truckboy1 Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 ok, Your on a small driven day and you have no picker ups behind you and no-one to hand with a dog, you drop a bird that then gets up and starts to run, Is it good or bad Shooting etiquette to give it a barrell to stop it. I have NEVER done this but have thought about it as i saw a bird dissapearing off in the distance dragging a wing, I will and do try to shoot the neighbours bird behind him if he drops a leg or i can see its hit. Your thoughts please!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 Wait until the end of the drive and then tell someone on the picking up team where you saw it going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chapperz1991 Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 Wait until the end of the drive and then tell someone on the picking up team where you saw it going. would that not be causing the bird to suffer? i would aim to despatch it sooner rather than later just my view. Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 would that not be causing the bird to suffer? i would aim to despatch it sooner rather than later just my view. Paul. And a valid view as well. Trouble is you're on a driven day where you have (more than likely) been told "No ground game" plus a runner will pretty much always run into cover which means you're shooting blind into somewhere you can't guarantee safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shropshire_Lad Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 would that not be causing the bird to suffer? i would aim to despatch it sooner rather than later just my view. Paul. never been on a formal shoot (as a gun ), but if safe to do so I would. If this is not the done thing then it would not be for me. atvb Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 This is one of those questions where there are many variables and probably no correct or incorrect answer, the lie of the land, pickers up, dogs, level of under growth, plus a few other things will play their part in the decision making I've done it, have been asked to shoot a runner by the next peg as the bird came behind be and once during a end of season day on a large local shoot was asked by the keeper (whom i know) to shoot every bird that came out, low, high, runners (pricked or not) he put me on a back peg away from the line of guns, every direction was safe bar forward into the wood in the right circumstances and if it can be done safe then surely that is better than losing the bird in the undergrowth to die slowly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 Just a though but………. Would it not be easier to simply chase and catch it yourself ? In severe pain it wont be moving too fast and you should be able to grab it and wring its neck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 If you can be 100% sure the shot is safe then I can't see an issue with it. If you even have the slightest doubt - in fact not even doubt but uncertainty, then the runner must be left to run. A wounded bird is better than a dead picker up that you didn't see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 These eventualities should have been considered and covered by the shoot organiser, they should have dogs etc, and if they have said no ground then it's no ground. No ground is almost always as a general safety matter, so don't break the rules or you are likely to be in trouble! Ask at every shoot if you can do this if in doubt! ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shropshire_Lad Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 If you can be 100% sure the shot is safe then I can't see an issue with it. If you even have the slightest doubt - in fact not even doubt but uncertainty, then the runner must be left to run. A wounded bird is better than a dead picker up that you didn't see. Spot on at all times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 would that not be causing the bird to suffer? i would aim to despatch it sooner rather than later just my view. Paul. well what you do is ask the shoot captian at the start of the day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 I am assuming that the beaters may have dogs even if you don't have anyone picking up. Maybe the shoot should employ someone to pick up too. What I would suggest is mark the bird and at the end of the drive ask one of the beaters with a dog if he could take a look in the general area of where you think the bird is roughly. Normally the bird will head for the nearest cover, there's a good chance it will tuck up into long grass of a dyke-side or in thicker cover in hedge bottoms etc. Personally I cant see the problem with shooting it behind as long as the shot is in the open and you have a clear view of where you are shooting, but unless this is absolutely necessary and agreed before the day starts I think it would be frowned upon. As I do some picking up I would suggest asking around and finding someone who would like the chance to work their dog for you, we don't all care about pay, we enjoy watching our dogs work more than anything else. Maybe as a gesture of payment you could offer whoever a bottle of his favourite tipple or a gun on the last shoot or similar after they have been there all season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 This post made me think of this Be good as a sticky A Fathers Advice If a sportsman true you’d be Listen carefully to me. . . Never, never let your gun Pointed be at anyone. That it may unloaded be Matters not the least to me. When a hedge or fence you cross Though of time it cause a loss From your gun the cartridge take For the greater safety’s sake. If twixt you and neighbouring gun Bird shall fly or beast may run Let this maxim ere be thine “Follow not across the line.” Stops and beaters oft unseen Lurk behind some leafy screen. Calm and steady always be “Never shoot where you can’t see.” You may kill or you may miss But at all times think this: “All the pheasants ever bred Won’t repay for one man dead.” Regards MM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveT Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 It would be frowned upon shooting a runner from the line. In all honesty, every line I have been in, I would say 7 out of 10 would have dogs. One or two of which would be off the lead/peg and picking up a dead bird/chasing after a runner, or a young dog out on it's first shooting season, a little frisky, with an irate owner looking on as it's dog runs riot (not as rare as some may think!). I would definately say that safety is of paramount importance here, and the best course of action would be to watch the bird and mark it's direction of travel. Even if you miss the chance of a couple of overhead birds in doing so. When the drive has finished, there would always be a few obliging beaters willing to pursue the injured bird with a few dogs, Chances are they will find the bird, and if you think about it, a running pheasant can certainly maintain some speed, so sending a couple of barrels it's way with the possibility of missing and endangering some fellows dog/beater would be quite an eye opener to the other's in the line and wouldn't be surprised if you were escorted off the shoot. Of course, there will be mixed opinions on this, but on a formal shoot, think safety and etiquette. Someone will obviously bring about the argument about it being cruel not to atleast shoot at the runner, but if that was a prime concern, then you wouldn'e be shooting at a bird in the first place, do you kill everything you shoot at? And what about the pricked flyers.... Do you run after it trying to gun it out of the sky? Same principle. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 If there is no sky behind then you do not shoot. Beaters and picker uppers have been shoot in the past as well as dogs that the gun does not see by guns that try to do a favour. if there are dogs on the shoot then leave them to do their job for safety sake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckboy1 Posted November 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 I have to say that i agree with pretty much everything being said here and of course i am a stickler for safety and it goes without saying that you should never shoot where you cant see but if your 100% sure it was safe do you think it would be good or bad etiqutte. I must stress that i have never done this and probably couldn't bring myself to do so just interested to hear others opinions Thanks for your replys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 When you start a driven day the shoot captain invariably gives a few instructions and usually says "no ground game". This INSTRUCTION is to protect dogs and the beaters. A pheasant running is ground game in my book and the shoot should have dogs to bring in immediately you have a 'runner' All dead birds are picked after the drive is over, runners are a priority and picked immediately. If in doubt ask about 'ground game' at the strat of the day but my best advice is NEVER shoot at anything that isnt flying high and surrounded by sky - you may be asked politely but firmly to leave. Good shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted November 28, 2011 Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 There is never any excuse for shooting a wounded bird on the ground and any gun that did so should be sent home immediatly. It would be irresponsible and highly dangerous. All shoots will have a team pickers up who will deal with runners immediatly and any shoot that has not made such arrangements does not deserve to be called a shoot and should be boycotted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 28, 2011 Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 Good question and just one of the many reasons i have never shot driven pheasant personally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted November 28, 2011 Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 An absolute no no on a driven day..beaters/picker uppers could easily be in front/hidden etc..A good picker up team will see it and send a dog.Only time can 'finish one off' is if up a tree..understand the temptation/thinking but not to be undertaken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillaroo Posted November 28, 2011 Report Share Posted November 28, 2011 All I'd add to this is if you are upset by not putting runners in the bag (everyone I hope) then get yourself a dog but don't chase after it as not only is this dangerous but running around looking for it will not only keep it running but also give the dogs less chance of picking up a scent. Nothing winds me up more than seeing a group of guns walking around a pile of feathers with dogs and any non-shooters in ever increasing circles saying "I'm certain that was dead in the air!" Let the dogs do the work. Cheers Mike PS I wouldn't shoot a runner but have taken one that has a leg down and flown again but not on a driven day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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