#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Size of shotgun shells matter. Plus, tiny pellets quickly lose energy at longer range.
Duck
#HuntingwithJR – Turkey
Judging a mature bird: Toms have a long paintbrush size beard, 8-12” long. Young males, or Jakes, have a small one-two inch beard. Aways shoot the mature bird!
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
On average, hunters take four shots per dove that are bagged.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Best dove hunting is with many hunters present to keep dove stirred up and flying
#HuntingwithJR – Etiquette in the Field
When walking a line during a bird hunt such as pheasant, quail, chucked, guinea fowl or etc. stay within your line walk at a pace set by the group. The hunter ahead of the line is referred to as a "Field Hog" thinking they will be first to harvest the bird.
#HuntingwithJR – Sandhill Cranes
Sandhill Cranes are called “Ribeyes in the Sky”. Their meat is cooked exactly like the finest cuts of beef.
#HuntingwithJR – Turkey
Turkey can not smell but they have keen eye sight and can see you clearly over 300 yards away. You can not blink without being noticed.
#HuntingwithJR – Sandhill Cranes
Sandhill Cranes are the longest living survivors amongst birds, They are also the most thrilling type of waterfowl to hunt. Not all states permit crane hunts. Cranes pose significant challenges and frustrations to the inexperienced hunter.
#HuntingwithJR – Etiquette in the Field
When I mentor new inexperienced huntresses or youth in the field and/or blind, I explain etiquette is really important and being respectful of others is key to being successful harvesting game. If a bird is closer to opposite end do not shoot over or crisscross a shot of another hunter. It takes only one to ruin the hunt.
#HuntingwithJR – Sandhill Cranes
Concealment! Concealment! Concealment! Sandhill Cranes have excellent vision and flare the second something doesn’t look right on the ground. Blend into natural setting with face painted and being total camouflaged - head to toe!
#HuntingwithJR – Turkey
There four different sub-species of turkeys in United States. Rio, Merirams, Oscela, Eastern. Collecting all four results in a Grand Slam.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Coming in shots at doves require a different sight picture. As a dove descends over decoys or about to land on a fence, power line crop field or trees, let it begin to descend and begin your swing below it. Just as the gun barrel blocks the bird from sight, squeeze the trigger.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Going away shots at doves require a front lead to push up.
#HuntingwithJR – Turkey
The color of the tip of the turkey’s tail is a sure sign what species your turkey is...i.e.. white, Merriams, and rust, Rio. The tail is referred to as a fan.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Shortly after dawn…doves fly from roost to a watering hole, then off to feeding where they remain for the day.
#HuntingwithJR – Duck Hunting
Canvasback hens eat eggshells after ducklings are hatched.
#HuntingwithJR – Etiquette in the Field
When bird hunting in fields with multiple hunters be respectful. Pick up your spent shells, trash & know your turn when shooting.
#HuntingwithJR – Wood Ducks
Wood ducks hang around northern regions longer than people realize, even though they rule the first days of a waterfowler’s autumn.
#HuntingwithJR – Etiquette in the Field
Silence is golden in a blind! Wearing perfume is a no-no. Scent blocks are a good cover-up for human detection. Selfies are easy to see from miles away!
#HuntingwithJR – Turkey
Pattern your shotgun prior to turkey hunting. Patterning you shotgun results in shooting at a board or turkey target at 25’ yards and knowing where the majority of your shots are hitting. Success will be within reach!
#HuntingwithJR – Wood Ducks
Wood ducks don’t often decoy in classic fashion. They do not circle endlessly or offer multiple chances of a shot. You shoot them as they make their first pass.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
50-100 yards are too far to take shots. Shots should be 35-50 yards of range for tiny rockets. Open Chokes: Use modified or improved cylinder choke tube to provide a wider pattern.
#HuntingwithJR – Sandhill Cranes
Sandhill Cranes are notorious for not flying into feeding/hunting fields in the fog. Be patient on foggy mornings…just wait it out. When fog burns off the birds will be up & moving in a hurry.
#HuntingwithJR – Wood Ducks
Wood Ducks alter their feeding, loafing and roosting areas-even flight paths-to avoid hunting pressure.
#HuntingwithJR – Wood Ducks
As wood ducks approach they flare and give streak over-head shots-much like shooting teal. I suggest you take iffy shots at woodies.
#HuntingwithJR – Sandhill Cranes
Sandhill Cranes fly fast and glide long distances. They are heavy bodied and have a dup wing beat like a great Canada Goose or Swan. Lead the the key. I always suggest to give at least a school bus lead to women & 8’ to men hunters.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Maintain good form and continue to focus on your gun mount. I suggest you practice shooting a few clays from a sitting position before heading out to the field.
#HuntingwithJR – Turkey
Picking Shot & Chokes are just as important as shot placement. Size 5 Shot & Full Choke.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Pick a bird when shooting. When doves approach in a flock, don’t get distracted and shooting into the mass because you will likely miss.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
When hunting tree lines blend into features of landscapes and remain in shade.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
You’ll actually need to aim a few inches below the bird to shoot in front of it. Envision the bird floating on your gun barrel as you squeeze the trigger.
#HuntingwithJR – Duck Hunting
Shooting into a large flock of ducks is difficult for an instinct shooter because you are glancing from bird to bird. Shoot under a high, retreating duck to intercept its course.
#HuntingwithJR – Duck Hunting
Redhead hens will deposit their own eggs in another ducks nest hoping they hatch & foster her ducklings.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Doves eat on bare ground because their legs aren’t strong or long enough to scratch through litter.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Take your time, (LOL, better practice...doves fly like rockets) when shouldering on an approaching bird. Otherwise, you will shoot high.
#HuntingwithJR – Turkey
When thinking shot placement, aim where the head meets the body.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
7 1/2 or 8 shot for dove...at close range, there are so many pellets in shells that you can pulverize your birds. I upsize my pellets for dove - 4s, 5s or 6s. There are still plenty of the larger pellets for a dense pattern and the knock-down pattern is better at longer range.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Space four or five decoys out and double up a pair or two. Place decoys into the wind. Use spinning-wing dove decoys also to offer an added attraction from a distance (check state laws if moving decoys are legal).
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Dove water before returning to roost. Evening hunts should be around a body of water.
#HuntingwithJR – Etiquette in the Field
Hand signals are used in the blind and/or field while walking silently or light on your feet is a good thing. Animals have a keen sense of hearing or movement on the ground. Alligators can feel movement five miles away.
#HUNTINGWITHJR – GOOSE HUNTING
Never wear black on your head while hunting, geese can see you miles away. Black will keep geese from coming to your calls. It is called flaring in the blind.
#HuntingwithJR – Etiquette in the Field
Keep gun muzzle pointed up if shooting a semi-automatic or broken over your shoulder when shooting an over/under shotgun when walking through fields. Safety is the key!
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Doves often light or snags on power lines or fences before landing or while loafing.
#HuntingwithJR – Dove
Here's the tip. Did you know.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Focus on one bird and follow it until it falls.
#HuntingwithJR – Duck Hunting
Shooting fleeing ducks after a directional shift...if helicoptering rapidly for the heavens, swing up and through the duck as shooting a springing teal clay target.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Hunt in or around fields of sunflowers, corn, wheat, oats, millet & other grains. Doves are seed-eaters.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Exaggerate your lead: Over shoot like you are going to miss. Most doves cross in front of you. Work at over exaggerating your lead by 6 feet or more, which means your barrel needs to be 6 inches in front of the dove. One inch of barrel movement equals about 1 foot of distance when shooting targets in the air.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Dove decoys placed near you, to entice birds to fly by at close range, does not require a pattern.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Doves have keen eyes to spot you in the field.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Mounting your gun requires proper mount of your gun with your cheek on the stock.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Shoot while sitting. Many shots in the dove field happen fast and you need to shoot while seated.
#HuntingwithJR – Turkey
Picking Shot & Chokes are just as important as shot placement. Size 5 Shot & Full Choke.
#HuntingwithJR – Goose Hunting
Never wear black on your head while hunting, geese can see you miles away. Black will keep geese from coming to your calls. It is called flaring in the blind.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
If you’re out in a cornfield standing on divots and rough ground, flatten an area beneath your feet so you have a level spot to stand.
#HuntingwithJR – Doves
Shooting stance is very important when standing while shooting. Stay Flat-Footed!
#HuntingwithJR – Turkey
In some states such as Texas, you can only use a shotgun in the spring for harvesting your bird. Fall you can use a rifle.
#HuntingwithJR – Goose Hunting
Geese are a challenging, but fun, hunt. If you want a prize goose to mount, wait until later in the season.
#HuntingwithJR – Goose Hunting
Geese are attracted to movement on the ground and they will come closer for a look. Too much movement in the blind can deter geese from taking a second look!
#HuntingwithJR – Goose Hunting
Canada geese don't typically nest until they are two to three years old. Juveniles (young geese) begin their migration earlier because they do not have nesting privileges. They are easier to call during hunting season.
#HuntingwithJR – Sandhill Cranes
When shooting on fields, wait til cranes have made a total commitment before shooting.
#HuntingwithJR – Etiquette in the Field
Etiquette in the field is compared to being a house guest. You are only there for a short time. Manners make a difference...even paying guests are not invited back.