I work at Cabelas and hear a lot of stories from a variety of people. This one guy today was telling me about shootin all the pheasants and he said he didn't care if they were flying or running or whatever. I've never really considered shooting wild pheasants on the ground, but isn't it illegal to do that, or not? I wasn't really impressed by it, and just said yeah, yeah. Because I don't realy want to piss him off, and get myself in trouble or loose some sales, but if I knew the laws a little better I might be able to at least inform him on some stuff, and most customers will at least listen as long as I have that work shirt on...
Visit My Hunting Page

YOU BETTER BET THATS ILLEGAL!! not to mention that its not ethical! I wish i had the chance to work at cableas!! Keep up w/ the good work at one fine company!


Kevin Rigsbee.........."Im gonna miss her when i get home"

i never read anyhting about it in the PA regulations...and ive read about all of it...if its legal and you feel its ethical do what you want...if i was ever hunting and one was running and wouldnt flush i think id blast him like a rabbit....i feel flying pheasants dont have a chance to get away from me anyways...and bird hunting i have atleast one other person with me so if i cant get him they will!wehn they are running on the ground they have a decint chance to get away in my opinion....if it was sitting still i wouldnt shoot though...

Kansas is the only state that I've seen that makes that illegal. Probably others do but I've not seen it. I once hunted pheasants in Nebraska on a paid hunt. The host said he averaged about 90 roosters per year. I was impressed until later he also said he had never hit a pheasant in the air and his wife was the best at spotting pheasant heads stcking out of the weeds at 35 mph that he had seen. I think it has been very common practice by locals in much of the west and midwest. It will probably become less common as bird hunting continues to have more economic value. It will probably become more like Europe where doing something like that would be the same as stealing from the landowner and not tolerated. You won't find many bird hunters with dogs that will tolerate hunters shooting birds on the ground either because of the danger to dogs. One of my patients had a bird dog killed a couple of years ago by a friend shooting at a crippled, running rooster.

Legal in South Dakota "but" what an idiot. These type hunters, "not sportsman" is what give us real hunters a bad rap.

Legal in South Dakota "but" what an idiot. These type hunters, "not sportsman" is what give us real hunters a bad rap.

Just because it's legal or a common pratice of locals doesn't make it right. Plus it's not only a danger to the dogs but other hunters as well, many time there are blockers & pushers. I wouldn't want some one shooting @ me. If they can't hit a flying bird try rabbits or liaer how to shoot.... There is a reason they call it WINGshooting. Plus I'd probaly beat the pi** out of someone who shot my dog while shooting @ a bird on the ground, actually that may be the least of his worries. But I hope you have a good fall wing shooting & no "hunter" shoots @ any of you or your dogs.
Dan

In my opinion( you know what they say about opinions ) in bird hunting most of the fun is watching the dog hunt and use his skills that you have spent endless dollars and hours training him to do. I see zero fun, challenge, or sportsmanship in shooting a rooster on the ground legal or not. If hunting was that easy it wouldn't be called hunting. Keep smiling---pheasant season is just around the corner.....

If its legal and not hurting anyone or any dog I don't care if its flying or on the ground. Make a clean kill and enjoy. I have done it twice a long time ago and shot a bunch on the wing so I don't begruge anyone who does it.

Brian



Edited by - 445 supermag on 09/25/2002 04:58:06

Here's another question, along the same lines. What about shooting doves out of a tree? And if you say that's not "sporting" than what about shooting a rabbit that's not running. And if thats not sporting, than what about shooting turkeys on the ground? And if you say that's not sporting, than what about shooting a standing deer? Now, granted the deer might be taken with a shotgun with 00 buck, so does it not make sense to shoot it while standing, with a rifle may be different, but with buck shot? Just where do you draw the line in "sporting"? All these situations have to have safety issue looked at too. WHen are we hunting when we don't have to look out for others hunting with or around us, and that includes dogs. So each situation needs to be looked at through your eyes, is it or isn't it sporting, is it ethical. What may be for you, may not be for the next guy, but as long as it is done safely, that's what is most important.I'm not for shooting pheasant, or any bird, except turkey on the ground, 'cause I'm a pretty fair wing shooter, but I've heard worse than that.