Sky busters

[jgoetz]

Two topics that have sort of been passively broached so far in this thread:

1.   Skybusters often don't think they are skybusting.  I have heard plenty of times at the launch "well it's not skybusting if I am hitting birds."  Yes, sadly it still is.  90% of the time I hunt and run into skybusters they almost always walk away with more birds than me.  If you shoot enough fast enough a bird or two is bound to fall at some point.  I have found (at least in this state) that the number of birds a hunter walks away with is greater than the ethical responsibility we as hunters have to treat wildlife, nature, and EACHOTHER with respect. 

To that end one thing I have tried this year (no success yet) is to invite the idiot into my blind.  I had a couple groups setup within 100 yds of me last weekend.  After Thing 1 and Thing 2 lost their dog and cost me 25 mallards cupped and locked I went on a little walk.  Unfortanetly, I couldn't reach their spread without the boat and didn't want to mess up their hunt.  Some guys have never been taught.  I had my speech planned out.  "Guys come hunt with me over my spread.  We will share birds.  Only catch is I call the shots."

2.   Guys don't think about eachother.  Often when I am in close proximity to others.  If I see birds circling another guy's spread.  The call gets dropped.  Maybe it is just my mentality but I am not out to limit everytime.  I am out because I enjoy our sport.  The guy in the blind next to you should get just as much respect as you expect from him.  I guess the main point here is RESPECT.  I was raised hunting with respect.  So it just comes natural to me.  Too often I meet guys at the launch that want to rub it in your face how they got more birds.  I have even had guys tell me "you were covered in birds and not shooting."  To me I want to be certain I know I can make the shot before attempting it.  My weakness is passing shots.  So if I get a bird flying Mach 9 at 35 yards I will probally let it go.  I firmly believe that just because a bird is in range of my gun does not mean I need to empty my gun on it.  RARELY do I ever fire all 3 rounds at one bird.  If I haven't hit it with the first two the chances I am going to hit it with the third are even slimmer.

Bottom line is skybusters have no respect for wildlife, nature, their fellow hunters or THEMSELVES.

[Kola16]

2.   Guys don't think about eachother.  Often when I am in close proximity to others.  If I see birds circling another guy's spread.  The call gets dropped. 

  That is one of the things that I hate the most (not what you do). Especially when the other guys calling is very bad, and it scares the ducks. If a duck is committed to someone else........SHUT THE **** UP!!!

[singleshot12]

Sky busters and public land = no fun! Hunting is suppose to be a fun and a relaxing stress free time.  Why people continue to put themselves through that each year is beyond amazing.

[Doc Sauce]

Two topics that have sort of been passively broached so far in this thread:

1.   Skybusters often don't think they are skybusting.  I have heard plenty of times at the launch "well it's not skybusting if I am hitting birds."  Yes, sadly it still is.  90% of the time I hunt and run into skybusters they almost always walk away with more birds than me.  If you shoot enough fast enough a bird or two is bound to fall at some point.  I have found (at least in this state) that the number of birds a hunter walks away with is greater than the ethical responsibility we as hunters have to treat wildlife, nature, and EACHOTHER with respect. 

To that end one thing I have tried this year (no success yet) is to invite the idiot into my blind.  I had a couple groups setup within 100 yds of me last weekend.  After Thing 1 and Thing 2 lost their dog and cost me 25 mallards cupped and locked I went on a little walk.  Unfortanetly, I couldn't reach their spread without the boat and didn't want to mess up their hunt.  Some guys have never been taught.  I had my speech planned out.  "Guys come hunt with me over my spread.  We will share birds.  Only catch is I call the shots."

2.   Guys don't think about eachother.  Often when I am in close proximity to others.  If I see birds circling another guy's spread.  The call gets dropped.  Maybe it is just my mentality but I am not out to limit everytime.  I am out because I enjoy our sport.  The guy in the blind next to you should get just as much respect as you expect from him.  I guess the main point here is RESPECT.  I was raised hunting with respect.  So it just comes natural to me.  Too often I meet guys at the launch that want to rub it in your face how they got more birds.  I have even had guys tell me "you were covered in birds and not shooting."  To me I want to be certain I know I can make the shot before attempting it.  My weakness is passing shots.  So if I get a bird flying Mach 9 at 35 yards I will probally let it go.  I firmly believe that just because a bird is in range of my gun does not mean I need to empty my gun on it.  RARELY do I ever fire all 3 rounds at one bird.  If I haven't hit it with the first two the chances I am going to hit it with the third are even slimmer.

Bottom line is skybusters have no respect for wildlife, nature, their fellow hunters or THEMSELVES.

From this new hunter's perspective...  the above post is really encouraging.  I went upland hunting for the first time last week.  Had a blast.  Felt utterly clueless most of the time.  I read and read blogs, posts, forums, and web pages devoted to chukar, quail, and pheasant and, though I "knew" a lot more when I got out there than before, I was still hopeless.  There is no replacement for actually doing the task... walking the woods for deer, walking the bottoms for quail, walking the hills for chukar. 

The sad thing is, and  has been pointed out, that some guys did not have dads or uncles or brothers to teach them these things.  I'm committed to doing the best I can and to figuring this stuff out... but I am absolutely going to piss off some other hunters.  I know it's gonna happen.  I'll try not too but...

I read the title of this thread and decided to read it because I just knew that I am a skybuster.  I mean, I walk along ridgelines silohuetted against the sky... thus i'm a skybuster.  After reading the first page of posts I realized that I am not a skybuster (I think) because I have not been duck hunting... is it considered sky busting if it is a quail or pheasant flying away?

The point of this is...  I understand the frustration you salty hunters feel when the "clowns" show up... and I can also understand the unwillingness to approach the "clowns" for all the reasons listed...  not wanting to interupt your hunt, thier hunt, being nervous about aproaching possibly arrogant and cocky dudes with guns...  BUT...

If one of you salty shooters came charging up to me and, while being visibly frustrated, said something like, "Listen... I see what you are doing and quite frankly it isn't gonna work... how long you been hunting... your ruining this for me, and  your never gonna be successful... follow me for the day and I'll teach you what you need to know..." I would recognize that this guy decided to forgoe his desired hunt in order to help me, and in turn, better his chances of hunting next time since there is 1 less "clown" at large.  I can asure you that whenever I become successful, I would give some of that meat to the hunter who coached me.  I'd also pay for the dudes gas for that trip, or pay for his burger and beer on the way out.

The above quoted post is REALLY encouraging.  I hate that your hunt was ruined by clowns.  If you ever approach me and call me out for being a clown, believe you me, I will join you in your hide (awkward as all get out) and I'll shoot when  you say shoot and breathe when you say breathe... and I would remember that some salty hunter went out of his way to help me.  I'd be indebted to the community and motivated to help the next clown I come across when I become a Salty Shooter like y'all.   

[MP123]

Doc,

Skybusting usually refers to guys shooting waterfowl way out of range, spooking the flock and/or wounding birds that fly off and die elsewhere.

With Upland birds it's less of an issue but still good to know how far off you can realistically hit them.  Guys shooting a Pheasant that's 100 yards away and moving fast just look silly when they miss but it probably didn't interfere with anyone elses hunt.

Good luck and welcome to the site, sounds like you have a great attitude!

[Stilly bay]

Wow where to begin...

Two topics that have sort of been passively broached so far in this thread:

1.   Skybusters often don't think they are skybusting.  I have heard plenty of times at the launch "well it's not skybusting if I am hitting birds."  Yes, sadly it still is.  90% of the time I hunt and run into skybusters they almost always walk away with more birds than me.  If you shoot enough fast enough a bird or two is bound to fall at some point.  I have found (at least in this state) that the number of birds a hunter walks away with is greater than the ethical responsibility we as hunters have to treat wildlife, nature, and EACHOTHER with respect.

what is the difference between someone missing and crippling birds at close range and some one missing and crippling birds at longer rainges? both happen regularly. one gets labeled sky buster and the other, well he just misses a lot.

if your set up for long range, know your equipment and can adequately judge distances VS duck size VS speed VS flight angle you have my blessing to shoot at any duck within the range you feel comfortable shooting at. anyone that calls you a skybuster can go piss up rope. especially those jaded types who will never be able to judge distances and make longer shots.

To that end one thing I have tried this year (no success yet) is to invite the idiot into my blind.  I had a couple groups setup within 100 yds of me last weekend.  After Thing 1 and Thing 2 lost their dog and cost me 25 mallards cupped and locked I went on a little walk.  Unfortanetly, I couldn't reach their spread without the boat and didn't want to mess up their hunt.  Some guys have never been taught.  I had my speech planned out.  "Guys come hunt with me over my spread.  We will share birds.  Only catch is I call the shots."

so you want to walk up to some complete strangers, tell them every thing they are doing is all wrong, then you want them to pick up all their gear and come over to your blind ON THE CONDITION that they can't shoot unless you say its ok? ... thats a heck of a deal, good luck with that.

2.   Guys don't think about eachother.  Often when I am in close proximity to others.  If I see birds circling another guy's spread.  The call gets dropped.  Maybe it is just my mentality but I am not out to limit everytime.  I am out because I enjoy our sport.  The guy in the blind next to you should get just as much respect as you expect from him.  I guess the main point here is RESPECT.  I was raised hunting with respect.  So it just comes natural to me.  Too often I meet guys at the launch that want to rub it in your face how they got more birds.  I have even had guys tell me "you were covered in birds and not shooting."  To me I want to be certain I know I can make the shot before attempting it.  My weakness is passing shots.  So if I get a bird flying Mach 9 at 35 yards I will probally let it go.  I firmly believe that just because a bird is in range of my gun does not mean I need to empty my gun on it.  RARELY do I ever fire all 3 rounds at one bird.  If I haven't hit it with the first two the chances I am going to hit it with the third are even slimmer.

part of this sport is calling. many would consider it an art form. its one of those things  you have to learn how to do and try and master.
if you can reach the skill level where you can call ducks away from another hunter when they are committed to the decoys you have my respect.  you have obviously spent more time and energy learning to call than the other hunters in this scenario.

if you get bent out of shape because another hunter is taking your ducks with his pied piper like skills then maybe its time to take a look at your self and consider what you could be doing better next time.
on many chunks of public land there are only a couple honey holes where the ducks really want to be, maybe just one in some areas. do you think every one is just going to lay down and give up the ducks to the guys that figured out where the X's are? get real. just because you would roll over and give up doesn't mean its wrong for others to keep trying.
even wild ducks view calling as a competition amongst other ducks, its no wonder calling is a competition between hunters.

I lost count of how many times I have called when ducks were dumping into another spread, they didn't want anything to do with me until they were shot at or flared, then they came right over. this isn't crime, its part of the game.

is your ego stroking about passing on shots any better than the guys bragging about making shots. a limit is limit. its up to the individual hunter to decide where his ethics lie and he certainly isn't any less ethical about taking a limit than you are more ethical about not doing so. don't put your values on other people especially if they aren't breaking any laws.

[scout/sniper]

Wow where to begin...

is your ego stroking about passing on shots any better than the guys bragging about making shots. a limit is limit. its up to the individual hunter to decide where his ethics lie and he certainly isn't any less ethical about taking a limit than you are more ethical about not doing so. don't put your values on other people especially if they aren't breaking any laws.

Legality has nothing to do with it. If ducks are working another hunter's set it is a real *censored* move to call at them wildly or shoot at them. It must give you a real sense accomplishment to set up next to someone and shoot ducks that you didn't call in.

[Stilly bay]

Wow where to begin...

is your ego stroking about passing on shots any better than the guys bragging about making shots. a limit is limit. its up to the individual hunter to decide where his ethics lie and he certainly isn't any less ethical about taking a limit than you are more ethical about not doing so. don't put your values on other people especially if they aren't breaking any laws.

Legality has nothing to do with it. If ducks are working another hunter's set it is a real *censored* move to call at them wildly or shoot at them. It must give you a real sense accomplishment to set up next to someone and shoot ducks that you didn't call in.

I agree with the first part of your statement.
no where did I say that I thought it was acceptable to shoot at ducks that are working someone esle's spread OR did I say it was acceptable to call "wildly" while ducks were committing to another's spread.  IMO it is a dick move blow distress calls or fire warning shots when ducks are landing somewhere else.
but If I call a flock in because they like my calling better than yours (cause its just not about calling your know) and they like my spread better than yours, and they like my location better than yours, and I shoot them at longer distances and you get bent out of shape its not my problem. take a look at what you maybe doing wrong instead.

[scout/sniper]

I agree with the first part of your statement.
no where did I say that I thought it was acceptable to shoot at ducks that are working someone esle's spread OR did I say it was acceptable to call "wildly" while ducks were committing to another's spread.  IMO it is a dick move blow distress calls or fire warning shots when ducks are landing somewhere else.
but If I call a flock in because they like my calling better than yours (cause its just not about calling your know) and they like my spread better than yours, and they like my location better than yours, and I shoot them at longer distances and you get bent out of shape its not my problem. take a look at what you maybe doing wrong instead.

I agree.

[Jonathan_S]

This thread doesn't exactly tempt me to get back into waterfowl 

[Kola16]

This thread doesn't exactly tempt me to get back into waterfowl 

  This is definitely the hardest part about water-fowling 

[Stilly bay]

This thread doesn't exactly tempt me to get back into waterfowl 

  This is definitely the hardest part about water-fowling 

this is why I find private land to hunt.