Easier Shot

[Jeff Gudenkauf]

Spawned from a debate on another site:

Which is the easier shot (distances equal):

A mallard that has just landed (head up, looking around)

or

A decoying mallard (moving target)

[Zach Byron]

Ha, i would say the mallard that is sitting, although I make them get up before i shoot em. its easier to hit something not moving than a flying bird...

[steelheadslayer]

I'd go with the decoying bird every time. Other than not wanting to sluice a bird I think there's too much time to think about shooting a still target where the moving target shot is mostly no thinking reactionary.

[Ryan Kleinschmidt]

The easier shot is the mallard sitting on the water. The best shot, meaning best oppertunity to kill the bird, is the flying shot. More vitals are exposed on a bird in flight than a bird sitting on the water. Personally I would shoot at the bird in flight first and then swing back to the other bird after it flushed.

[Lybeck]

I don't know I had a flock of 4 mallards coming in and they were close and I dropped all 4 of them but I used to shoot them off of the water when I was little and usually only got one so I think are shots are more productive and by far more fair to the birds but if a something cool or rare comes in I'll get them at all costs.

[Joe Fladeland]

Like previously stated, I think the EASIER shot would be the bird on the ground or water if you are only focused on pellets making contact with the bird and not killing it stone dead, but I would much rather take the bird that is decoying. 1) A decoying bird is a much bigger target, 2) more vitals are presented to you. Especially if the bird is cupped and coming straight at you, or is back peddling 2 feet off the ground:).

[Migrator83]

Ill take a mallard decoying way over a sitting one....its a bigger target first off....and when he's backpedaling .....hanging over the decoys....its a fairly simple shot....and its great to watch.

[Greenhead Smacker]

When a duck is back pedaling into the dekes, they have more of their vitals exposed which can result in a clean kill.

[quackaddict]

The easier shot is the mallard sitting on the water. The best shot, meaning best oppertunity to kill the bird, is the flying shot. More vitals are exposed on a bird in flight than a bird sitting on the water. Personally I would shoot at the bird in flight first and then swing back to the other bird after it flushed.

What he said.

[duckin82]

depends how pissed off i am, if im missing ducks all morning and one lights in the decoys id probably just whack but normally under normal circumstances id take the decoying shot, just a tad bit more ethical in my opinion

[Isaac Vatnsdal]

i think i agree with dukin82 with his thoughts on being ethical, ground pounding ducks/geese i think is riduculous. when there are birds walking/swimming around in the decoys and others birds are circling i'll wait until the birds circling either commit and take them or if they don't commit i'll come out of my blind and make the birds sitting jump up before just shooting them standing still, plus it's a heck of a lot more fun to be shooting ducks bombing the pond baby

[Jeff Gudenkauf]

Wasn't a question of which shot you'd take or which is more ethical....

just which one is easier.

[Dux r me]

this one is a tuffy sometime you mis judge aiming at a bird on the water and might shoot in front of it or past it id say the one landing if its coming at you is the easier shot

[Bull boy]

Flying bird any day .Wings out and asking for it .:eek:

[Eric Wolf]

Flying is easier for me. I never can hit birds sitting on the water or ground... Only if they're flying.

[Colorado Luckydog]

The bird flying is a much larger target, nothing in the water and wings spread. Even if you missed vitals you could break a wing. The next question should be which one is legal. As far as I know, ground pounding is illegal, but I've seen it done a lot.

[Corey Carston]

The bird in the air would be easier espically the further away they are.

[steelheadslayer]

I proved my theory today that the decoying bird is the easier shot. Knocked one down in the dekes and it started swimming away. Six shots later I had a dead bird and was at the top of my waders for the retrieve. I kept shooting over the top of it's head.

So, YES, the decoying bird is an easier shot in my mind.:eek: :eek: