How to finish a half-dead bird?

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MrFreeze

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Well, I've got a question for you bird hunters out there. A few of the birds I took on my last two hunts (one dove hunt, one duck hunt) were still alive when they hit the ground. Most of the guys that I hunt with wring the birds around in a circle with their head in hand to break the neck. Maybe I have the technique wrong, but I have seen a number of birds survive the neck wringing, even after the second time around (pun intended:mad:

Other people have suggested taking the bird in hand with the breast facing up and the neck away from you. The shotgun stock provides a nice hard surface to whack the head on rather swiftly. I've tried it a couple times, and this seems to end the suffering faster than wringing.

I would rather not cut the head off, as this is a tad messy on the clothes and vehicle. Aside from making cleaner shots (which is not always guaranteed due to distance, conditions, patterns, etc), what is a fast and clean way to finish the bird?

Travis
 
With a bird the size of a turkey you step on the feet and grab the head. squeeze the head between the index finger and thumb on the sides to get the beak/bill to open. Then with your knife in the birds mouth push upward into the brain cavity. This should work on ducks and other larger birds as well. Just don't try to use a Ka-Bar.
This should finish it off with minimal blood loss.
 
Interesting idea, Rupestris. I might have to give that one a try. Mostly I've been after ducks and dove. Things are a bit fast-paced sometimes, with birds coming in groups, so I try to retrieve the bird and finish it quickly (if necessary) to get ready for the next bird...I don't have a dog to snag them for me!

Travis
 
Dove, Quail, smaller birds: Simply pull the head off.

Pheasant, Ducks, larger birds. Take a knife and cut the head off.


Never fails....haven't had one walk off yet.

Smoke
 
RE popping off the heads = brids really don't bleed all that much.

For doves/quail-sized birds, just grabbing the body in one hand & the head in another = a quick pull separates the two.

Holding the head & doing a quick "crack the whip" 'll do the same.

Ducks CAN be tough sometimes.

Had a bud shoot a mallard = DRT. Thing came alive on the way back! Did the "hold the head & roll thebody" bit a couple & tossed it in the back. Few minutes later, a live duck's crawling around the blind! .... almost had to shoot the Bird That Wouldn't Die!
 
Labgrade,

That's exactly what happened to one of the dove! I thought I did the job out on the hunt with a spin. An hour later he was still kicking, and my father in law spun him it again...threw him in the bag. I took him home and pulled him out to dress it, and he hopped away from me. I ended up smacking his head against a wood railroad tie that was right next to me. That ended up doing it. Crazy!

Travis
 
:D

Use enough gun, maybe? :D

We'd just pop the dove/quail heads & toss 'em to the dogs - they eat it up! NPI

Really,, birds just don't bleed much & it's never been any worry.
 
Lol on enough gun! I've got the standard field load for dove/quail, so I don't think it's that. Although a couple of the shots I took on those birds were quite a ways out...maybe the pattern was failing by that distance.

I've had a couple of the heads pop off when I wring them, so maybe that's not such a bad idea for all of them!

Travis
 
There's a method that I've been trying with pretty good results. Since I learned about it reading Michael McIntosh's "Shotguns and Shooting", I'll quote it:

"With the bird in hand, grasp it by the back with your thumb and forefinger on either side of the spine between the ribs and the legs. Pinch in hard under the spine, and hold the pressure; in just a few seconds, the bird will flutter slightly and then quietly expire. Give it a few more seconds to be certain, and then you have a humanely killed, unruffled bird."

I've used this on pheasants and chukars, and it seems to work well. It probably paralyzes the lungs or heart. The only caveat is that with a big rooster, you'll want to secure your gun and get a good grip with both hands. Those buggers can be stong!

I have started switching to this since too often the neck wringing just doesn't seem as effective as it should. In fact, this past weekend, I was working with a new (to hunting) dog at a game farm and shot a handful of chukars. There were a couple that weren't DRT, and I had slipped to my old method of wringing the neck and tossing it in my vest. Well, back at the truck, I start unloading the vest and one of the birds is just looking at me. I grab it and it attempts to vacate the area. A good whack on the bumper took care of things. I swear if the dog could talk, he would have given me grief all the way home... or at least until he fell asleep.

Labgrade - You mighta had one of those Zombie Ducks. You weren't shooting over an ancient burial ground, were you?
 
Trapperready's right

I've been using a similar method to what Trapperready said. I think the article I discovered this technique in called it "chest compression".

"Holding the bird upside down, press both thumbs in HARD against ths sternum until the bird expires."

Now, here's a little addendum to that. You have to remember that the first few seconds of compression will render the bird unconscious due to air-loss. If you let your thumbs up before the heart stops beating, the bird will likely revive itself and be a bit angry. Hold tight for a full minute or two, and the bird will expire.

Glad to see this thread. It's nasty, but needs talking about. A high percentage of birds hit the ground alive, good shot or not. Killing them cleanly after they're down is important, and shows good sportsmanship.

As for birds "not bleeding much", I have several coats and vests that state otherwise.

:)

Good hunting.
 
Thanks for the replies TR and birddog...those are interesting options indeed. I agree on the humane treatment when they aren't DRT...I think a few of these steps go a long way to accomplishing that.

I've got a question for you on the method you use, TR...it sounds like it takes only 10 or 20 seconds for the bird to expire. Is that the case, or does it take a bit longer, as in birddog's method?

Travis
 
Bite the heads, crush them until you feel the bird go limp. If you can't bring yourself to do it put a small set of pliers in your vest, use that. Most pheasants and smaller birds are frail enough that you can crush the heads with your fingers.
 
We should forward this thread to PETA :evil:

Ducks and geese just I grab by the head and give a quick spin to snap their neck. Smaller birds a pinch'll do most times.
 
I don't think anyone mentioned this but ... you could use a fisherman's device .. sometimes called a ''Priest'' .... just a handle with a largish cast piece of lead at the end ... a whack on the skull with that generally ends any activity!!
 
MrFreeze - I'd say that they go unconscious within 10 seconds, but I'll hold for about 30. Never had one "come back" from that. It did take me a few times to figure out the right amount of pressure and the exact spot. It definitely works faster and and least seems more humane than ringing their necks.

I have seen, although I've not used, special pliers with 3 offset tines, designed to break the neck. Since I always carry a Leatherman with me, I may try HSMITH's method (sans the biting) next time I'm out.
 
Thanks TR. I might have the chance to try it out before duck season is over here. So far the most effective ways (in terms of time and mess) seem to be the "squeeze 'em method" or banging their head on the buttstock. It sounds pretty brutal, but one good whack to the back of the head and they are TKO'd...one more a split second later and they sorta breath fast for a second and then that's it. I do want to try the squeeze, though...sounds a little nicer. Although I'm not sure which I'd rather: suffocate or have my head smashed in!:D

I appreciate the replies!

Travis
 
Slightly off topic, but, when hunting dove, quail, pheasant, etc. with no dog, I try to carry a handgun with shotloads keyed up in at least #1 and #2 firing positions. Much more "efficient" than shotgun when wounded birds want to play run/hide/seek in the bush.

As a kid, I was hunting with an older neighbor who'd just put a very limp bobwhite in game bag on back of his vest. A few minutes later while seeking the rest of the covey, the bird "came back to life", took off out of the bag like a rocket and he used same 12 gauge to drop it again. :p Since then, I've generally pulled off head before placing quail in bag. ;)
 
One of the reasons I don't hunt birds. :what:


The other is I'm a totally lousy wingshooter. For me bird hunting is like a donation to the ammo maker. Sometimes I do shoot clay pigeons, but they don't have much meat on them. :neener:
 
Hsmith - I assume you're joking about biting their heads off?!

I've never done any of this, but feel like I need to learn to do it. I must be a soft sap! Is this hard to do the first few times (emotionally) and then you get used to it?

I need to toughen up...

Steve
 
It's ok to be a softie, Steve! I had very little experience with killing anything besides bugs. For me, it was a bit odd looking that first bird in the eye and having to send him on to the next life. I don't particularly care for that part of it, but I suppose it's part of the food cycle.

FWIW, I've only bagged 6 duck and 14 dove thus far in my hunting career...I'm just getting started, though :D But seriously, I really do enjoy the overall experience of hunting, and I don't see myself quitting anytime soon!

Travis
 
Steve, I am not joking, but I also am not Ozzie biting heads off, just enough to crush the skull into the brain is all you are looking for. Just enough to kill the bird, it is humane since it is instant, and that is the most humane method IMO once you have therid in hand. I have done the "squeeze" method before for a bird headed for the taxidermist but I will be honest in telling you I almost needed help to get it done. Takes FAR too long in my book. Maybe I am the softie in that I can't delay even a few seconds in making sure the bird has a quick painless end, I have to have an end ASAP. I don't have what it takes to suffocate anything again, it just takes too long and I don't have the stones for it.

Your jaws are by far the most powerful forces that can be exerted by your body. Use them.

On a side note, you expect your best friend (dog) to do it (place a bird in it's mouth), so why shouldn't you? My dog is family, and I never really thought twice about it.
 
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