How to get started with bird hunting

April 3, 2022

 

Hunting is one of the primary human activities that has existed since ancient times and has survived today. In ancient times it was necessary for survival, but as time passed, the world changed, and over time, hunting became one of the types of active leisure. Each year about 350 million people in North America visit the national parks of the United States and Canada. More than 40 million people purchase permits for sport hunting and fishing a year. One of the main types of hunting is hunting birds - that's what we're going to talk about today.

Learn from those who know

As in any other business, you may first feel that bird hunting is challenging. Many questions confuse the novice hunter. How do I track the game? Am I using the right gun, or am I using the correct type of ammunition? Without some basic training, the inexperienced hunter can be potentially dangerous to himself or others. The requirement to take hunter training courses in most states to obtain a license is also not insignificant. There are many training courses, usually instructor-led, in the classroom and may include field trips. Due to technological advances and restrictions caused by the worldwide pandemic, many systems are available online. Even if you have been a seasoned hunter for years and there is no state requirement to take the course, it is highly recommended that you retake the approach - remember, safety is first and foremost in the hunt.

Getting out into the field

After completing the training course complying with all the bureaucratic formalities, you get your long-awaited license, and finally, you can move on from words to deeds, which means it's time to get out in the field! One of the advantages of bird hunting is the possibility of group hunting. It doesn't matter if you hunt with your friends or pay for a guide, you will get an unforgettable experience and be able to put your knowledge into practice. Another positive quality of bird hunting is that hunting with a guide will cost dozens of times cheaper than controlled hunting such as elk, deer, or bear. If this is your first hunt, it is advisable if you have an experienced hunter with you or use the services of a paid guide. In this case, the probability that the search will be successful will increase significantly, and you will be able to get a great experience and positive emotions.

What equipment and gear do I need to get started with bird hunting?

The selection of hunting equipment is very individual due to the many factors of your budget, the type of game, and weather conditions. First of all, do not forget to bring a license confirming your right to hunt. Ensure you have the right outfit for the weather and terrain you're looking for. And safety in many states requires hunters to wear orange reflective gear, and some states require the entire outfit to be pensive to prevent accidents. Most hunters use 12-gauge shotguns with interchangeable chokes that can be used to adjust the kill radius. Depending on the kind of game you hunt, an ammunition bag and ammunition, either buckshot or buckshot. To lure the game, you need a whistle or a decoy. You should have a compass to orientate yourself in the area. The territory you hunt can be immensely vast so get a room map.

Go where the birds are

One of the first problems hunters face, especially those who have recently started hunting, is finding a game. Experienced hunters usually know the best places to hunt, but often they do not share their knowledge with beginners. Still, having a professional hunter friend will make your hunting easier and increase the results in time. For those who do not have experienced hunter friends, there are a few recommendations on the example of hunting in the hills and mountainous areas. First of all, pay attention to the number of birds caught in the region of the state in which you intend to hunt. Bird hunting involves long walks in bird habitats. You should pay attention to the feeding and nesting places and the migratory habits of the particular bird species. Don't get upset if you didn't find the game at once. The more you walk, the more you will gain experience. Later on, by making conclusions from the previous exits, you will get detailed knowledge about birds' habits. You will learn to distinguish traces and find signs of birds' presence, such as excrement. You may encounter such birds in mountainous and hilly areas: Сhukar - is a difficult trophy to obtain because it prefers to settle in rugged, rocky terrain. It is also tricky to hunt it because of its ability to run uphill quickly and as swiftly as to de downhill. Chukars can often be found among weedy annual grass cheatgrass whose seeds they feed on. The best way to get close to it is from above or along the contour. In dry weather, you can ambush them near water sources. Ensure you have enough sturdy shoes, provisions, and water, preferably binoculars. Blue grouse - they prefer to settle in forest edges, mountain meadows on berry patches such as chokeberry bushes. They can also be found on slopes near forests if food is available as part of their diet. The preferred time of day to hunt for blue grouse is dusk and before dawn, because they are often quite high up during the day, hiding in the branches of trees. Red grouse - can be found in meadows, where bushes merge with forests. You can also examine overgrown creek beds and places overgrown with berry bushes. It is also not superfluous to investigate areas of cuttings, which are so fond of grouse.

A bird hunter's best friend has four paws and a great nose

Ever since humanity domesticated dogs, it has used them for hunting. About 9,000 years ago, we began culling and breeding dogs for specific tasks during the domestication of livestock. Since then, each hunting dog breed has specialized in a narrow task profile. Initially, they are divided into hounds and companion dogs. For bird hunting, the underdogs are suitable for hunting, which in turn are divided into pointers, swimmers, and retrievers. Initially, the choice of a dog depends on the type of game to be hunted. Of course, you can teach any desired action, but some breeds are predisposed to specific activities. Separately, the inexperienced hunter should not immediately take the hunting dog because of its high cost and duration of the training. It makes sense to hire a guide who has a trained hunting dog to improve hunting efficiency.

A bird in the pot

After a long and tiring hunt, there is nothing better than cooking your bird. Do not worry if you can not cook in this age of high technology; you can find a recipe for cooking any bird on the Internet as articles and detailed video tutorials. The recipe can be anything. It can be soups, roasts, grilled, and more. You can invite friends and treat them to a fun game and who knows, maybe convince some of your friends to share your hobby with you. In addition to the moral satisfaction of cooking, consider that environmentally friendly and healthy food is good for your health.