Fall in Virginia means Flushing Birds!
With the chill in the air and the autumnal colors blanketing the skyline, it is almost impossible to not get excited about getting out in the field and flushing birds. There is definitely a physical and emotional difference between shooting quartering clay birds and those fabulous feathered birds. One of my most difficult tasks is to convince a student to remain calm through the swing on a live bird. In this edition, we will look at some no fail ways to help you stay smooth in your swing and confident in your shot.
Students, particularly ones with years of hunting but, very little professional instruction, always comment that shooting clays is not the same as live birds, because they know where the trap is sitting so, they know from where the bird flies. To that statement, I usually look at them quite sternly and remind them that a good bird dog will always let you know the bird’s location and the adage “practice makes perfect” holds true no matter what. The goal of shooting clays is to build your shot inventory and perfect your mount and swing, so that when you have the opportunity to hunt over dogs on live birds, the variables are significantly limited. Gun management and sight picture are crucial to putting the pieces of the puzzle together and putting birds in the bag.
As I have mentioned before, know your gun, know your pattern and be confident in your mount. Take whatever shot you plan to use on the hunt and put it on paper. You may be surprised. I have mentioned before that my beloved Vanessa, Beretta A300, hates Estate, Gun Club and really despises Winchester. She lets me know what shot works best with what chokes ,and I am happy to oblige. Once you select a shell that your gun appreciates shooting, head to the clay course and practice mounting and shooting flushing-style birds.
When you are walking in the field, you should cherish those moments, watching the dogs work, breathing in the sweet smells of fallen leaves and brisk air. You will want to practice carrying your gun in a safe, low ready position. The ideal carry is to have the end of the gun barrel just in line with your line of sight and the stock snuggly against your rib cage. I usually recommend to students that they select a position on their side, comfortable to them that they can consistently recall, regardless of layers. Again, I cannot stress enough how imperative it is to limit the variables which is a huge part of building consistency. Holding the stock off of the body inhibits your ability to create consistency in your mount. With this low-ready position, you will be able to simply push the gun forward toward your game, allowing your head to come to the top of the comb, securely mounting the gun and creating the sight picture. Remember to let your cheek get into the gun first, not the shoulder. Mounting to the shoulder first will cause your mount to dig down or sweep up, wasting precious time and creating LOTS of poor gun management.
Now, let’s tackle your swagger. More precisely, how you walk in the field once the dog goes on point. There is nothing worse for a right-handed shooter than to have their right foot forward when the bird flushes and vice versa for a southpaw. So, how to avoid that akward Texas two-step? Simple, make like a crab. Once the dog goes on point, if you are required to “creep” up, then you should do so in small, sideways steps, like a crab. This allows you to manipulate your feet more efficiently, keeping your “best” foot forward.
When the bird flushes, why are you staring at the bottom of the broom sedge?! That bird is going to fly UP, so use your soft focus to gaze above the brush. When the bird flushes, your soft focus (peripheral vision) will switch immediately over to center vision and lock onto the bird. Now, all you need to do is to smoothly mount the gun, get the sight picture and pull the trigger. Flush. Bang. Bagged Bird.
So, ready to get out in the field and start putting birds in the bag? There are numerous places all over Virginia and beyond. We are quite blessed in our little corner of the world to host some tremendous bird preserves. Orapax, located on route 6 just west of “downtown” Goochland is an absolute tremendous preserve. Neal and Jane Kauder offer over 700ac of bucolic countryside just 30 minutes west of Richmond. They have 10 fields and host morning and afternoon hunts with guides and dogs available or, use your own. Little George Rod & Gun in Buckingham, only one hour west of Richmond, is now open and ready to offer a true piedmont-style hunt on horseback! This incredible 900ac property, owned by Cassel & Tucker Adamson, offers over two miles of frontage along the James River and hosts numerous events throughout the year. Wherever you decide to test your flushing bird game, be sure to share the experience with a friend or a family member and help pass on the most important traditions Virginia has to offer.