Sky busters

[Kola16]

You are definitely right Atroxus. And I have to say guys. Atroxus wasn't the only one that wasn't making contact  Everyone has bad days too. I do have to tell you though, that air was taking a beating 

I think that it would be good to give pointers out to the guys that are shooting at ducks that are just way to far 

[92xj]

Carried a gun duck hunting for the first time in 1959, bitched then about sky busters.  Just seems to be part of waterfowl hunting that will always be there.  Mostly, I think, it's just inexperienced hunters who really have no concept of the range of a shotgun.  I'm just amazed at how many shells some of these guys carry.

I was right behind you. We called em Seattle hunters back then. Still carry no more than around 10 shells. If you can't get it done with 10 your doing something wrong.

Really?  You kill your limit of 7 ducks with 10 or so shells everytime you go out?

[baldopepper]

Atroxus you make a good point.  Many of us who grew up with fathers or other relatives who introduced us to hunting at a young age make the unsafe assumption that everyone should know how to hunt and shoot.  I did'nt mean to bad mouth anyone, but my point is still that many hunters don't know the effective range of a shotgun.  I will say that I've always been a little leery of confronting, even politely, an armed hunter in the field.  Some, like you, would probably take a little advice, but many would be offended if you politely told them that a duck 250 feet in the air is quite safe from their shots.  Keep at it, like most things in life you only get good thru practice, practice and more practice.  Dont know what gun you are using or what shells, but, without going into detail, some are sure a lot better than others.  Good idea to do some research and make sure you've got a good match for waterfowling. 

[CP]

Yep, well said Atroxus.

But I’ll offer a different perspective.  I’ve been hunting ducks for over 40 years and sometimes I like to stretch my range.  If you don’t like the way I hunt or the shots that I take well that’s too frickin bad.   Keep your opinion to yourself; I’m not interested in it.

[Atroxus]

Atroxus you make a good point.  Many of us who grew up with fathers or other relatives who introduced us to hunting at a young age make the unsafe assumption that everyone should know how to hunt and shoot.  I did'nt mean to bad mouth anyone, but my point is still that many hunters don't know the effective range of a shotgun.  I will say that I've always been a little leery of confronting, even politely, an armed hunter in the field.  Some, like you, would probably take a little advice, but many would be offended if you politely told them that a duck 250 feet in the air is quite safe from their shots.  Keep at it, like most things in life you only get good thru practice, practice and more practice.  Dont know what gun you are using or what shells, but, without going into detail, some are sure a lot better than others.  Good idea to do some research and make sure you've got a good match for waterfowling.

Thanks for the encouragement.  My gun is a Mossberg 500 that I got a smoking deal on from Carpsniper. For ducks I am shooting 3" shells of #3 shot through a Modified choke. On pheasant I am using 2 3/4" shells of #4 through an Improved Cylinder. I am hoping that some practice at sporting clays will help me judge lead on birds a bit better. Hopefully with practice I will also get better at judging distances to determine the sweet spot for shooting instead of relying on my hunting partner and constantly asking "That's out of range right?". 

[Stilly bay]

Hopefully with practice I will also get better at judging distances to determine the sweet spot for shooting instead of relying on my hunting partner and constantly asking "That's out of range right?". 

IMO the best way to learn how to hit ducks is to miss ducks. sometimes it takes a lot of missing until your eyeballs get calibrated and your targeting system turns on, but once it does you will miss a lot less often. of course having the fundamentals at the trap range ironed out is a good thing to do before trying to kill a bird.

[pianoman9701]

Some idiot shot my 10yr old son in the head sky busting yesterday!!!  It didnt break the skin but did leave a nice welt.  I stood up and and yelled we are over here and you just shot us!  I made sure my boy was ok and was about to go have a talk with the moron but he high tailed it out of there.  It was the eve hunt and we set up on the end of the pond and this guy set up about 150yards from us.

Was it the big tall fat guy with the 10 guage down at Shillapoo? He's a jerk if it was. Wait until goose opens up Saturday. Gawwwwwwd!

[baldopepper]

Everyone has their own preference, but personally I find #3 kind of big.  Back when you could still shoot lead I actaully preferred 7 1/2's for both ducks and pheasants, but with steel I try to stick with 6's.  I shoot an old Model 12 Winchester , 3" full choke and sure have better luck with the smaller shot.  I can tell you right now though, that somedays I could'nt hit a 747 decoying in and other days seems I could knock a hummingbird out of the air.  As stilly bay said, just keep at it, frustrating at times but damn fun most of the time!!

[Atroxus]

Everyone has their own preference, but personally I find #3 kind of big.  Back when you could still shoot lead I actaully preferred 7 1/2's for both ducks and pheasants, but with steel I try to stick with 6's.  I shoot an old Model 12 Winchester , 3" full choke and sure have better luck with the smaller shot.  I can tell you right now though, that somedays I could'nt hit a 747 decoying in and other days seems I could knock a hummingbird out of the air.  As stilly bay said, just keep at it, frustrating at times but damn fun most of the time!!

Ya I think I might have to break down and buy a couple different shot sizes/brands and see which patterns best for my shotgun.

[h2ofowlr]

Everyone has their own preference, but personally I find #3 kind of big.  Back when you could still shoot lead I actaully preferred 7 1/2's for both ducks and pheasants, but with steel I try to stick with 6's.  I shoot an old Model 12 Winchester , 3" full choke and sure have better luck with the smaller shot.  I can tell you right now though, that somedays I could'nt hit a 747 decoying in and other days seems I could knock a hummingbird out of the air.  As stilly bay said, just keep at it, frustrating at times but damn fun most of the time!!

You must take close shots I am assuming.  The smaller pellet size with steel looses velocity quickly.  Anything past 35 yards would most likely just be peppered, a solid head shot would be the most likely way to take one down at that range with #6's.  Unless a high density shot is being used around the 10-12% range.  Lead is 11.1% density.  Steel runs 5-7% density with some claiming to be at 8%.

The problem with long shots, are some people are capable of knowing effective range, leads and know which ammo works for them, but 90% do not.  The 90% probably should be higher, but I know a select few that are very consistent at 50-80 yard range that chase snow geese weekly.  Just the nature of how they work.  You get some to decoy, but most are pass shots over the decoys.  Not like duck hunting or Canada goose hunting.

[lokidog]

Everyone has their own preference, but personally I find #3 kind of big.  Back when you could still shoot lead I actaully preferred 7 1/2's for both ducks and pheasants, but with steel I try to stick with 6's.  I shoot an old Model 12 Winchester , 3" full choke and sure have better luck with the smaller shot.  I can tell you right now though, that somedays I could'nt hit a 747 decoying in and other days seems I could knock a hummingbird out of the air.  As stilly bay said, just keep at it, frustrating at times but damn fun most of the time!!

I use 6's on ducks as well, but only for sluicing any crips.  I am generally close and like those extra pellets since I'm usually trying for a head shot anyways.  I have used the 6's on snipe as well, which doesn't beat the crap out of them.

[baldopepper]

Yes, I do shoot mostly in the 35-40 yard range, heck, as you get older that's about as far out your eyes will let you shoot.  I'm also talking mosty about ducks, I do like to move up to 4's when I'm after geese. For me personally, if in doubt about range, I pass the shot.  Nothing I hate more than a few feathers floating down and an obviously crippled bird winging off. (Unfortunately that happens under the best of circumstances, but if it's gotta happen, I'd rather it was due to poor shooting rather than the bird just being to far out to allow a clean kill)
Back when I used to reload, I'd do a 3" load of 7 1/2's (lead of course), it was a brutal duck load, with the only problem being it was quite common to knock 2 birds in one shot. ((That could be considered ok, but I usaully only try to take drakes and quite  commonly the 2nd bird would be a hen)

[johnsc6]

[

The problem with long shots, are some people are capable of knowing effective range, leads and know which ammo works for them, but 90% do not.  The 90% probably should be higher, but I know a select few that are very consistent at 50-80 yard range that chase snow geese weekly.  Just the nature of how they work.  You get some to decoy, but most are pass shots over the decoys.  Not like duck hunting or Canada goose hunting.
 
[/quote]
60-80 yards is not effective range of a shotgun with steel shot , I don't care how much money you spent on a steel shot safe turkey,coyote, skybuster choke. Yes you  can knock down birds on occasion, but are crippling way more than you are killing. Look at the energy tables of shot not just velocity and do the math. 

[johnsc6]

I actually took a laser rangfinder out to the dike (snow goose shooting)  a few years ago before I quit going and called out some ranges for the skybusting pigs after they shot, Several times the ranges were up to 140 yards. I beleieve that those  "hunters" have n idea how far they are shooting and worse don't care, as long as they sail one ever once in awhile.

[Vo2max]

Man, I don't look at this thread for a day and its at three pages! I'm glad and sad to hear I am not alone. I will continue to fight the good fight, enjoy my hunt, try not to get too uptight and do it my way. I do hope that others would atleast begin to IDE common sense. 100yds with a shotgun... I think not!