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How do I hit a curling pheasant?

If the wind is taking a pheasant away from your position you need to shoot in front of the beak and also underneath the bird.

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Monday, 18 June 2007

What's the easiest way to shoot a driven pheasant when it's curling in the wind? I find one passing between me and a neighbour totally impossible.

Tuition
JOHN BIDWELL says: To put it bluntly, there isn't one!

I am not being negative here, it's just that nobody I've ever met can equate (or properly explain) how far the muzzles need to be ahead of - and inside - the bird's line of flight to bring about a successful shot.

The biggest imponderable is the strength of the wind 30 or more yards up there, and which direction it's coming from. In a light side breeze a good shot might say he's a foot or 18 inches inside the curl of the bird and eight feet in front of the beak. Yet in a really strong wind he might be as far inside the line of the bird as he is ahead of it!

Move to another drive on the same shoot and that wind might now be quartering into the pheasant, or coming from behind. If it is, the 'picture' that worked so well for you only half an hour earlier might now be miles off the mark.

In other words, back to the drawing board...

The more often you shoot driven birds the easier it should become to adjust to the conditions but, depending on the day, an element of trial and error will still take place. And when you do kill a bird cleanly the secret is to retain the pheasant/muzzle image at the time you squeezed the trigger, and repeat it for subsequent shots.

Now for the bird crossing between you and a neighbour. If the wind is taking it away from your position you need to remember that as well shooting in front of the beak and also need to be underneath the bird. Even if your forward lead is right, if you simply swing ahead in a straight line without taking the wind into account your shot will miss over the top of the bird. Equally, you will need to shoot above a crossing pheasant that's being pushed towards you in a strong wind.

Don't be daunted by the prospect of shooting driven birds in windy conditions. As long as you appreciate what's happening you are in a position to do something about it and make adjustments accordingly.


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