Advice on Pheasants!

[Geordieboy]

Hi everybody

I am back in shooting after an 18 year layoff and started clay busting 18 months ago.  As the son of a former Gamekeeper, I should know how to shoot a pheasant or two, however, I had my first syndicate day 2 weeks ago and my shot-kill ratio was appalling.  I didn't get my 'blood-up' I just picked the bird up as I would a clay with the gun out of my shoulder and pushed through the target.......only to miss.  I think I was misreading the birds a lot and I only killed when I was 'instinctive' 

As the birds are much bigger than the clays, I really wasn't reading them. 

Any pointers anybody?

Cheers

 

[Jonny English]

I've had just the same problem. Half your lead, swing and shoot at the last minute. I've found if I mount as I would for a clay I miss. I've found I need to wait till the split second I want to kill it, then mount and shoot, and half the lead I would give a clay.

I am by no means an expert or very good, but I've gone from 10 to1 last year to 3 to 1 this year shots to kills with this technique.

 

[Jeremy Baker]

Yes half what you were doing at a guess.  

After a stern talking to from Ed my pheasant shooting has dramatically improved.

I was gallons infront of everything last season.

 

[Alan Rowley]

Just think when swinging gun - bum- head - bang

Works for me

 

[wylye]

Steve, take a coach with you for the day. Its a small price to pay - say 3 or 4 birds, and it will put you right for the rest of the season.  (Bet you're in front though!)

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Just get on with it ...take em early ...and don't fanny around thinking of clays...no comparison.....true story.. :wink:

 

[Geordieboy]

Many Thanks.

I was faced with my first pheasant, I guess about 100yds away at 20yds climbing and curling towards me.  It was going to pass my left hand side, so I addressed the bird gun down, followed it and mounted when it was about 30yds away and pushed through about 3ft and pulled the trigger.....twice, with the second barrel twice the lead of the first.........and a happy little hen pheasant kept on going. 

I will follow all of your advice everybody and cut right back on the lead.  I take your advice on having a coach there with me.  I know a great guy who can do that.  He will be able to put me right I have no doubt.

Thanks for the advice everybody.

 

[Jonny English]

30 yard bird I would give 18'' to 2 foot of lead roughly but a good moving gun. My common fault is to stop the gun or look at the bird as I pull the trigger to see it not fold up at all.

 

[chesterse]

Don't forget driven game is normally speeding up and clays are normally slowing down - it's easy to get behind!

 

[Geordieboy]

Hi everyone

I had my 2nd day on Saturday.  First 2 drives I shot at and missed 7 different, but very good birds, all 30yds+.  The next 4 drives I shot at 16 birds and killed 9, with the remaining 7 being pricked, and due to dropping into the next drive were not picked (Unless the beaters dogs found them).  Anyway, a point of note, I cut right back on my lead and hit everything I shot at after those first 2 drives.  Another point of note, I fitted Skeet Choke to the 20bore and when I hit the birds fair and square, they dropped as if poleaxed (using Gamebore pure golds 1oz 6's).  As end gun I shot a crossing bird, and the picker-up measured it out to me at 80 paces to where it dropped, estimating the bird at being 60yds to where I shot it!!!!   I did not think or perceive that the bird was that far away, but the bird was dead and evenly patterned with the skeet choke!  The little 20 sure kills the birds as long as the pattern is in the right place, but I do feel that had I had a 12, with the more even pattern, I would have dropped a larger proportion of those other 7 birds. 

Alternatively, I could just be talking rubbish and need to learn to shoot better!!!!!!

 

[Jeremy Baker]

Hi everyone

I had my 2nd day on Saturday. 

Alternatively, I could just be talking rubbish and need to learn to shoot better!!!!!!

And Mac looked good picking up too. Lainy's favorite.

 

[Geordieboy]

And Mac looked good picking up too. Lainy's favorite.

Why thank you very much kind sir.  A little more work and he will be there.  He got his blood up on drive 3 but I pipped him on the whistle and sat him down.  For his only his 3rd day out I am happy.

And I am sure that Long pheasant was closer to 100yds away......;-D

 

[Jeremy Baker]

And Mac looked good picking up too. Lainy's favorite.


Why thank you very much kind sir. A little more work and he will be there. He got his blood up on drive 3 but I pipped him on the whistle and sat him down. For his only his 3rd day out I am happy.

And I am sure that Long pheasant was closer to 100yds away......;-D

Doing 100mph plus so I heard........


Glad you got amongst them.

 

[no.1topdog]

Hi everyone

I had my 2nd day on Saturday.  First 2 drives I shot at and missed 7 different, but very good birds, all 30yds+.  The next 4 drives I shot at 16 birds and killed 9, with the remaining 7 being pricked, and due to dropping into the next drive were not picked (Unless the beaters dogs found them).  Anyway, a point of note, I cut right back on my lead and hit everything I shot at after those first 2 drives. 

Alternatively, I could just be talking rubbish and need to learn to shoot better!!!!!!

Geordieboy you already are shooting better than on your first day!

You've taken advice, tried it, and now found what is working for you. Well Done!!  :biggrin:

From now on it's only practice, just doing more of it that will see further improvements. You'll always have tricky birds, and ones that completely flummox you, but that's game shooting. Just don't expect kill ratios that can be achieved on clays. That's just not real world unless you only shoot the easy ones, but it's always the exceptional ones you will remember forever, so don't be afraid to take them on. You will surprise yourself and hopefully everybody else too!

Sounds like you are enjoying your days too. Keep with that feeling. That's why we shoot!  :biggrin: