Upland wingshooting tips?

I think your post tells the whole story, if we read between the lines.
First off, you are busting clays after they've crested. This tells me you are slow on the draw. So why would that be?

First off is shot gun fit...
You say you patterned the gun... did you shoulder the gun and slowly take aim or did you bring the gun right to your cheek and shoot almost instinctively as soon as you saw the target?
Often times when you take careful aim, you do not obtain the same eye alignment as when you mount the gun quickly as in a hunting situation.
Also... bring the gun right to your cheek first - not the shoulder. If you mount the gun correctly and if the gun fits, you should be looking right down the rib when you mount it. If that's not the case, then either you need to practice your mount or get a gun that fits.

You should check out YouTube - there are lots of shotgun tip videos on there.


Slaymoar said:
I've been out hunting for the great wingshot challenge that is southern Ontario grouse hunting.. So far I am like 0-20... grouse are destroying me.

I carry my shotgun at the ready, but I also try to carry it shouldered but with barrel lowered. My arms just die off so early and I end up stopping and resting every 5-10 minutes or so. Maybe I am doing it wrong.. maybe its my office job making my arms puny.. lol I don't know but these birds are flying off and giving me MAYBE 0.75 second window to pull the trigger. By the time I pull the trigger I usually don't have a proper cheek weld because I don't have the gun shouldered properly from the ready. The thing is they don't fly across like a clay, they fly up maybe 5 feet then disappear behind cover really fast in some advanced contour flying maneuver and I have no idea if they went straight and 100 yards, or turned and flew somewhere else.. pretty frustrating.

Also when pointing the shotgun, some people say both eyes open - I am not sure how to use this method. I find myself partially shutting my other eye to have the bead in line with the rib.

But to end on a good note, its not the shotgun - its me lol... I patterned my shotgun (Winchester SXP) and it shoots like a champ. I can quickly acquire a target and make holes exactly where I point. I can bust clays 20/25 with the shotgun shouldered / mod choke - but I only take the late cresting shots.

Got my first bunny this weekend too - not when it was running, but once it sat still - NO problems hahaha... this is how I feel right now -> :bangHead:
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Grouse Man said:
Ruffed grouse are very easy to kill. I can't recall the last time I shot a bird in the air which didn't come down dead or was dead when I got to it. For me, there's no point in shooting one on the ground, meat or not. I'll give up the meal of those delicious grouse fingers if it means I choose to pass on sitting birds birds. I prefer to give them some chance of escape. Sitting, they have nothing. But in the air, the odds are in their favour.

But that's the challenge. That's why I love it.
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Yes. Exactly. :)
 
I am a wingshooter... I like the challenge and I don't mind losing a bird... but I don't romanticize it to the point where I feel the need to villanize hunters who are just out to fill a stew pot.
 
The bird is dead whether we shoot it in the air or on the ground. I'm pretty sure that if the bird could voice it's opinion it would probably object to being shot by either method. The notion of respect is more of a human emotional condition than a physical reality. To me, respecting the grouse means not leaving garbage in the woods, ensuring meat is not wasted and diligently looking for wounded game.
 
Slaymoar said:
I've been out hunting for the great wingshot challenge that is southern Ontario grouse hunting.. So far I am like 0-20... grouse are destroying me.

I carry my shotgun at the ready, but I also try to carry it shouldered but with barrel lowered. My arms just die off so early and I end up stopping and resting every 5-10 minutes or so. Maybe I am doing it wrong.. maybe its my office job making my arms puny.. lol I don't know but these birds are flying off and giving me MAYBE 0.75 second window to pull the trigger. By the time I pull the trigger I usually don't have a proper cheek weld because I don't have the gun shouldered properly from the ready. The thing is they don't fly across like a clay, they fly up maybe 5 feet then disappear behind cover really fast in some advanced contour flying maneuver and I have no idea if they went straight and 100 yards, or turned and flew somewhere else.. pretty frustrating.

Also when pointing the shotgun, some people say both eyes open - I am not sure how to use this method. I find myself partially shutting my other eye to have the bead in line with the rib.But to end on a good note, its not the shotgun - its me lol... I patterned my shotgun (Winchester SXP) and it shoots like a champ. I can quickly acquire a target and make holes exactly where I point. I can bust clays 20/25 with the shotgun shouldered / mod choke - but I only take the late cresting shots.

Got my first bunny this weekend too - not when it was running, but once it sat still - NO problems hahaha... this is how I feel right now -> :bangHead:
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Keep both eyes open and look at the bird .if you are doing any else when the gun comes to your shoulder your going to miss or be to slow getting on target . I am 1 for 7 so far this season , there a real challenge in tight cover for sure . tip :) move slow and listen for them peeping befor they flush . watch under the cover as some of them will be runners .
 
jethunter said:
The bird is dead whether we shoot it in the air or on the ground. I'm pretty sure that if the bird could voice it's opinion it would probably object to being shot by either method. The notion of respect is more of a human emotional condition than a physical reality. To me, respecting the grouse means not leaving garbage in the woods, ensuring meat is not wasted and diligently looking for wounded game.
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^^^ +1
 
Thanks guys, what does a grouse sound like? I heard the drumming and flushing sounds just fine - just not sure which call sounds a grouse makes.
 
Slaymoar said:
Thanks guys, what does a grouse sound like? I heard the drumming and flushing sounds just fine - just not sure which call sounds a grouse makes.
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It sounds like a high pitched peeping or peening.... they often do it when alarmed and are getting ready to flush or run... but it can be a good tip-off to get your gun up.
 
This discussion contains some great advice, much of which I try to follow. Most of the time, however, I fail to connect with the birds I flush. I went 0 for 2 last weekend, and in retrospect could have done little to bag either bird; the first offered a couple of fleeting glimpses, the second only one, and in each case I was poorly positioned to shoot. As well, there is something about seeing a grouse fly away from me against a screen of branches that throws off my depth perception.

But it is what it is--just plain challenging. So be it; for me, the experience is what counts. If I come home with an empty game bag, I also come home having had a couple of good hours in the bush at the finest time of the year, with fresh air in the lungs and a good workout for the legs, and a flush or two to ponder. I never feel cheated by the sport.
 
Grouse Man said:
Ruffed grouse are very easy to kill. I can't recall the last time I shot a bird in the air which didn't come down dead or was dead when I got to it.
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I would have agreed, until this past Saturday. The grouse fell over the crest of a ridge, out of sight. When my dog didn't return immediately with the bird, I could hear the sound of much rustling in the leaves. I feared she was playing with the bird, something she has never done before. So I went over the ridge, where I saw my dog returning to me from some distance away, with the bird in her mouth. Its the first time that my dog had to run one down.
 
jethunter said:
Your arms are getting tired because you're using muscles you haven't had reason to use before. It's not your arms as much as the shoulders that need a bit of toning. Common thing for lots of us.

You can exercise those muscles in your office without any special gear. Start with your arms at your side, keep them straight and lift until they are extended straight out in front of you, hold for a count of 5. Lower back to your side. Hold a book or water bottle to add a bit of weight when it gets too easy. Do two sets of 15 repetitions every other day. Don't push hard to start. As you get stronger, add weight and hold for a longer time. Results will show up fast- you'll notice an increase in strength in your shoulders by the second week. And carrying a shotgun will get easier by then too.
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Thanks for this, we never think of strength conditioning for shooting, but this is very important too. I will have to give this a try.
 
longsault said:
This discussion contains some great advice, much of which I try to follow. Most of the time, however, I fail to connect with the birds I flush. I went 0 for 2 last weekend, and in retrospect could have done little to bag either bird; the first offered a couple of fleeting glimpses, the second only one, and in each case I was poorly positioned to shoot. As well, there is something about seeing a grouse fly away from me against a screen of branches that throws off my depth perception.

But it is what it is--just plain challenging. So be it; for me, the experience is what counts. If I come home with an empty game bag, I also come home having had a couple of good hours in the bush at the finest time of the year, with fresh air in the lungs and a good workout for the legs, and a flush or two to ponder. I never feel cheated by the sport.
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This...I never feel bad if I come back empty handed, it is some of the most satisfying hunting I do.
 
Arm muscle strength is easier to accomplish then one very important factor, your back erector muscles.

That weight gets transfered elsewhere onto your frame. Besides bearing arm weight, it also deals with the compression from walking and running, compounded by dehydration.
 
Although Skeet, International (ISSF) Skeet & Sporting Clays are all useful "practice" for upland bird hunting, there is nothing like real, live, flushing birds. And yes, In my opinion, ruffed grouse are probably the biggest challenge. I've nearly 50 years hunting grouse and woodcock, and have hunted sharptails, huns, chukars, pheasant & quail. Being in Southern Ontario you shouldn't have to go too far to find a preserve to hunt pheasant/chukar. It's not grouse hunting nor grouse habitat, but it will certainly get you onto carrying a gun in the field and getting you somewhat used to flushing birds.

Gun fit, good technique and open chokes on a suitable shotgun will go a long way to get you into the ball game, but nothing like shooting live birds. Sounds like you need to pick up your timing a little too ! I recall being out with a few different guys whom I consider good clay target shots and are otherwise proficient on most game birds & waterfowl. More than once I've reacted to the flush of a grouse when they've been close. Bird up, safety off, bird down .... then I hear their safety go off after the bird hits the ground !!! Getting over being startled by the surprise and noise of a grouse flushing close by is one of the keys. You must be able to act quickly and instinctively for the barrels to get on the birds line of flight before it's gone behind cover. A little practice on pheasants should help you over the surprise of the flush ... and usually they are pretty much in the open for the shot. But don't despair, it usually only takes half a lifetime or so to get somewhat good at shooting grouse on the wing. :)
 
I always recommend a lightweight , open choked and decent fitting gun that comes up without having to think about it.
Most field guns are 28" which us not too bad on an O/U or SXS gun.
some people detest auto safeties but it is just something to get used to, like a hammer gun it a double trigger gun takes a bit of getting used to.
I also agree with hunting shooting preserves / especially chukkars!
fast little birds , but pheasants will do as well.
However , shooting skeet from the low gun position will also help but I find that my shots are closer and quicker when shooting birds over the dogs .

I shoot everything that flies but the ruffed grouse is king in the field and on the table in my books!
Cat
 
beretta boy said:
Although Skeet, International (ISSF) Skeet & Sporting Clays are all useful "practice" for upland bird hunting, there is nothing like real, live, flushing birds.
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Absolutely! Clayshooting can hone reflexes to a certain extent, however, on the other hand, the Wingshooter never has the luxury of being stationed on a trimmed course, calling "Pull" and quickly determining flight paths usually void of obstacles. Inside the Grouse coverts, shooting over a Pointer does offer an edge but one still needs to be able to effectively get the drop on the bird.

The Ruffed Grouse, regardless of it geographical location (Southern vs. Northern ON), isn't truly a very fast bird in comparison to many other species. However, mainly due to its habitat and of course instincts bred for survival, the bird has a natural/uncanny ability to place every type of cover between itself and the gun during it's escape. Shooting at trees/bushes will always be part of the equation as far as anchoring this particular bird may be concerned.

Northern region birds may be termed as naive for lack of a better term but allow that same bird to flush when even in plain view and observe how frustrating it could be to attempt to train a set of barrels along its evasive flight path. I spent last week deer hunting north of Thunder Bay and watched the guys bag 45 Ruffs using mostly a .22 air rifle. Those birds were just not even bothered to move. I imagine, with a shotgun, it would have been less than 25% had those birds decided to take off instead. :)

Bottomline, as already mentioned by others, proper gun fit (reasonable at least) supported by good shooting habits, and obviously supplemented by maximum periods spent in the field may bring an individual up to speed.
 
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hoytcanon said:
I would like to counterpoint your logic here...

I will say upfront that I vastly prefer to wingshoot upland game birds.... but for the sport, NOT out of respect for the bird.

For many hunters, the thrill of the hunt is at the dinner table... they don't see the point in flushing a bird and potentially losing it, just to shoot it out of the air... and what can be more "respectful" to the animal than a clean, one shot kill... which is far more likely if the bird is sitting still. Shooting sitting birds may be distasteful to you and that is fine, you don't have to do it. But for those that believe a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush (where do you think that saying came from?)... their methods are legal AND ethical AND moral... those folks however would have a legitimate argument to make against the lack of respect demonstrated by our wingshooting.
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I am with Hoyt on this one. I am a fairly accomplished clay target shooter and can readily put down my fair share of game on the wing but when it comes to Grouse, they need not fly to die IMO. I have no issue with a clean kill off the ground or a branch. Heck I have shot lots of them as my father and his father did before me. With a 22lr with a scope. My Dad used to pop them in the head with his old Cooey like there was nothing to it. Tell him he should wing shoot them and he'd tell you go buy your chicken at KFC, he was having his from a birch tree!! LOL
 
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