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Lets assume that there is no dog on this hunt. At that point I would get out of the blind and go look for the duck. We, my hunting partner and myself have a rule we do not continue to hunt if there is a possible wounded bird down, if the bird was dead and visible we would continue to hunt as long as we could keep visuale contact on the dead bird. If the bird is wounded and still alive the hunt is for the wounded bird not the birds flying in. That is our rule, and we strictly follow it.

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Ronald Reagan

I agree with duckhunter to go look for the bird. I had this happen to me earlier this year. I spent an hour and a half looking for a downed bird (tried to give up several times but couldn't). Although I waisted a good morning of hunting, I felt better about my self knowing that when I found him he wouldn't go to waste.


Chris
Detroit, MI

You people are true sportsman and hunters. If all hunters were like you Gentlemen our sport would be far better off. I think you should both be congratulated for your conduct. So here is my 2 cents. Congratulations hunters!!!!

My buddies and I do the same thing as DH. We have missed plenty of great opportunities for more ducks, but at the time the priority is trying to find the downed bird.

Ron<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I hunt in an area where, if I am not careful with my shot, a bird can very likely fall in tall reeds. I have learned to &quot;mark&quot; those birds -that is, to get a good visual reference on where they fall, but I do not usually search for them immediately unless they are nearby. My theory is that the bird, if not pressed, will likely sit still and bleed out, making for an easy recovery later on. It works. Bow hunters use the same strategy with deer. I have seen wounded ducks cover hundreds of yards when pursued vigorously and I have also seen dogs walk right over ducks that have burrowed into ground cover so I would not rely on either. Ducks have a very powerful survival instinct. Have you ever heard that a wounded duck will dive below the surface and latch onto to bottom weeds and drown rather than willingly be captured? Well, it's true. I've seen it but I never believed it until I did. So I would prefer to not challenge a wounded bird because it will go to great lengths to survive. And one more thing - when looking for a downed duck don't look for a &quot;duck&quot;. Look for something a little out of place, a little unnatural, a little color or texture that doesn't seem right. Many times I have reached down to check out something that just didn't look right and found it to be the tip of a wing or a tail feather attached to the rest of the duck I was looking for.

I think any respectable hunter would go and search for the wounded aninmal. I know I would. Part of the reason I am out there is to get the wonder of nature. I believe having the respect for the animal your hunting means to do the whole duty of hunting and not just halfa$$ it if your hunt becomes disrupeted by some bird that fell in the wrong place.