Shooting a Sitting Duck

[caryc]

Was watching that "Kodiak" show again and they were hunting ducks. It surprised me that they were shooting them while they were swimming in the water. I've never shot ducks in my life and I've only seen hunters on TV shooting them out of the air.

I'll refrain on saying what I think about it but I was curious what you guys think. Is it Kosher (informal use of the word) to shoot a swimming duck?

Let's set aside the starving kids at home that need to eat and just concentrate on the sportsman like conduct. Just curious.

 

[frank n texas]

On the fly only....

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Sounds like that makes them a market hunter rather than a sportsman hunter.
On the fly only :wink:

 

[Kevin]

I don't hunt but it seems like it would be akin to hunting at the zoo.

 

[Kevin]

Looks like Texas has opinions!

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

Dunno about other states, but as far as I know it's "legal" here in CA. I don't know any bird shooters who consider it to be ethical though, under normal conditions. A number of them will make an exception to ground sluice a wounded bird they can't catch up to when hunting without a dog.

Rick C

 

[Mobuck]

In the name of subsistence hunting, most anything goes. I saw the natives on "Life Below Zero" shooting swimming caribou. Ran them down with a boat and killed them in the water. Can't get away with that stuff if you're a white man in the lower 48. I'm a subsistence hunter but still have to buy tags and follow the same rules as the guys from St. Louis and KC.

 

[ArmedinAZ]

There's a reason for the phrase "sitting duck" :?

Not very sportsmanlike in my book but it could be a regional thing. Like hunting deer over bait...

 

[ChiefMuzz]

I don't know the show so take that as you want. As stated, for sport I would think it's not ethical. If this is for survival and substinence, fair chase goes out the window.

 

[m657]

Maybe that form of duck shooting had something to do with the crew filming the story?

Maybe the shooters were getting 'subsistence' via corporate check to do such a thing?

Never seen the show, no idea about the theme.

Anything I see of that basic title/genre` ["reality something"] remains suspicious IMHO.

The duck hunters I've known have never talked about anything but wing shots.

 

[FastEd]

Well, if you are hunting with a .22 pistol...

 

[Jim Puke]

Do turkey hunters make the turkeys fly before shooting them?

Seems like it would really be unsporting to shoot a bird as big as a turkey while he is on the ground.

 

[wolfsong]

In California, it is legal to ground sluice or water sluice game birds of any species. Obviously, it is also legal to shoot them on the wing. It IS illegal to take any game bird with any gun other than a shot gun using shotshells.

Is it sporting? Not in my book. Is it ethical? That is more subjective.

Where do you guys stand on shooting a deer bedded down on a hot afternoon? Turkeys aren't usually taken in flight. Is that cool?

Then there's the question of hunting over bait, as someone mentioned, or using dogs for bear or hogs or birds or...

I don't begrudge another hunter his method or style of taking game, as long as it is legal and humane. I've seen more than one frustrated mountain quail hunter ground sluice his birds when they just wouldn't take to flight...

 

[exavid]

It was pretty common for Alaska Natives in NW Alaska to take ducks, geese and such on the ground. I didn't but there was a major difference between them and me. Those folks were actually subsisting on game and not on a dollar economy. I was shooting birds on the wing for sport as well as for eating. If I didn't get any I'd still eat. The most common round used by natives for birds was a .22LR. Rules be damned and I agree with them. People were pretty thin on the ground and the game was abundant. Shooting a ptarmigan in the head with a .22 leaves a lot better meat than using a shotgun. Also .22LRs are cheaper than shot shells which means a lot when you're living mostly off the land.

 

[Mobuck]

"Those folks were actually subsisting on game and not on a dollar economy"
I've heard that the "natives" get a subsidy which is more than my yearly income. I knew a guy who married a woman of "native American" heritage just for her monthly government check.

 

[rich e]

I would guess if your hunting for your winter meat supply, and considering what ammo must cost in the bush, then every shot must count. But if your sport hunting, shooting on the wing is the way to go. I don't judge anyone, don't know what there circumstance might be.

 

[nekvermont]

Remember the days of waterfowling with a punt gun?
http://www.musketsandmemories.net/punt-gun.html

 

[ChiefMuzz]

Do turkey hunters make the turkeys fly before shooting them?

Seems like it would really be unsporting to shoot a bird as big as a turkey while he is on the ground.

Since they really don't fly much, it's completely different.
That and there is a great challenge in getting a bird to come to you.

 

[Pal Val]

I've watched the show, and seen many things in it I wouldn't do. But, since I'm in Pennsylvania and they in Alaska, I figure It's not for me to criticize much. If I were in a place where hunting is the difference between getting something to eat or starving, I would shoot any animal in any way. Here, if I'm hungry, I just drive up to the nearest pizza place. In an island 300 miles from the next supermarket, they hunt.

 

[Thunderhawk]

I don't hunt but it seems like it would be akin to hunting at the zoo.

+100

 

[cas6969]

"Duck hunting" vs shooting ducks.

Doesn't sound like they were duck hunting, nor were they trying to. They were shooting ducks for food. "Sportsmanship" doesn't enter into it. There's no such thing as "too easy" in that case.

 

[redhawker]

Some don't consider it sporting. I didn't see the show so I don't know. Did they come upon the ducks sitting on the water and shoot them or did the ducks come in to decoys and they let them land and then shoot them? The former I wouldn't do (but that's just me), the latter I personally wouldn't do either but as soon as the duck jumped and was a foot above the water its game on, and I have done that. Part of the game of duck hunting is to get them to come into the decoys so if they are attracted enough to come in and land in the decoys that's actually one of the "goals" of duck hunting. Of course, the only way I allow them to land in the decoys is if I'm not looking in the right direction and they sneak in and land before I see them. If I see them coming in they go down (or I miss them and they fly away, LOL) before they touch down.

BTW - I think they're harder to kill on the water anyway. I've had cripples down and fired 4 or 5 shots at them some times before I hit something (usually the head) to stop them. Its like once the wings are folded they act like a bullet proof vest and you have to manage a pellet in the head or they just keep going.

 

[caryc]

In California, it is legal to ground sluice or water sluice game birds of any species. Obviously, it is also legal to shoot them on the wing. It IS illegal to take any game bird with any gun other than a shot gun using shotshells.

Is it sporting? Not in my book. Is it ethical? That is more subjective.

Where do you guys stand on shooting a deer bedded down on a hot afternoon? Turkeys aren't usually taken in flight. Is that cool?

Then there's the question of hunting over bait, as someone mentioned, or using dogs for bear or hogs or birds or...

I don't begrudge another hunter his method or style of taking game, as long as it is legal and humane. I've seen more than one frustrated mountain quail hunter ground sluice his birds when they just wouldn't take to flight...

Don't think I've ever seen a turkey come flying by my window. :mrgreen:

 

[Colonialgirl]

I think this says it all:

Here, if I'm hungry, I just drive up to the nearest pizza place. In an island 300 miles from the next supermarket, they hunt.

 

[Cooperhawk]

The last time I went duck and goose hunting I blasted them right there in the cooler at Walmart. Course they asked me not to come back. :shock: :wink:

 

[Jim Puke]

Actually, they said on the show that it was their last chance to put some meat in the freezer to carry them over the winter.

So, they WERE meat hunting per se.

 

[coach]

Do turkey hunters make the turkeys fly before shooting them?

Seems like it would really be unsporting to shoot a bird as big as a turkey while he is on the ground.

You may be kidding, but if you aren't, I've never seen a flock of turkeys coming into decoys. I've never even see even seen them flying although I know the manage to get up into trees. Kind of like chickens I think.
Just read the 2nd page and I see this has been covered.

 

[Rick Courtright]

I've never even see even seen them flying although I know the manage to get up into trees.

Hi,

I've watched TV shows where they were getting up in a tree, but only seen 'em fly one time in person, to get across a fairly wide stream. It was maybe a hundred feet or so from takeoff to landing. Kinda like our local quail, they got up in a bunch, gained a little altitude, then covered most of the distance in a glide. They actually did it fairly well!

Rick C

 

[ArmedinAZ]

In California, it is legal to ground sluice or water sluice game birds of any species.

Please explain??

The only turkey I ever shot was on the wing. Not sure who was more shocked, me or the turkey! :shock:

 

[gramps]

"Those folks were actually subsisting on game and not on a dollar economy"
I've heard that the "natives" get a subsidy which is more than my yearly income. I knew a guy who married a woman of "native American" heritage just for her monthly government check.

The Inupiat Eskimo I was in contact with used very light calibers for their hunting. They used shotguns and .22 lr on walrus and seals. Using a 30/06 would blow too big a hole in the beast and it would sink-game lost. They hunted polar bear with .243, and around town used shotguns with rubber bullets to repel them from town. If the animal became belligerent they switched to slugs. They go out in 25 foot boats and drag in whales as big as 39 ft long (39 tons)! As for subsidy-yes every Native American in Alaska is "paid" $50,000+ a year because of the Atomic Energy Commision's attempt to put a deep water port at a place called Chariot 30 miles South of New Hope, an Eskimo village. Our government was going to detonate 6 thermonuclear bombs there to create the port. The Eskimos sued the government, and in 1976 WON! The arrogance and lies the government told is why they are paid. Read the book "The Firecracker Boys" for a complete look.
gramps