Quailsgrace /Foter

One of the most exciting and enjoyable of the various types of bird hunting is going for quail. It is also one of the most difficult birds to hunt too. Imagine you’re walking in the woods, not the type of woods full of trees but one with lots of brush and hiding places for this elusive bird. The territory is fairly open so you get a good view of the area and as you walk as quietly as you can, you listen. If you’re lucky you might hear the birds running quickly along a trail you can’t see but what usually happens is that the silence of the morning is shattered like a gunshot by the explosion of birds flying everywhere. Once your heart starts beating again, you have to aim and fire at a bird that flies like a jet fighter flying low over the landscape. These birds hug the terrain and don’t seem to fly more than two feet over the brush or any other thing they fly by. You have maybe two seconds if you’re lucky to aim and fire. Quail hunting is not for the faint of heart.

What Type Of Ammunition Should Be Used To Hunt Quail

Quail are small birds so you should use about the smallest bird shot available. Most boxes of shotgun shells well tell you what birds it is designed for but if it doesn’t, you can ask the salesman what is recommended. Some of the determination will be the area you’ll be hunting in to determine the types of shot you’ll get while hunting. If you’re going to be further away you might want to consider a little heavier shot to reach further before the pattern breaks up. If you’re shooting is going to be close, stick with the smaller shot.

Scout The Area Before You Hunt It

One of the best ways to learn before you go quail huntingis to actually go to where you’re going to hunt and scout out the area. Learn what the birds do and where they go. Sometimes it’s as easy as standing still and watch them running down a dirt road. Other times you’ll need to move around and scare them up to find their patterns. Knowing the territory where you plan to hunt is invaluable for success.

Good quail hunting is not easy and you need to get out there and study, just like for any

Bird Dogg – s – h /Foter

other game you might hunt. In fact, Quail hunting is one of the more difficult prospects when deciding what bird to hunt because they can be a real challenge to not only hunt, but to also hit. They are a fairly small bird and will actually run from a hunter beneath the brush where you can never get a shot.

Some areas are practical for using a good hunting dog while others don’t offer the best territory, or hunting style for a dog. When going hunting, you might consider hiring one of the professional quail hunting guides that offer their services for different areas. Also, don’t forget to read up on the important tips and rules for hunting in that area.

Have you thought about getting some good binoculars for hunting?  When you looked at all

Binocularswegoslow /Foter

of the choices in brands and styles available, were you just plain confused and discouraged?  This article will provide the information you have been seeking on just exactly which binoculars you will need to meet the purpose you have in mind.

The use of optics like binoculars and monocular have been around for hundreds of years, but mostly for seeing the dangers that were either approaching or for looking at the night sky.  The monocular were the first magnification devices for a long time until technology presented the need to use a second tube that could shorten the length because of 2 magnifiers.  They were used at sea to search for land, obstructions, icebergs, whales, and other sea creatures, or for what they feared was hunting them.  These days people rely more and more on binoculars for hunting.

Today, things haven’t changed that much, but the technology in making them sure has.  It all depends what you are looking for in a sighting device, however, I will go over some terms that are commonly used by sellers and users at this time, but things are changing so fast that one can’t say what they will be tomorrow or next year.  Because hunting is such a varied activity, all sizes and types of binoculars have their place. Still, there are some guidelines you can use for selecting any hunting binocular.  Read through the below terms and consider what, how and where you will be using these optics, then see what you like at your local dealers, outlet store, or retailers.

Ask to take a selection outside to try it out for its clarity, feel, ease of use, weight, etc.   That way, you can make a choice that will suit your needs.

Terms commonly found for Monocular and Binoculars

Monocular

JulianBleecker /Foter

A miniature low powered telescope which you hold in your hand and use with one eye. It shares characteristics with both binoculars and spotting scopes and is much smaller than either.  A zoom monocular with magnifications that go over 10 power are harder to handhold and have very narrow field of view making them difficult  to  use. A zoom monocular is never as durable as a fixed power model and optical quality is actually more important than objective lens size or magnification for clarity.

Digital Binoculars

A small digital point and shoot camera placed on top of a binocular, therefore offering the convenience of a digital camera and a binocular all in one instrument.  Digital binoculars do not have enough magnification for serious bird or wildlife photography.  A digital binocular is like any other camera so you will need to hold it steady if you want sharp looking images.  Because a digital binocular’s magnification is higher than the average digital camera they are intended for picture taking in low light or in night time conditions since even though they have no flash.

Magnification

The first monocular number, the 7 in 7×10, is how many times an image is enlarged over normal sight vision.  The higher the first number is, the harder the instrument is to use.  High magnifications make it difficult to hold a viewing instrument steady enough to get a good view of what you want to study, so unless you have a tripod, stick with lower magnifications (below 10).

Objective Size

The second number, the 10 in 7×10, is the size of the front lens in millimeters.  The larger the second number, the better the optical performance will be if all is equal.  Bigger is not necessarily better because it will become a heavier instrument to carry around.  In terms of performance, optical clarity is more important than objective lens size because you get an optically excellent item that is very small if you are willing to pay the additional cost.

Field of View

The amount of image area you see when you look through a monocular or binoculars is like looking at a ridgeline 1000 yards away. If the binocular has a field of view of 475 feet of the ridge line at 1000 yards, you will see 475 feet of the ridge line.  If the field of view is 320 feet at 1000 yards, you will see 320 feet of ridge line.  Remember a simple law of optics, when magnification value gets larger the field of view gets smaller.  For a wider field of view, keep magnification down.

Eye Relief

This is the distance your eye can be from the eyepiece and still see the entire field of view.  It is measured in millimeters. Remember, wearing glasses when you look through the binoculars won’t allow you to get as close to the eyepiece.

Hunting by SnowmobileRukaKuusamo.com /Foter

A snowmobile can travel through the frozen tundra.  These machines are used in climates that have snow to travel in and can get around for a hunter surprisingly well.  There are gun holders available that are able to be attached to carry your gun, and they can also pull a sled behind to haul out game.

Many hunters and trappers use these machines quite frequently in the northern areas, like Alaska, to get to camps or any location that these machines can reach.  Designed for going over a variety of obstacles, they are very maneuverable and have lots of power to haul wood, or materials to build a remote camp to hunt out of that can be taken down and hauled back home when season’s over.

There are many kinds of machines out there, 4 stroke models, or the more common 2 stroke engines have been doing the job for over 30 years now, so go an try one out if this seems to be something that could solve that more wintery hunting climate.  They can take you through winter terrain with ease and take you to that perfect hunting opportunity.

Certainly a trip out into the wilderness to hunt with a snowmobile is not something you should ever do alone.  Even the most reliable machine can break down or you can run into some obstacle or have an accident.  In Alaska, lone snowmobile riders have had to deal with dangerous animals, sometimes with drastic outcomes.  Bring a buddy.  There is safety in numbers.  Make sure you have some type of communication with you and let someone know where you will be going and when to expect your return.

TYPES OF TRANSPORT TRAILERS OR SLEIGHS

These trailers or sleighs are sometimes a lifesaver when it comes to that extra needed room to transport all kinds of stuff to and from a camp or hunting site.  Worth their weight

Hunting by Snowmobilegigi4791 /Foter

to tow, they haul so much more that you need to consider their size.  Some vehicles simply can’t handle the larger ones, so be sure you don’t go overboard in size, they can get you stuck, because we all tend to “pack it all in”, but then, can the vehicle pull all that weight?

The Native Alaskan Basket Sleigh is the perfect sled to pull behind a snowmobile on a hunt.  They are big enough to haul a moose with ease.  They are hand-made from wood that is steamed and curved to form the runners.  You would be fortunate to ever find one of these available or someone to make it for you.  I just want you to know that sleds like this one are out there and they are very efficient for the hunter.

What if the conditions turn bad, lots of rain, or it freezes into rain, and then you need tire chains to get traction.  These are all things to consider when pulling a trailer.  Don’t get caught by over doing it, play it safe and make another trip if you need, just use common sense when pulling a trailer, and they can be a great asset to any hunter or trapper.

Commonly called 3 or 4 wheelers in years gone by, today’s new ATVs or all terrain

ATVTravis S. /Foter

vehicles have it all.  Four wheel drive and horsepower that would make an older “big Red” look like a dead sled.  There are still the 2 wheel drive versions out there, and lots of good or rebuilt 3 and 4 wheelers that still use the two rear wheels to move them along, either chain or shaft drive, they still get you there, as long as the terrain and distance is not out of range for them to handle.  The worse thing about the 3 wheelers was that they were topsy-turvy and would run over your leg if you tried to right the machine in a tip-over condition.  So they were banned for safety reasons.

The older 4-wheelers were a bit narrower than today’s machines, so they could get to places the new ones can’t, and that’s another thing to consider.  However, the new machines have way better handling and suspension, not to mention the lighting and the variations in colors you can get is quite amazing.  The newer machines have lots of shifting designs from manual to hydraulic to electric or automatic, so with these options, come the problems, like, well cold weather.  Some shift designs fail in the cold, it could leave you walking out of the woods.  You’ll need to do the research here, but the all terrain vehicles with a manual shifter are still the most reliable.

Be sure your battery and tires are able to take the woodsy conditions, but the most important thing to remember is to be safe while riding these machines, like all other power vehicles, they can crash and kill you.  I have witnessed that from living in Alaska for many years.  BE careful folks, they are no toy!  Treat them with respect, and the all terrain vehicles will treat you to a good hunt!

Four-by-Four UTV’S (Side-by-Sides)

Huntingthigpen.robert /Foter

Today’s hunter can play and work with the right UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle) as these vehicles literally can haul and dump your cargo where you want it.  They have a cab-like front and a box shaped back that resembles a pick-up truck bed with a tailgate and all.  These utv’s are seen around town here in Alaska, because most of them are street legal, and they drive like a small pick-up truck without their size.

The cab can be enclosed for warmth and you’re out of the weather, and there are some open cab types as well, so it depends how spoiled do you  want to be, or how much money can you spend on these vehicles, well that’s up to you.  Hauling your game out is not a problem, you can get 3 people in the cab on average, so you have help to get the game in the back box area easily.

They need more room than the other smaller ATV’s, so they are more or less handicapped in that department.  But these UTV’s make small work of the larger jobs out there, they handle like a car, they haul a couple hunters and their game with ease and have plenty of power to spare.  Improved suspensions, bigger brakes, more towing capacity, and higher speeds are all benefits that a hunting club, farmer, or landscaper can use while sharing recreational duties as transportation for hunting  when they are needed.

SIX WHEEL DRIVE ATV’S

Much like the UTV’s, these 6 wheelers are the other option that is out there for those hunters involved in a lot of weight to move, both to and from the hunting site or camp.  They are able to get up a greater grade with more trailer weight than a regular ATV, because of the extra set of drive wheels.  Four wheels pushing and front wheel drive, these 6×6?s are the real workhorses of the ATV field.  Heavier duty braking and bigger engines, with lower gearing allow these machines to haul and pull heavy loads, can get into places an ordinary small pick-up truck can’t, and handle and ride very well for what they do.  Like any other workhorse, they are a lot more cumbersome than there more nimble cousin, but they are not designed to be quick and extremely maneuverable, but are designed to work.  So it comes down to what you need, just do some research and visit an ATV dealer for a demo ride, you might be surprised at what these machines can do.

Eight Wheel All Terrain Vehicles That Float

Some ATV’s more resemble a raft with wheels than an ATV, but these extra wheeled machines came into the making from experimental duck hunting amphibians to get into water laden areas or swamps to take the place of the pram that had to be left behind from shore to  shore.  This vehicle could get driven onto a trailer instead of needing to get winched onto a boat trailer.  It could go where the boat could not, like over small sand bars or shallow marshy grasses with ease.

They have evolved even more, are more like an eight wheeled boat, they can get tank treads on for really bad places or snowy icy slopes, and haul lots of people or supplies inside.  Even trappers uses these for beaver and muskrats.  So, I guess it depends on your needs, but if you’re in the market for a really cool machine that handles just about any kind of terrain, especially the really swampy wet ones, check this one out.

Amphibious Type All Terrain Vehicles

Just like an air boat, these propeller driven machines are mainly made to go over water, but an occasional sandbar or reed-ridden shallow are no problem for them to scoot over.  The most impressive thing about these is that they operate in some really adverse places, even up in Alaska!  Another remarkable thing is their ability to travel a long distance over water and swampy land in a very short time. They can really move!

As expected, there are some drawbacks with these machines, like steering!  A driver needs to know how to lead a corner, and how to come to a stop, with no brake.  You’re more like a pilot with these boat-like machines than a driver, but they can be used to do many things, like fishing off them, hunting right up to the shore so you can get out and walk to get a shot – they are quite nimble, and have an amazing range.  The other point to note is, they are NOISY!!  But surprisingly enough, game animals seem to get accustomed to them going by and seem to ignore them after awhile.  So, I guess if the situation you have fits this kind of transport, go for it.

After the Hunttkurk /Foter

Alaska hunting is a dream that many hunters have and can be the trip of a lifetime if you’re lucky enough to make it there and go hunting. There are so many options in this vast region that just deciding on what you want to hunt could be one of your tougher decisions.

Big game hunting in Alaska is a big draw and you will almost certainly need assistance of some kind for setting it up and using, at the very least, a hunting guide or perhaps even a complete trip with an outfitting company. Of course, this could be different if you’ve spent time there already and are familiar with what you’re hunting and where you’re going, and are an expert of sorts in your own right. Otherwise, visiting Alaska State to hunt for the first time is the thrill of a lifetime for most hunters.

The variety of game to hunt is vast and you can hunt most of them throughout different times of the year. You could go for the Caribou Dall Sheep or the Alaska Grizzly Bear or any other number of big game. Making the choice for your preferred game will have a lot to do with where you end up in Alaska to hunt.

What To Do When Planning To Hunt In Alaska

There are plenty of companies who specialize in hosting hunters who want a guided hunt or

Bear HuntingCowgirl Jules /Foter

just a place to stay while they tromp out on their own. There are also Alaska wilderness charters that will get you to where you want to go and also give you much needed professional gaming advice for your upcoming hunt.

You can be dropped off at a certain location and be left for a predetermined time. You’re then picked up again from where you were left

to your own devices for finding and bagging some big game. Doing it this way gives you your own Alaska bush adventures where you are the center of your world in a place that will give you everything if you know how to find it.

Decisions need to be made far in advance when contemplating a trip to Alaska and all uncertainties need to be resolved. This is a major hunting trip and everything needs to be thoughtfully figured so nothing, except the hunt, is left to chance.

Choosing Your Preferred Game

Choosing what you want to hunt will give you a more specific location and narrowed field of search for where you need to go. Alaska hunting is vast and all the options and considerations can be somewhat confusing, or daunting. There is a wealth of information online where you can start your search and then make personal contact to answer any questions or request more information. There may be requirements you need to find out about before you book a trip so there are no surprises when you get there.

Big game hunting in Alaska is one of those experiences that may not come around too often so being prepared and fully informed is tantamount to a good experience. Once you’ve made your choice of game, prepare yourself for one of the best hunting trips you’ve ever had.

To be a safe hunter you need to have been certified initially, but that’s not where it stops. Taking a hunter education course is the first step, but putting what you learned into practice is how you stay safe.

Whatever you are hunting, the firearm you carry is what is dangerous and can cause unwanted injury if not properly handled. Proper attire to make sure you are visible to other hunters is not only safer, it’s required in almost any place you’ll be hunting.

A safe hunter is one who knows the surrounding area, what is near so that just in case you fire and miss there is nothing in the

background that can be harmed. The easiest way to remember how to be safe is to respect what it is you’re doing…holding a powerful firearm that can kill.

Safe Practices While Hunting

Something else that should be noted besides treating the weapon you’re carrying with respect are some does and don’ts while hunting. In all instances, you should never hunt alone. Some may think if the area they’re hunting isn’t remote then there is little risk to them, but if something were to happen it might be hours, or even days, before someone knows you’re hurt.

Obviously, if you are hunting in a remote area, a hunting partner could mean the difference between life and death if you’re injured. You could fall off a small cliff, roll down a hill and break something or do something as simple as twisting your ankle and be incapable of walking out by yourself, and a partner could greatly assist you. Hunter safety isn’t just about learning how to properly care for and treat your weapon.

If you’re hunting in an area where you may come across more hunters, you need to make sure you’re dressed appropriately and you make that first split second decision to look before you shoot. Accidental shooting don’t happen frequently, fortunately, but the consequences are devastating when it does. Being a safe responsible hunter and being aware of what you’re doing and where you’re at is the best way.

Use The Knowledge Gained In Training Programs

Any hunter education programwhether by a certified program or the experience of someone you’re hunting with should be utilized to the fullest. Hunting is a tremendous experience and should be remembered with fondness, not with a sense of dread because something bad happened to you or another hunter.

Maintaining a consistent program of being a safe hunter at all times will help to make your hunts more satisfying if you practice the best habits at all times. The secret for you to be a safe hunter is to always be aware of what you’re doing and the devastating force you carry in your hands.

Plan well, dress correctly, and use the buddy system when hunting and you should have a fulfilling and fun time. Don’t let a moment of carelessness change your life and others because you let your guard down for a minute and did something careless or stupid.

PheasantJelleS /Foter

Pheasant hunting is one of the most popular types of game bird hunting.   They are fun and challenging to bag and are considered to be one of the better delicacies in the wild bird category. Pheasants are an intelligent bird and actually adapt to hunting pressure over the season. Similar to deer hunting, as the season progresses the birds will be harder to find and it takes some knowledge and experience to find the birds.

Usually in the beginning of the season, when hunting competition is heavier, the younger, ‘dumber’ birds will go first and once the remaining birds get acclimated to the pressure, they become harder to find. Many experienced hunters wait for the latter half of the season because most hunters have quit and the competition is much less.

How To Prepare For A Better Hunt

When you go wild pheasant hunting, you will need to do some homework and early research to give you the best chances of getting some birds. Depending where you’re hunting, especially if it is your first time in the area, you should scout out the area and see where there are birds and what type of movement you can see. You may need to talk to the owner of the land if it’s private, but in most pheasant hunting country, most owners will give permission to hunt their land.

Make sure you are dressed appropriately for the weather and do wear a good pair of boots that are comfortable and give good ankle support. You’ll be doing a lot of walking so make sure you are prepared. A lot of the Fish and Game Departments will publish annual pheasant counts shortly before the season opens so pick one up and see if the area you’re planning to hunt in has a good count.

Once You’re Ready To Hunt

Depending on the type of field you’re planning to hunt in, a good bird dog could prove invaluable. They will keep the bird from running and flush it out so you can get a shot at it.

Bird DogLadyDragonflyCC -See through my eyes! /Foter

With a pheasant, unless it’s flushed fairly far away, you don’t want to shot right away. Give it a chance to get some distance so you don’t blow apart the bird by shooting it too close to you. This will help you have a good pheasant hunting trip and bring back a couple of great dinners.

Now is when those good boots will come in handy because you’ll be doing a lot of walking to search and find this elusive bird. They will tend to stay hidden unless you almost step on them, or have a good dog, like a German Shorthaired Pointer, to flush them out.

Don’t discount an area where there doesn’t seem to be much cover, pheasants have been successfully hunted in a dirt clod field. Your early scouting will help you out if you’ve paid attention to where the birds are. Be ready, pheasant hunting is quick and they will tend to fly straight away from you on an even line.

Hunting Game High ScoresMelina. /Foter

 Many avid hunters enjoy sitting down and playing some virtual  hunting games whether online or on the latest gaming equipment.  And others get into these games simply for the virtual sport of hunting.  They can be very exciting and challenging.  They will hone your skills and get you ready for the experiences you will encounter on a real hunting trip.

A lot of video games today will take your analytical skills to the extreme and you’ll feel like you’re really out there in the woods doing the same things actual hunters have to do like checking the weather conditions, what type of a gun or bow to use during what season and even where to position the tree stand or where to go to push deer for your hunting partners.

Depending on your particular gaming system, you can get some pretty realistic and extremely challenging games that put you in competition with other players in interactive

Virtual HuntingSpring Dew /Foter

settings that are as close to real as you can get without getting all geared up and trampling through the woods.  They will help you think about the real challenges you will face when planning how to get that buck in your sites from a dear stand or from behind a blind.

Some of the settings in these games may include different levels of difficulty, a variety of environments, different hunting seasons and locations, and choices of hunting guns or other weapons.  For example, you might want to go on a guided hunt during rifle season or hunt in a local wooded setting during archery season.

Other variations could include the type of deer you’re allowed to shoot and tag, for instance buck season or doe

season, or if the seasons are combined, the situation might be determined by what you’ve already tagged, so you may only be allowed to shoot a doe or a buck, but not both.

If you want to go virtual hunting in North America, pick up a game like North American Hunting Adventures.  Programmed with advanced artificial intelligence, this game includes both hunting and fishing scenarios with life-like animals and realistic settings.   You can even program the trophy buck that you might have always wanted hanging in your game room.

Want to try a virtual hunt in Canada?  The Ultimate Hunt Pack game, a CD-ROM computer game, has three games in one pack.  You can hunt deer and elk in the Canada Hunt, bear and whitetail deer in the Deer Drive or take your hunting dogs with you to hunt duck in the Ultimate Duck Hunt.

You can look for more action-packed hunting games on Amazon.com and see what other hunters are buying for their off-season enjoyment or the games virtual hunters like playing to get a feel for the real thing.  You can read the online reviews on Amazon.com to get an idea of whether a game is good enough to buy.

But whatever format you pick, there are a lot of hunting games out there to choose from.  It just depends on how realistic you want your virtual hunt to be and how challenging.  They allow you to keep your own hunting memories fresh in your mind while planning for that next big hunt.

African Trophy Huntmrshife /Foter

Taking hunting trips can be one of the most exiting trips you’ll ever take if you plan for it correctly. Depending on the type of trip you want, there are volumes of information and companies available for researching the best way to do it. If you’re going big game hunting you will need to determine if you want to do it on your own or hire a professional hunting guide or company to handle everything so all you have to do is show up.

Hunting guides can take you to the best area to hunt, but they may not have accommodations for you to stay whereas an outfitting company can give you as much or as little as you want in regard to accommodations. You’re going, usually, to an area you’re not familiar with, so getting some form of assistance is recommended, whether it is total hands on production or just valid information from reputable sources that you can take with you.

Guided Hunts Versus Non-Guided Hunts

First, you need to decide what you’re going to hunt and where you want to hunt it. If it’s not that terribly important where you hunt, you can search for the best offered deals. Cost is a big factor in making that choice as some hunting trips can be very expensive.

Sometimes what works best and is most economical is to combine a vacation and hunting

Eiffel TowerMoyan_Brenn /Foter

trip in one.   Consider this.  You could fly to Paris, visit the Eiffel Tower, do some sight-seeing, and then some hunting.   Just 30 minutes out of Paris, you can do large game hunting or small game hunting, depending on the season.  Generations of the family at Chateau de Janvry have been showing hunters the best experience you could ever imagine.  You could stay for a day or two and get on with the rest of your vacation when you have finished hunting.  You can reach them at http://chateaudejanvry.com

This is true of so many other places where you can mix hunting and vacationing and get the best deal ever.  You could go to Alaska in the fall, maybe take a cruise there out of Vancouver, BC.  Then you could spend some time sight-seeing, go to Denali National Park, whatever interests you.  Then, fly out to King Salmon, do a little bear hunting in Katmai Valley.  The possibilities are endless.  Only your imagination and some planning stand between you and that vacation/hunting trip.

No matter what you’re hunting, the choice to be made is whether or not you want to do it all on your own or hire a company or guide to take care of a lot of the logistics. Do you want to camp out or stay in a hunting lodge? All this needs to be determined, obviously, before you go on the trip. Once you’ve made the decision and started your trip it will be near impossible to change the arrangements that have already been made.

A guided hunt will give you access to certain aspects of the trip up to and including doing everything but shooting the game you’re hunting. Some, for many different reasons will find this satisfying and remember the trip with fondness, especially if they bagged what they were hunting. Others may want to rough it out and do it all on their own, giving a different value to what they’ve accomplished if they are successful.

There’s much to be said about hiring hunting outfitters because success is more common and you are generally treated like royalty and taken care of. But there is also something to be said about doing all the research and striking out on your own to take the ultimate challenge. Pitting yourself against Mother Nature and basing your success solely upon your abilities. Either way, go into with the goal of enjoying the magic of it and if you get lucky, all the better.

Hunting trips are entirely subjective based on the needs of the individual, or group, that’s going hunting. Time, health, and a number of other factors may dictate what type of hunt is chosen for the upcoming trip and all facets of needs should be considered before making that decision.

Bird Hunterjaci XIII /Foter

There’s not much that beats the thrill of bird hunting. The speed, the action, and trying to hit something that’s not real big and is on the move makes it a great challenge. It takes a good shot to bring down some of the game you’ll be hunting when you’re after birds.

Whether you’re hunting a migratory game bird or just going game bird hunting, the action and pace can be quick and furious. You sit for hours and when they hit it happens all at once and can turn into a veritable shooting gallery while your prey flushes into range and you prepare to shoot. All that you’ve waited for is now in front of you and you had better be prepared.

Learn The Tricks Of The Trade

There are many different ways to hunt birds, and depending on what you’re hunting for, that will let you know what you have to do to bag your game. If you’re duck hunting, normally you’ll hunt from either duck blind or behind some type of natural cover so the ducks can’t see you.

You will also normally use decoys, usually store bought, that you’ll set out so passing ducks think there’s already ducks feeding in the area and will come in to land. Then you shoot when the ducks are coming in. Fast and exciting, duck bird hunting is one of the most popular hunts, with goose hunting being very similar.

Some bird hunting requires the use of a trained hunting dog to flush the prey out of their

Pheasant Huntdglassme /Foter

habitat, or hiding place. Pheasant hunting is one of those that require a good dog to have any luck when going after the bird. Pheasants will run in the brush away from the hunter and you’ll never know it was there.

A good dog will track it down, where it usually freezes and depending on the dog, will give you a signal that it has a bird cornered and will flush it on command. When they explode out of the brush the sound is almost indescribable and you have only a few seconds to aim and fire or the bird is gone.

Take Time To Practice

Bird hunting presents some singular challenges that other game hunting doesn’t. Usually, the bird, or birds, comes on you quickly and you have very little time to shoot so you have to stay prepared at all times. Whether you’re hunting ducks from a blind or walking down the ever elusive and hard to hit quail, each type of bird you hunt presents its own challenges.

Hitting a flying animal is made slightly easier with a shotgun, but even with this weapon at your disposal, hitting a game bird on the move can sometimes seem next to impossible. How far away is the bird, how fast is it moving and how far to lead it has to be determined in an instant if you want to be successful in your hunt.

Hunting birds is exciting, and the options are many, with fairly large birds like geese to very small birds like doves. Whatever you choose to hunt, practicing like shooting at clay targets is a good way to hone your skills and be able to hit the birds you’re shooting at.