My favorite thing, as I said was shooting ducks and geese on the wing. I missed more then I hit,though. Ducks and geese usually circle the decoys and come in to the set with their heads into the wind. Knowing that enables the hunter to take advantage of that natural tendency.
Put your blind, made out of burlap and the natural cover, off to the side of the decoys, but only about 20 yards to the side. Calling is almost a must. The cackle is what geese do on the ground.
Flu flus are a must. They are the air brakes for the arrows and they only go about 30-50 feet in the air which is about about 15-25 yards out max.
But the key is the leading of the bird. What I liked to do is this:
When the bird, ducks and/or geese is, in motion, put the tip of the arrow on the head, swing the bow way in front( one has to judge the distance based on wind and size, lead) Then shoot in one smooth motion keeping the bow moving after the shot, based on wind and other factors. With practice and luck you hope to hit the breast area.
One practice tip was to have someone,off to the side throw up plastic gal empty jugs of milk.
Usually they not go that high but they are almost the size of the chest area of a goose. Ducks are a different story. On the wing is very difficult and surely you are going to miss a lot.
If you can find it Ben Pearson had a neat video of him trying to hit pheasants and ducks and geese in the air. I have it.
Of course the easiest way is to let them land and shoot them as they feed. That is the easiest way out, but the challenge of taking a goose, pheasant or duck as they fly is an awesome way to hunt. I did not have much luck with pheasants, Ducks were a little easier but the size of a goose is easier to hit. I always figured if you hit 3 geese out of 10-15 shots that was great shooting. Most of the time, on land, your arrow would bw sticking in the mud and you could see the fletching sticking up in the grass or mud.
Camo is essential to your face, your outline and your gear. A small blind bulit from sticks, burlap sacks cut in half vertically, and that you can roll up and stick in the mud.To that I use to cut slits in the burlap and stick in cat n nine tails in the slots to cover my face and it helped hide my outline when the bird is in the air.
Advice to any one trying it: Flu flus and a lot of patience. You need to have some one throw up light items or ballons in the air to practice on.
Ballons are very difficult to hit. They move up and side to side and are unpredictable.
The lead as I sad depends on a multiple of samall things. Wind, how high the birds are, size of birds. Moving stealthful. And a heck of a lot of practice. Can It be done? ABSOLUTELY!!! There is even a video of Fred Bear shooting phesants and other game on the wing.
This is not like shooting on the ground for small or large game. My opinion is that luck is about 50-60% of it. But if I choose either luck or skill I will take luck every time
Topic: self bows (Read 325 times)
