Shooting game birds on the ground??

[halflife65]

i honestly could care less, unless your hunting released birds they most likely are gonna fly anyways before you see em standing around somewhere, the outcome is the same, if people wanna be so ethical well dont go kill anything, killing an animal isnt "ethical" in the first place is it? if its out there im shootin at it!

I don't think killing animals is unethical! Killing is part of nature and a fact of life.

   I have no problem shooting birds, especially grouse, on the ground.  I've shot more with something other than a shotgun than I have with a shotgun, anyway.

[huntinguy]

It's too hard for me to shoot grouse out of the air with my bow...so I stick with the ground shots.

why do you let them fly away with your bow? 

[jechicdr]

It's too hard for me to shoot grouse out of the air with my bow...so I stick with the ground shots.

why do you let them fly away with your bow? 

It was a big grouse and it caught me off guard.  Before I knew it, he had my bow and was flying off with it.

Reminds me of a funny grouse story.  Elk hunting up in the wilderness and come upon 4 grouse.  I'm only 10 yards away.  Take an arrow and shoot...misses neck by a half an inch.  Grouse I shot at did not move but 2 of the others scatter.  The 4th was in the bush...will get back to that one.  I take a second shot (wasting my broadheads ) and this time decapitate the grouse.  Now I go to retrieve the bird...and my arrows.  I pick up my first arrow and come around the bush and there is one just standing there, out of my reach...oh but wait, I have a 29 inch stick pointed stick (a.k.a arrow).  I skewer the bird (not sure if this is a legal means to take a grouse).  I then go to get my other arrow, and pinned right underneath the arrow is the third grouse.  Lets just say I ate well that night.

[netcoyote]

Whew! I thought it was just my little secret. I much prefer a bird take a good flush and try to take him with a graceful, well-placed shot. That said, I've been known to take a few that just refuse to fly and seem to be on a death wish. Especially after a long day stomping through the woods without even seeing a bird and then have one standing in the middle of the trail on your way back to the truck. BANG! ...dinner.

[Ellensburg]

Hell ya I shoot em on the ground every chance i get with grouse. I even shot a pheasant on the ground last year because it wouldnt fly. I could care less and if you are too stuck up to do it, thanks. More for me.

[singleshot12]

Release pheasants I try to give them a little chance and shoot em on the flush and even that is too easy and doesn't seem fair. Wild birds on the other hand is a differant story. Shooting the head off a sitting rooster is always a nice break after the ten before him eluded you 

[lokidog]

I had to flip a release bird into the air out of a snowbank using my gun barrel once so Weathergirl could shoot it.   

[DOUBLELUNG]

Run like a rabbit, die like a rabbit.

[h20hunter]

Grouse on the ground.....boom.....grouse for dinner. Found two standing stock still on a log. It was like a gift. One facing me, one facing away above it. But the bead on the lower birds head and popped them both. One lost its head the other took the shot in the back and wings, not a pellet found in the breast. We still talk about that one.

[fethrduster]

To each his own, but in my opinion I think it depends on what you're expecting or wanting to get from the experience.  If all you have is a rifle or bow, then of course, have at it.  But with a shotgun, are you out to see your dog work, to soak up the outdoors, and for the challenge?  If so, why would you shoot one on the ground?  There is zero challenge in that.  Do you really need a bird that bad?  I'm not going to go so far to say it's unethical, because it is legal, but I think the birds deserve better personally.  They are a precious resource.  After all, if all you want is something for dinner, why not just go to safeway and get a chicken? 

[ICEMAN]

Deserve better?
 
A moving shot is better for the bird than a quick shot on the ground? Not sure I get where you are coming from.
 
Hunting is what it is....hunting. We do not do this just for the food, but the fun, and part of the fun is scoring an animal that we can take home and enjoy, unlike your safeway chicken.  If I passed on a bird on the ground, only to kick it up and miss....am I having more fun?

Maybe the most ethical shot is the one where the bird is setting still and not moving?

[steen]

I don't have a problem with shooting one on the ground, as far as dog safety I wouldn't shoot if I didn't know where the dog was.  If the dog worked hard for the bird and not shooting it on the ground would result in it running in blackberries, tus losing it, I'd definately shoot.  There has been times I waited also just because I wanted to shoot a flushed bird, altho, it has resulted in a miss before.  Most of the time we just want to have pheasant for supper and when you only get two and pay $90.00 for a tag for release birds you shoot 'em however they come.  It is an expensive dinner either way with alot of good excersise in the process.

[h20hunter]

the couple I have hosed were usually near camp when I was not toting my deer rifle.  No dog to worry about, no game to scare away. Just whacking a forrest chicken.

[Bluemoon]

I do quite a bit of guiding for NFL players and very wealthy well to do clients with my dogs.  The ground rules are set very clear before we go into the field, no ground shooting of birds period,  for the safety of the dogs and other people in the group.  Twice I have had that rule broken and twice the outcome was the same.  The hunt is over and no refund for their stupidity end of conversation.   I saw a dog take a load of 4's at Cooke canyon and last year at Scatter creek no bird is worth that.  Yes, I might sound like an A$$ but when my dogs are on the ground I'm the boss.  And when spelling it backwards I am the double SSOB.
As it was stated earlier if you need a bird that bad go get a chicken.

[BOWHUNTER45]

ONE TIME AS I WAS WALKING BACK TO MY CAR AT A PHEASANT RELEASE SITE,.. I CAME UP ON A PHEASANT WALKING DOWN THE PATH.  I GOT READY TO SHOOT,.. WAITING FOR IT TO FLY, BUT IT JUST WOULDN'T FLY,.. SO I WALKED UP CLOSER  ABOUT 5 YARDS WITHIN THE BIRD,.. AND IT STILL WOULDN'T FLY,.. I THREW A ROCK AT IT IN AN ATTEMP TO MAKE IT FLY,.. DIDN'T WORK,  SO I ENDED UP WALKING RIGHT UP TO IT AND GIVING IT A GOOD KICK,..      IT FLEW OFF ABOUT 15 YARDS AND GOT BLOWN OUT OG THE AIR.    

    my dog usually catches most release site birds... I never take a gun