Sky-busting

[SnowDog]

I saw some seriously blatant sky-busting today by three different hunting parties on public land in the Snoqualmie valley. It was simply ridiculous 

I sure wish there was some regulation that could be used to prevent this kind of behaviour, but that would require enforcement that does not seem to exist.

 
SD

[jackelope]

sky-busting in the snoqualmie valley? no way...

[Caseyd]

Exactly why I havnt hunted waterfowl much in the past two years.

I get my excitement from the birds cupping and coming in hard...doesn't happen much with a bunch of a-hole skybusters around.

[Professor Chaos]

did you report it? 

[SnowDog]

did you report it? 

Is there anything to report? It is unethical, but is it illegal?

[Dustin07]

I get my excitement from the birds cupping and coming in hard...

Ditto! I love that sight.

[Professor Chaos]

i guess the other question would be, how can you be sure of distances? 

[CP]

One man’s sky busting is another man’s chip shot. 

[jackelope]

did you report it? 

Since you know everything, what is there to report?

[banannaclip]

NOT'IN YOU CAN DO ABOUT OH WELL JUST PART  of the challenges of weekend  fowling.i do not support or participate in this activivty. the fact is there are alot  of idiots out there that shouldnt be never underestimate  A  206'ER

[h2ofowlr]

Skybusting isn't illegal.  It's just not encouraged.  I guess the question to ask would be what do you consider skybusting.  50-60, 70-80, 80-90, 90+yards.  I like shooting them over decoys, but I am good at pass shooting, 50-60 yards or under they will be hitting the dirt.

[Svtrc51]

Skybusting isn't illegal.  It's just not encouraged.  I guess the question to ask would be what do you consider skybusting.  50-60, 70-80, 80-90, 90+yards.  I like shooting them over decoys, but I am good at pass shooting, 50-60 yards or under they will be hitting the dirt.

I love see'in them come in cupped up! What a beautiful sight! But were i live, the late season is mostly pass shooting. I'm not saying i'm a sky-jacker. I just have to choke up a lil. Our hunt this morning there was another guy out there taking what looked like 70+ yd shots at mallards. Of course after he left i had the chance of picking up all of his shells.  Every one was win 3" BB. Our Goose season doesn't start till Nov. 13th. 

[Professor Chaos]

oooh jackelope...     



if i was pissed about skybusters there would usually be more to the story.  In my own mind i assumed they were shooting high and sailing birds.  In that case you can get them for waste.  I jumped to a conclusion without enough facts.  Either way there is more to the story than presented. 

anyone can post online about damn skybusters and have a bunch of people agree with how terrible they are, but no one is really going to know how tall those shots were or if the original poster was just jealous.  (not saying this is the case SD)

[Stickerbush]

maybe if you have the choke for it, I have taken some birds with some high pass shots. But I know my limits and people should know theirs.

[ICEMAN]

I find if I yell "Hey, Quit Sky Busting!" really F'in loud, then other guys from other blinds seem to yell "yeah!".....and the skybusting stops....

I havent had my tires slashed yet.....

[SnowDog]

In this case the shots were 100+ yards, the hunters did not have any deeks out, and they were just standing at the side of a field that was being actively worked by several upland hunters. This was a pheasant release site.

I did tell them what they were doing was questionable at best and suggested they would have better luck if they were to deploy the deeks they had with them, and try a spot without an army of "men in orange" running around.

just my 


Cheers!
SD

[jackelope]

my fairly confident guess is that most guys won't hit a very predictable clay bird at 50-60 yards especially from a tower, nevermind a fairly unpredictable real live bird at  the same distance. Sky blasting never made much sense to me. It's nice to see I'm not alone.

[h2ofowlr]

my fairly confident guess is that most guys won't hit a very predictable clay bird at 50-60 yards especially from a tower, nevermind a fairly unpredictable real live bird at  the same distance. Sky blasting never made much sense to me. It's nice to see I'm not alone.

Practice, practice, practice.  That's the ticket.  Most guys that may get out probably shoot at hand thrown birds or an otter ground thrower.  Hit the sporting clay courses that's the best training or shoot several 5 gallon bucks worth of shotgun shells per season.   

[Spuddieselwwu]

I hunted that snoqualmie property a few times last year and out at crescent lake over the past few years- won't do it anymore.  Too many r-tard's out there skybusting, setting up too close, calling (very poorly) ducks that are working my spread... I know that happens at most public places- but those units are too damn small for the amount of pressure it gets (especially early in the season). Sucks but if you want a quality hunt in that area- best to start knocking on some farmers doors. 

[CP]

my fairly confident guess is that most guys won't hit a very predictable clay bird at 50-60 yards especially from a tower, nevermind a fairly unpredictable real live bird at  the same distance. Sky blasting never made much sense to me. It's nice to see I'm not alone.

Taking a chip out of a clay at 50-60 yards isn’t the same thing as putting a solid kill hit on a bird at that same distance.  Chipped clay = wounded bird. 

Shooting clays is good for helping one know his limitations but the clay is losing speed and altitude at that distance while a bird is usually picking up speed and altitude, not to mention changing directions.

[Special T]

I find that  decoying birds has more to do with getting away from the general public crowds.. Go mid week of find some little place that is harder to access than the others. 

[Dustin07]

my blue snow that i got mounted from Missouri was a 65+ yard shot that I led by about 2-3 goose lengths to drop him. it was blue bird skies, mile high geese, -16F temp with snow on the ground and a bored guide that said shoot at everything that passes and lead by 6ft, LOL.

that said I usually walk out about 40 yards for my furthest decoy and try to create landing zones inside of 20. I like them to be so close I can 'see the whites of their eyes'. 

[h2ofowlr]

[/quote]

Taking a chip out of a clay at 50-60 yards isn’t the same thing as putting a solid kill hit on a bird at that same distance.  Chipped clay = wounded bird. 

Shooting clays is good for helping one know his limitations but the clay is losing speed and altitude at that distance while a bird is usually picking up speed and altitude, not to mention changing directions.

[/quote]

More practice if your only chipping them.  You should be able to dust them at 50-60 yards.  Even shooting clays 10 yards behind the 27 yard line that places you 65+ yards from the bird.
If it's a duck.  Make the first shot count.  Don't waste a 2nd or 3rd shell.   

[jackelope]

Any of you guys are welcome at Seattle Skeet and Trap next time there's a sporting clays shoot there.
I can post on here if anyone's interested. It's in Ravensdale.

[Caseyd]

Any of you guys are welcome at Seattle Skeet and Trap next time there's a sporting clays shoot there.
I can post on here if anyone's interested. It's in Ravensdale.

We should have a Hunting Washington shooting day

[jackelope]

I could put that together. My stepdad runs the sporting clays stuff there and designed the new course. They are hosting the Washington State Sporting Clays championships next June.
Thats another thread though.

[h2ofowlr]

I would be interested.  I should have my new Krieghoff by then.  Hopefully.

[ICEMAN]

I need this training. I miss way too many birds.....

[Special T]

I hate sky busters as much as anyone else... That said i have launched steel out there and not hit crap.... Then again i did it bye myself... Didn't hurt anyone just my pocket book!  I agree with Spuddeiselwwu that it is a factor in overcrowding... that "Sky-busting" might be their only shooting for the day....  Mainly because they have not put the time in... if you put the time in you tend to do better... and have better areas to hunt. 

[Tealer]

my fairly confident guess is that most guys won't hit a very predictable clay bird at 50-60 yards especially from a tower, nevermind a fairly unpredictable real live bird at  the same distance. Sky blasting never made much sense to me. It's nice to see I'm not alone.

I am a feet down kinda guy, but I have won money shooting from the 40yd line. It can be done but most don't try the just pop of rounds at any thing.

[jackelope]

I wasn't talking about from a trap house. I was talking from a goose tower about 50' off of the ground from behind you.
 

[h2ofowlr]

I wasn't talking about from a trap house. I was talking from a goose tower about 50' off of the ground from behind you.
 

This is one of my favorite stations.  The one that is a good challenge is a high crossing shot at .  Going from about 9 to 2 when your at the 6 o'clock position.  Followed by a rabbit with a tight shooting window.

[AWS]

I would have no problem with a 15 shell limit on public ground at least the skybusters go home early.  I try and stay away from places that have easy access.  There is so much public duck hunting out here that there is good duck hunting without having to deal with the crowds.

AWS

[CP]

I wasn't talking about from a trap house. I was talking from a goose tower about 50' off of the ground from behind you.
 

This is one of my favorite stations.  The one that is a good challenge is a high crossing shot at .  Going from about 9 to 2 when your at the 6 o'clock position.  Followed by a rabbit with a tight shooting window.

The Kenmore range has a 65' tower on position #2 of thier 5-stand course.  Pretty easy shot actually once you get used to it.  It’s the fast crossing shots that plague me; the 3, 7 & 11 at Kenmore.  And yep, that rabbit (#8) from the closest stand.  A true pair of any of these is a real challenge.

[jackelope]

I usually have no trouble with Kenmore's tower. I have had my ass handed to me multiple times at Tacoma sportsmen's club's tower. I think it sails a lot further than Kenmore's or something. Dunno. The new course at SST had a temporary one held up by a fully extended Lull forklift. Not sure if they have the permanent one in yet.