skybusters anonymous

[OSCAR1987]

Hi
I found out today that I am "that guy"    
oops
 I just got the bug to be outdoors in 2008. Before that I never even thought about owning a gun, let alone killing anything and eating it. Then I moved to Washington for a good job and eventually got the idea to try Deer hunting from co-workers. I bought a Remington 870 and my license and hit the woods. I went every night and sat in the mud, doing everything wrong but never gave up. Then one evening a during a N Easter storm I found an apple tree and sat by it until just before dark. I had decided to leave when I noticed movement. A huge 3x4 Black tail stepped right past me like a dream and I whacked him. This was my first deer I even saw while hunting and it was the biggest thrill imaginable. Now I am hopelessly hooked.
 Since then I have tried other things like upland bird last year (pheasant) and now ducks this year.
 I have been very lucky to speak with several experienced hunters in local west side game area parking lots and they have given me some advice that I try to listen to, but also some of it was to get me out of their way (good spot over there). Today was the day one of those old salty guys told me that I am the guy that some people wanted to leave and never come back to "their" spot. I guess they have been watching me over the past month or so and silently cursing my presence. He informed me that as I was merrily missing birds and shooting like mad at ducks, they were hunting in the next field over getting birds spooked by me. They said I was shooting way too much and sky busting birds that were too far from me. I never even realized what I was doing  and wish they would have talked to me sooner so I would have not wrecked their hunt. I try to be a good sportsman at all times and never intended to act like an idiot. I chalk it up to a lack of experience and no coaching. Coming from a broken family and never having the father figure around to teach me anything about hunting or the outdoors left me to learn from internet, TV and in the local GMU's for the last 2 seasons. I will not leave my kids to do the same.
I am glad he came up to me today and shared his buddies frustration because it made me realize that I am "that" guy.     How far is really too far and where else can a guy learn but in the field? I can't get the range on the internet and on TV where every guy is a shooting god and kill birds at 100 yards.  
 I am DONE for this year and looking for a mentor for next season to teach me how to not be "that guy" anymore.  
 

[ribka]

Good post. Wish more hunters fisherman had your attitude. Lot's of very experienced waterfowl hunters on here more than willing to help with advice. Spend some more time on here and share experiences and will hasten the help. I can help with upland birds next year if you want to get out. I am not that experienced of a waterfowl hunter.

And stop watching the hunting shows There is so much misinformation, unethical behavior on there and it is hurting hunting 

[dirty24d]

Oscar,

Way to man up and take responsiblity for your actions  even though you didnt know you did any wrong.. There are many members on this site that can and will educate you on guidleines and ethics for waterfowling. Good on you for taking the crticism and doing positive with it!   

[huntingfool7]

To start off, I am impressed that you take criticism so well.  There are a lot of guys that would have taken that badly and never realized that there may be a problem.  Good for you to be able to turn the microscope inwards.  I would recommend that you start shooting skeet regularly.  A year of shooting every week will go a long way toward being proficient.  Being effective with a shotgun is a skill that takes time to learn.  Once you are able to hit consistently, you will know why you missed that bird.  Whether you're behind it, didn't mount the gun properly or if it was just too far.  Besides, it is a lot more fun if you are not burning up a couple boxes of ammo for one mud hen.

Range estimation is another skill that will be learned with time and practice.  Birds in the air, and of different sizes make this more difficult.  It's not like you can use a rangefinder on a flying bird.  It sounds like you are shooting at birds that are not commiting to your decoys? (do you have decoys?)  
I have a buddy that was a notorious skybuster.  It turned out that he had vision problems and could not judge distance at all.

[Blacktail135]

 I'll usually let 'em go if their 35yds and beyond. Sometimes I'll either post a stick in the mud or place my furthest decoy out at 35 paces from the blind. Where I usually hunt they're gonna be 15-25yds out if they're commited. Had a guy with me a month or so back that dropped one at 60yds. Just broke a wing, dogs day off and lost that bird. I like 'em close.  

[CP]

I've had good luck with the Tom Knapp range finder method:

Your Built-In Range Finder
Built-In Range Finder – Every Hunter that hunts with a firearm has one! Regardless of the shape or diameter of your front sight, it can serve as a quick reference to determine the distance between you and your intended target. This comes in handy while trying to determine the proper forward lead that is required for passing or moving targets. Unlike the electronic range finders, this method requires your memory and ability to obtain your sight picture quickly.

Here’s how it works…Find (or sketch) a life-size image of the bird or animal you intend to hunt. For this example, I’ll refer to dove hunting. Oh, and by the way, this procedure does not require any shooting so you can do this in your back yard in preparation for your hunting trip. Take the life-size image of a dove and run it through your fax copier 3 times or sketch 3 images (of the same). Then you’ll need 3 stakes or cardboard boxes to attach the paper images to. Place the first image a measured (paced off) common shooting distance from your aiming position… normal dove shooting near a water hole could be as close as 15 yards. Then pace off another 10 yards from the first image, keeping in mind to set the second image a little to the side so you can see past the first and view the second. Then, pace off another 10 yards and place the third so it can be viewed without having to move from your aiming position. Now, we have the same size targets, the first at 15, the second at 25, and the third at 35 yards from your aiming position.

By looking at the three images, the furthest appears quite a bit smaller than that of the closest, even though they are all the same (life size) images. You already know the measured distances, so here’s where you turn your memory chip on! By using the same gun that you intend to hunt with, take aim at the first image. Pay particular attention to the front sight’s diameter (or width) in relation to the image’s size. You’ll note that the 15 yard image is much bigger than that of your front sight, perhaps the front sight is about the same size as the doves head. RECORD this bead – bird relationship in your brain factory as CLOSE – or – SHORT LEAD. Then do the same with the second image. Note that the front sight will cover maybe half of the image. RECORD this as MEDIUM – or – DOUBLE THE LEAD of the close one. Now, don’t be surprised when you aim at the third and find that your front sight completely covers the image. This is the no-brainer of the bunch! If your front sight covers the entire image, you may not know the exact distance, but it should tell your brain to extend your forward lead UNCOMFORTABLY in front.

[lokidog]

Another thing is to figure out your effective range.  Pattern your gun with the shells and choke you will be using.  You need to have an even distribution of pellets in a 30 inch circle.  Figure out how far out you can shoot and stick to it.

Good luck next season.

[DeadgrassPeake1]

Wow! It take big brass ones to post something like this on the internet. Don't let it discourage you from continuing to hunt. At least you are man enough to see your mistakes. You will be a better waterfowler for it someday. Take a trip to the trap range, and you will have a really good idea of what your effective range is very quickly. Make sure you have your gun is choked right and you are using the correct load too. I wish everyone out there was willing to take constructive criticism and admit there mistakes like you. Pretty impressive in my opinion.

[Pathfinder101]

I'll chime in and say the same thing... a post like this takes some guts, and some introspect.  Good for you man.  FOr what it's worth, when I duck hunt I go with guys who know what they are doing (I don't do a lot of it) and I don't shoot till someone says "take'em".  Duck hunting is like a science in itself, and I am not that good.  Judging range, sex and species is a skill that I have not honed yet, so I leave that stuff up to the experts, hunker down in the blind, hold the dog, and wait for the guy with the call to giveme the signal...
Sorry you don't live closer, but I am sure that with the honest additude you displayed in your post, you won't have to wait long before you find someone to hunt with that can show you the ropes...
Stick with it and don't get discouraged.  I grew up hunting, but took a 10 year break while I was gone in the Army.  When I came back here, I was way behind the power curve, and had a lot of catching up to do (re-learning stuff I forgot).
Good luck.

[jbeaumont21]

What part of the state are you in Oscar?

[OSCAR1987]

What part of the state are you in Oscar?

Birch Bay - near the Canada border -

[WSU]

Don't worry about it.  Don't get me wrong, i hate skybusters as much as the next guy.  But, I also completely understand.  I started  bird hunting with no mentor.  Fact is, you learn how far away you can kill birds effectively.  You don't magically know how far is too far.  Unless you have some sixth sense that I didn't, you learn by trial and error.  Just learn from what you are doing and pay attention to the effective range, and otherwise keep on hunting.

[sisu]

This is probably going to be the best waterfowl post of 2011.  Thank you everyone for your support and added advice. 

[Lightning_Rider]

LMAO!!! don't worry, everyone starts somewhere...your post brought back some ol' memories!!! If you have time, you should book a guided trip around the moses lake area, you would learn alot from people that waterfowl hunt for a living plus it wouldnt cost more than a couple of hundred bucks

[400out]

We all have done it and don't let anyone tell you they haven't!  You will figure it out I'm sure of it, I can't come on here and tell you how far to shoot! There are a lot of factors that go into this decision!
You may not even be shooting at out of range birds, It is hard to tell from another field if a bird is out of range to you or not! You might be just off a little on your lead  shooting skeet could be a good replacement to years of shooting (which most of us have)
The thing I can tell you is if the bird stops in mid air and flies strait up you led it to far and adjust you aim
I will keep your post in mind and keep watching it to see if I can add anything to some of the others info. Good luck and enjoy your new addiction