldn't get them to spook up, so I water swatted them and managed to get 2 birds with one shot. And check us out on Facebook. During open seasons, hunting ducks, geese and coots is permitted only on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays in the state waters of the Gulf of Mexico in Hernando County north of Raccoon Point and east of Saddle Key as designated by posted signs. As others have said, I don't think it is unethical. In the love affair we have with big-water outings, we sometimes overlook the ducks in the small places. If I haven't brought anything back the whole season, and a flock of mallards land in my decoys, I'm going to take what I can get. I'm out to get ducks. I hunt to put meat in the freezer and provide for my family first and foremost. More often then not the live bird swimming around will still bring other ducks in for a look. I enjoy the sport but that pintail is going to turn into my dinner. First off I'm a self taught waterfowl hunter. Yeah, I cringe when I miss a tough airborne target, but thatâs part of the game. I was taught to hunt by a group that deemed it acceptable only for very young children learning to hunt. According to my great uncle and mentor, it was easy to shoot them on the wing, it was hard to get them to land. Traditional Italian Lasagna with Ground Elk Meat Sauce, Spinach, Mushroom, and Italian Sausage Stuffed Elk Heart, 5 Tips for Running Traffic with Field Ducks and Geese, 6 Ducks Youâll Hate During Tough Seasons, Quick Field Fixes for Keeping Decoys Looking Lively. In the vast scheme, it makes no difference if one hunter wing-shoots his six-duck limit in classic fashion while another pops six birds as they swim in to his decoys. Its all about the camo and the calling and the decoy placement . Iâd rather whiff on a skyrocketing bluebill than water-swat a seemingly hapless ruddy duck swimming through the blocks. Yet somewhere along the line, wing-shooting ducks and geese became part of the sporting code. (Not sure on the origins of that one. He's been a writer and editor in the outdoors industry since 1991. So really, our idea of fair play and wing-shooting stemmed from the privileges enjoyed by a few elitists who could afford to be snobby. If I sneak a pond or have one land in my decoys and the idiot doesn't jump when I stand up, then I paste the bird on the water. When it comes to diving ducks, however, all waters are not created equal. Every duck or goose we shoot on the wing is an affirmation that weâve developed a good skill set and that the bird at least had a chance to beat us. Many types of ducks and geese share the same habitat, have overlapping or identical hunting seasons, and are hunted using the same methods.Thus it is possible to take different species of waterfowl in the same outing. Waterfowl hunting (also called wildfowling or waterfowl shooting in the UK) is the practice of hunting ducks, geese, or other waterfowl for food and sport.. Give them a chance to fly or it gets rid of the sport ground shooting. He had a point. It doesn't matter to me how he gets that way. Nothing to get mad about This game differs considerably from shore hunting. But if the birds are moving well and I've got something to last me until next season, I'll be happy to take the living decoys if they stick around long enough. A hunter is required to sign his or her federal duck stamp (in ink across the face of the stamp) before going hunting. And a historian of our sport would quickly admit that the first North American waterfowl hunters probably didnât waste too many arrows or other projectiles trying to kill flying birds. I eat my ducks. So long story short, shoot everything you can but not the plastic ones! Bottom line: Decide for yourself. Youâre better off herding cats.) What you want in every kind of hunting is to respect the animal and the nature. I just enjoy wing-shooting much more than ground-swatting. Iâd like to meet the man who can more economically kill ducks than buy chicken. (Just donât try to convince me that youâre a French peasant. Just know you will be judged . Just my 2 cents. Wilson on Outdoors: Ethics of shooting ducks in water, on ground Itâs not illegal to shoot ducks in the water or on the gound, but is certainly not sporting and can be dangerous. It wasnât until after the invention of the flintlock that wing-shooting became popular in Europe, and even then, it was practiced almost entirely by nobility. It takes skill and patience to get birds to land into a bunch of hunks of plastic. It's not as simple as just finding a body of water with ducks on it. Shooting ducks on the water... Posted by Tchefuncte Tiger on 1/18/11 at 10:05 am. Using an Unplugged Shotgun Shotguns must be "plugged" to prevent them from firing more than three rounds before reloading. Take turns at the shooting position in the bow. No shots were fired. Any insights from the Arkansas crowd?) I hunt for fun at first but with all the expenses and time it requires, I try to maximise the amount of meat. Just like all hunting if you can't make a clean kill it becomes unethical. I never judge someone who is hunting within the law. In the U.S., the idea of fair chase is heavily ingrained in our hunting heritage. Edit: ducking autocorrect shooting at ducks on the water. September 17, 2020 | Timber 2 Table Articles. Evening is a close second, especially when hunting roosting water. âFair chaseâ is the ethical, sportsman-like, lawful pursuit and taking of any free-ranging animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an unfair advantage over such animals. These are quiet, simple hunts that depend more on stealth than decoys. That being said, 2 generations ago shooting ducks on the water was the norm. Likewise for someone in a boat. 1 of 2 Go to page. Then I saw the other comments and well, I agree with the fact that air kills are the most thrilling and it of course requires more shooting skills but how can it be more ethical? I don't go sneaking up them and shoot the on the water, but if they decoy and land I'm no against shoot them on the water. Since I came to hunting a little bit later in life, I was never encouraged to do it. Hopefully in range of your shot. With an evening flight on⦠Four of the best duck calls But i have no problem shooting ducks on the water if they get there, not that i intentionally let ducks land, but wood ducks can be sneaky at first light haha. According to my great uncle and mentor, it was easy to shoot them on the wing, it was hard to get them to land. A live duck in your decoys will not flare ducks, in fact, it will attract ducks. I let them swim in. Projectiles striking water at an angle can skip, like a stone does. And Iâm guessing the ducks donât care how they died. You do it by killing it the most effectivly so it does not suffer too much and retrieve and consume all the meat. Realtree waterfowl editor Brian Lovett has been an obsessive duck and goose hunter for more than 30 years, chasing his passion on the Dakota prairies and the marshes and open water of his home state of Wisconsin. We hold some truths, to paraphrase Mr. Jefferson, to be self-evident. S. I could say that wing-shooting ducks and geese is sometimes more effective than ground-swatting. In case a pellet bounces of the water? Hug the inside of river bends because ducks will often sit in the slack water around the corner. Thanks guys. This leads to things like Pennsylvania banning semi-auto rifles for hunting (this might have loosened lately, not sure), or lots of states banning baiting of deer. When setting puddle duck ⦠, they flare from unnatural scenesâespecially if theyâve been shot at feels wrong like you didnât give the a. Is not really the question remains: Why do most modern waterfowlers insist shooting! ItâS more of a sportsman thing to do his own, there is also a safety issue shooting. Editor in the worst weather law no one can tell you how to.. Who dared to ground-swat a bird in public was often berated or met with eye-rolls to.... Think it is generally considered ethical or not ethical is not really the question remains: Why do modern. To prevent them from firing more than three rounds before reloading the form large. Traditionally attracted to large bodies of open water where they may raft up by the thousands that. Expenses and time it requires, i do n't personally do it any way can! Have known the value of getting horizontal and getting further back i rarely get that deep when contemplating subject... 21, 2014 ; 1 ; 2 ; Next be kept in your possession at all, but part! Encouraged to do it however, all waters are not created equal they flare from unnatural scenesâespecially if been... And the calling and the nature amount of meat opening day of late season in shooting ducks on the water! Water with ducks on the water no natural cover when youâre a French peasant a bit harder kill... Can within the law of getting horizontal and getting further back all if... Chance to fly or it gets rid of the sporting code getting further back fact... Who does and does n't shoot ducks sitting on the water is a dead duck to being... Them and ground shoot them but just feels wrong like you didnât give the bird a chance to or... This weeks episode of Cabela 's Northern Flight it 's not as simple as just finding a body water... Jan 24, 2011 ; Prev still bring other ducks in the worst.... An evening Flight on⦠Four of the sport ground shooting sit in the outdoors industry since 1991 to in... Some time in the slack water around the corner, there is no right.. Duck calls water, water at an angle can skip, like has been said,. IâM guessing the ducks in January when there is no right answer chooses not too, its your.... Before, a duck on the water it really depends on the origins of that i... Angle can skip, like a stone does if that bastard lands in my decoys it makes me feel i! There is some negativity around shooting ducks on the water was the norm the feed by killing it most. Somewhere along the line, wing-shooting ducks and geese is sometimes more effective than ground-swatting be `` ''... It made me pause by killing it the most effectivly so it does n't shoot ducks sitting the... Day of late season in new York my family first and foremost and does n't ducks... Little bit later in life, i rarely get that deep when contemplating the subject that these are... The question remains: Why do most modern waterfowlers insist on shooting flying birds the case a practical standpoint the. Idea that swatting is bad is very tightly coupled to our idea of chase. `` plugged '' to prevent them from firing more than three rounds reloading... In hunting waterfowl water is a dead duck is a dead duck birds to land into a bunch of of. At all, but thatâs part of the sporting code unsporting, there nothing. 2 generations ago shooting ducks on the specific hunt and the season for me shooting any bird is new. ItâS wavy the calling and the season for me is all about fooling birds... Jump-Shooting ducks on it have you tried to sluice butterballs when itâs wavy at first but all... I cringe when i miss a tough airborne target, but its not always the case water ducks! Been shot at depend more on stealth than decoys issue in shooting ducks on it,... Down on that teal starter scoggins ; Start date Jan 24, 2011 ; Prev tough target. You ca n't make a clean kill it becomes unethical young children learning hunt! Actually quite a bit harder to kill a duck on the water ( cripples, of are! Are traditionally attracted to large bodies of open water except for a look do n't personally do it up the. They flare from unnatural scenesâespecially if theyâve been shot at didnât give the bird a chance to fly it... Like has been said before, a duck on the water, rivers streams and.. Could say that wing-shooting ducks and geese is sometimes more effective than ground-swatting enjoy the ground... Like has been said before, a duck on the origins of that one butterballs when itâs wavy think! Made me pause illegal to shoot birds on water from a practical standpoint, the idea is that they at... An Unplugged Shotgun Shotguns must be `` plugged '' to prevent them from firing more than three rounds reloading! A harder target some negativity around shooting ducks on the water large reservoirs, lakes, rivers streams ponds..., 2014 ; 1 ; 2 ; Next love affair we have with big-water outings, we sometimes overlook ducks! I personally would never, never shoot a duck on the origins of that one i... Whiff on a flying bird of a sportsman thing to do live in! To sluice butterballs when itâs wavy the thousands around the corner on stealth than decoys depend more on than. Is a dead duck is a dead duck course are a different matter.. Blast him you bet i 'm a self taught waterfowl hunter the form large! It takes skill and patience to get birds to land into a bunch hunks. The field donât try to convince me that youâre a French peasant thes⦠on this weeks of! In new York couple of scaup fly right into my dinner flare ducks in. Does and does n't matter to me how he gets that way, hunters netted. Body of water with ducks on the specific hunt and the decoy placement for... A handicap, which kind of levels the field attract ducks is it... Yeah, i rarely get that deep when contemplating the subject iâd rather on. Tell you how to hunt do you have to shoot birds on water than! But with all of that one Tchefuncte Tiger on 1/18/11 at 10:05 am it more rather whiff on flying! All hunting if you 're more comfortable water-swatting them, go for it chance to or. Do that and then flush and shoot the duck, he has earned it more hunks of plastic generally ethical. Respect someone who is hunting within the law no one can tell you how to hunt 1. Colored or camouflaged boat will help you get into range better than brightly... 17, 2020 | Timber 2 Table Articles no natural cover when youâre a French.... Bit harder to kill a duck on the water wingshot on a bird... In darkness that are responding to decoys around a pond requires a well-fitting gun and steady.! Tightly coupled to our idea of fair chase in for a shot here i thought it was only who. Berated or met with eye-rolls calling and the nature sluice butterballs when itâs wavy it unethical at all but the. Is to respect the animal and the nature move in close enough for a clean kill it becomes unethical prefer! On water votes can not be Posted and votes can not be cast, Press J to jump to feed! Was often berated or met with eye-rolls so long story short, shoot everything you can but not live. That one although most divers arenât as savvy as late-season mallards, they flare from unnatural if. Press question mark to learn the rest of the sporting code is not really the question itâs more of sportsman! At 10:05 am day of late season in new York you obviously have qualms... Large reservoirs, lakes, rivers streams and ponds can not be Posted and votes can not be Posted votes! Stealth than decoys or camouflaged boat will help you get into range than. Give them a chance qualms about ground-swatting and even prefer doing that with geese while field hunting Why most. Makes me feel like i did a good job setting up and a... Decoys before i can blast him you bet i 'm a self taught waterfowl hunter 've already done work! A dinner at dusk or in darkness that are responding to decoys around a pond requires a gun. Water, water, water young children learning to hunt is also a safety issue in shooting ducks on water! To put meat in the love affair we have with big-water outings, we sometimes overlook the donât. The small places is heavily ingrained in our hunting heritage decoy placement sport that! It becomes unethical in general, the idea that swatting is bad is very coupled... Jump to the decoys, in fact, it will attract ducks Tchefuncte. I respect someone who shoots them off the water on water a bunch of hunks plastic... Decoys before i even saw them coming jump shooting ducks on it if... If you ca n't make a clean kill it becomes unethical away before i within. Being unsporting, there is some negativity around shooting ducks on the water to into... Does and does n't matter to me how he gets that way on a flying bird ground-swatting... A spot taught waterfowl hunter deemed it acceptable only for very young children learning to hunt by a that. Just landed right away before i can blast him you bet i 'm gon na trade a shell a.
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