Release site etiquette?

[CP]

You and I are both hunting a release site, we aren’t hunting together but because of the nature of release sites we are not very far apart.

My dog flushes a pheasant in front of me but also within range of you.  Your response is:

[jaymark6655]

If you miss twice, I think I would shoot.  Probably give you the bird if you want it.  Of course if we are that close I might talk to you before the hunt and ask what your preference is.

[huntnphool]

Interesting that you bring this up today. I was out at Charlies yesterday dropping off a deer rack when all of a sudden we hear a gun shot followed by the side and roof of his shop getting blasted with pellets. It was obvious what had just happened so we quickly went outside. Sure enough, some dumb ass in a orange vest was about 40 yards from his house standing there with his shotgun in his hands. Charlie blew up, said it was the third time that day. I told him to call the police right away as the dip sh#@ slowly walked to the other side of the field.

 Its highly likely that you, "The Dip Sh#@, are reading this. Perhaps you didn't see the kids big toy you shot over, or the house, or even the shop you pelted with bird shot. Wake the fu#$ up you retard before you kill someone or their kid!

[quadrafire]

Interesting that you bring this up today. I was out at Charlies yesterday dropping off a deer rack when all of a sudden we hear a gun shot followed by the side and roof of his shop getting blasted with pellets. It was obvious what had just happened so we quickly went outside. Sure enough, some dumb ass in a orange vest was about 40 yards from his house standing there with his shotgun in his hands. Charlie blew up, said it was the third time that day. I told him to call the police right away as the dip sh#@ slowly walked to the other side of the field.

 Its highly likely that you, "The Dip Sh#@, are reading this. Perhaps you didn't see the kids big toy you shot over, or the house, or even the shop you pelted with bird shot. Wake the fu#$ up you retard before you kill someone or their kid!

[lokidog]

Yeah, but who flushed the shop first?   

One of the few times I hunted a release site, Scatter Creek, my dog flushed a bird but there was another hunter a couple hundred yards out so I did not shoot.  Of course, the bird flew right past him and he dropped it.  My thought was, such is the luck of hunting on a release site, no biggy.  To my surprise and appreciation, the guy proceeded to come over and offer me the bird while thanking me for not shooting in his direction.

[Stilly bay]

if your dog found it, its your bird until it falls or your gun is empty. if you unload on it and it is still within range for me then I don't see the harm in shooting at it... but personally I usually only shoot birds my own dogs point or flush.

with one exception this year....

opening weekend this year a couple kids flushed a rooster and completely unloaded on it and got away unscathed. it flew about 300 yards across the field straight to me like it was my long lost pet or something.

like I said it was opening day so my trigger finger was itching pretty bad and this bird was so close it really triggered my predatory instincts so I shot... and I missed and shot again and dropped it. to top it all off I was using hevi shot out of my 28 gauge, so that bird was quite the financial investment at $3.00 a shot.

well one of the kids ( 18-20ish) comes sprinting across the field and catches up with me. he says that was his bud's first bird and he is pretty sure he wounded it so it belongs to him and I need to give it back.

I pointed out the bird was healthy enough to fly all the way across the release site when it succumbed to my non toxic shot and was retrieved by my dog.  the kid started stammering and wouldn't look me in the eye - Im pretty sure he knew his story was flimsy. he was looking quite pink.

then I told him to pay me back for my ammo and cripple finishing service and his bud could proudly take home his first bird. the kid produced $5 from his wallet, shook my hand and took the bird.

they went home and ate pheasant, I had a nice mocha from the local barista. everybody is happy.

[BurleyDog]

Yeah, but who flushed the shop first?   

this is hilarious

[Doc Sauce]

then I told him to pay me back for my ammo and cripple finishing service and his bud could proudly take home his first bird. the kid produced $5 from his wallet, shook my hand and took the bird.

Awesome!!  I almost choked on my lunch when I read that line...

Did you need to get a special permit to run such a  business. 

I love it.

[BIGINNER]

i would wait till you empty your gun,.. then if i took the bird down, i would offer it to you.  i've taken quite a bit of people hunting this year with me, and i usually don't shoot untill they limit out or i have the only possible shot at the bird.  bird hunting for me is more about watching my dogs work and helping others get birds.

[BIGINNER]

alot of times in crowded release sites we will be walking about 100 yards behind other hunters... amazes me how mush birds we kick up right after a group of guys walked through the exact place.       kinda makes for awkward conversations at the parking lot afterwords 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Holy crap! Birdshot hitting the shop! I think i would move or get the pumpin patch of so called bird hunters shut down!!!!

[Atroxus]

I voted option 3 but I would probably wait until you emptied your gun before taking a shot myself. (This is of course is assuming that it flushed in a direction that taking a shot at it would not be shooting at you or another hunter as well)

[Atroxus]

alot of times in crowded release sites we will be walking about 100 yards behind other hunters... amazes me how mush birds we kick up right after a group of guys walked through the exact place.       kinda makes for awkward conversations at the parking lot afterwords 

My last outing with Stilly we were following 3 other hunters. His setter went on point like 15 yards behind them, he practically had to step on the bird before it flushed.  Luckily for us it flushed away from the hunters ahead of us, so as soon as it cleared them enough to shoot safely we opened up and I dropped it on my second shot.  The other hunters probably jumped when they heard us shooting so close behind them, but they congratulated us on our shooting after. 

[270Flat]

I chose #3. I am glad I don't hunt release sites. Usually I steer clear of other hunters. If they are in spot I wanted to hunt I will move on to my next option. Got to have more than five spots to hunt. Keep the pressure light, that way they don't run once you stop.

[huntingfool7]

I don't have any interest in shooting a bird someone elses dog put up unless I'm hunting with you and said dog.
That said, I voted #2.  I would omit the phrase "only a lowlife", unless you're shadowing me hoping that you're quicker on the trigger. 
 

[CP]

I don't have any interest in shooting a bird someone elses dog put up unless I'm hunting with you and said dog.
That said, I voted #2.  I would omit the phrase "only a lowlife", unless you're shadowing me hoping that you're quicker on the trigger. 
 

Good point, I changed it.

[wildweeds]

I wouldn't do anything,if my dog don't get work,there is no shooting of anykind.But then me and use wouldn't be close enough to have that happen,I don't really go until after everyones had at it and is enjoying budweisers and a hawks game.

[Cascade_fisher]

i would wait till you empty your gun,.. then if i took the bird down, i would offer it to you.  i've taken quite a bit of people hunting this year with me, and i usually don't shoot untill they limit out or i have the only possible shot at the bird.  bird hunting for me is more about watching my dogs work and helping others get birds.

Same here.

[Doc Sauce]

Hmm... seeing how many guys are noble and willing to let me empty my gun first means i'll have to start carrying 2 guns...   

Being serious now, I don't hunt for the meat... I hunt for the experience and the meat is the reward.  If all I wanted was meat, the grocery store would be cheaper, or befriending a rancher and carrying some of his load all year in order to get some meat from them later.  Having said that, I would not shoot the  bird that was not flushed by me. 

Unless I'm carrying to guns... 

[BiggLuke]

I think leagally... isn't who ever "harvests" it, gets it?
Like with a buck.... if I shot it and killed,  and after walking over to it, noticed some yahoo snuck in and tags it first and is all ready cleaning it, legally it's his right?
Like If I shoot 7 ducks, but on the way back to the truck our dog finds 2 more cripples that some one else got, and brings them to me, I can't keep 'em, because then I'd be over limit right?

Same with release sites....
If 10 guys are in a firing line, and my dog jumps a bird and all 10 of  us shoot it, I get the bird because my dog got there first and I'm the first to put it into my bag. Thus becoming part of my daily limit.....   right?

I mean, obviously, ethics aside.
Because of course I would want to make it fair for the other 9 guys, we would probably haggle over who shot it first....    and come to a concensus.

[BiggLuke]

I would totally let them shoot or "Try" to get the bird first, but no way I'm letting it get away on purpose and not shoot. lol

[rtspring]

its a damn bird!!! there are plenty more... 


RTSPRING

[singleshot12]

Never shoot at a bird someone elses dog gets up unless they don't have a shot or miss and the bird flies my direction then sure. I've had plenty of people shoot a bird right from under me that my dog got up then they have the nerve to smile at me like they get a little charge out of screwing me. This is the main reason I avoid the people and crowds so this does not happen.

[Mr56Jeep]

If it was me and my dog with another person that was dogless... We would have a conversations before we head out... It would go like this... "I won't shoot until you have your gun is empty or you have your limit"  I have shot enough birds this year.  I'd rather see my dog work and get someone else a couple birds.   

[Bullkllr]

If the other guy emptied his gun, and it was safe to do so, I'd dump it in a heartbeat. I'd let him have the bird if he wanted it. Have had this happen a few times. Although I do space my movements to never be near shotgun range of other hunters.

Alot of the site I usually hunt is surrounded by doghair/blackberries/river. Birds that fly off the main area are quickly turned into coyote snacks. My lab actually found and retrieved the rear 1/2 of a rooster on Sunday. Looked pretty fresh.

[Bmcox86]

I would not shoot at all, I am there to watch the dog work, if you want to shoot the bird my dog point and I flushed then so be it, I will be able to hunt my dog that much longer. If you have a good pointing dog it should be about the dog not the birds.  I don't even shoot at birds that my dog misses and I flush by accident .

[Sportfury]

I haven't hunted a release site in a few years, but usually the guys next to me are my dad, my son, and my hunting buddies. If we get a bird up and one of us misses we have backup. If there is a guy next to me I will only swing my gun so far into his zone. If I cannot shoot the bird by then I guess it is fair game.

[wildweeds]

Kudos to you sir!

I would not shoot at all, I am there to watch the dog work, if you want to shoot the bird my dog point and I flushed then so be it, I will be able to hunt my dog that much longer. If you have a good pointing dog it should be about the dog not the birds.  I don't even shoot at birds that my dog misses and I flush by accident .

[akirkland]

If my dog didnt put it up, Im not shooting.