Great Day at Hunts Family Preserve

[Joe T]

I brought my 15 month old black lab to Hunts today hoping to give him the idea about flushing birds…the first hour he just walked around as I was leading him into the wind  where the scent would head toward him…not much result…then he found some bird feathers and that seemed to activate him- about 20 min later he got birdy and went into the corn stalks- I waited for the flush but instead he came out with a preciously shot chucker which he excitedly delivered to hand!  But I think finding that Bird helped reinforce even more what he was supposed to be doing… About 20 minutes later, he again got birdie, and went into the corn stocks, and there was a lot of rustling around and a pheasant flushed… Unfortunately I couldn’t release my safety fast enough to get a shot off… About 20 minutes later the same scenario happened but this time when the bird flushed I got two shots off, but missed.  Now, if I can only learn to shoot as well as my puppy flushes!

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by Joe T

[broomeguy]

8 hours ago, Joe T said:

I brought my 15 month old black lab to Hunts today hoping to give him the idea about flushing birds…the first hour he just walked around as I was leading him into the wind  where the scent would head toward him…not much result…then he found some bird feathers and that seemed to activate him- about 20 min later he got birdy and went into the corn stalks- I waited for the flush but instead he came out with a preciously shot chucker which he excitedly delivered to hand!  But I think finding that Bird helped reinforce even more what he was supposed to be doing… About 20 minutes later, he again got birdie, and went into the corn stocks, and there was a lot of rustling around and a pheasant flushed… Unfortunately I couldn’t release my safety fast enough to get a shot off… About 20 minutes later the same scenario happened but this time when the bird flushed I got two shots off, but missed.  Now, if I can only learn to shoot as well as my puppy flushes!

 

Very cool!! Sounds fun. 

[Joe T]

3 hours ago, Rusty said:

Glad you had fun, you will gain experience with every outing.  Is there a place you can practice shooting clay birds?   

Yes there is a range out here on Long Island-  the problem was I rushed and had a bad mount- never had a cheek meld

[Mike103]

There are two public ranges on Long Island that have trap, skeet and sporting. 
 

Suffolk County Trap, skeet and sporting on Gerard Road in Yaphank and Long Island Shooting Range of Brookhaven on Rt 25 in Ridge. 
 

Both have all three disciplines of clay shooting and lessons are available. 
 

Both ranges have instructors named Mike, not me, two different guys but both are great instructors. 
 

Once you get good with clays pheasants look slow. Great fun and practice.

[Joe T]

21 minutes ago, Mike103 said:

There are two public ranges on Long Island that have trap, skeet and sporting. 
 

Suffolk County Trap, skeet and sporting on Gerard Road in Yaphank and Long Island Shooting Range of Brookhaven on Rt 25 in Ridge. 
 

Both have all three disciplines of clay shooting and lessons are available. 
 

Both ranges have instructors named Mike, not me, two different guys but both are great instructors. 
 

Once you get good with clays pheasants look slow. Great fun and practice.

Thanks Mike…yes I work with Mike C at yaphank facility- he is an awesome instructor.  I worked with him last month and he had me do drills on the sporting clays bringing the gun up to a mount from my waist to simulate a field situation instead of the ready position typically taken when using clays.  It was really helpful- I just need to practice more!

[Mike103]

Mike C and I are very good friends. Next time you are with him tell him you were chatting with @Mike103 on a hunting board. He knows my handle. 
 

We are both members of Peconic. Ask Mike to take you there one day for a lesson. He also has a connection to hunt pheasants locally. Save you from having to leave the Island. 

[ATbuckhunter]

On 11/24/2023 at 10:57 PM, Joe T said:

I brought my 15 month old black lab to Hunts today hoping to give him the idea about flushing birds…the first hour he just walked around as I was leading him into the wind  where the scent would head toward him…not much result…then he found some bird feathers and that seemed to activate him- about 20 min later he got birdy and went into the corn stalks- I waited for the flush but instead he came out with a preciously shot chucker which he excitedly delivered to hand!  But I think finding that Bird helped reinforce even more what he was supposed to be doing… About 20 minutes later, he again got birdie, and went into the corn stocks, and there was a lot of rustling around and a pheasant flushed… Unfortunately I couldn’t release my safety fast enough to get a shot off… About 20 minutes later the same scenario happened but this time when the bird flushed I got two shots off, but missed.  Now, if I can only learn to shoot as well as my puppy flushes!

 

Since your dogs a pup and still learning, take a shot in the air anyway. The dogs will associate a shot as a sign they did something right. Almost as much of a reward as a dead bird (nothing will compare to an actual dead bird). When my dog pointed and held her first grouse this year and it flushed behind a spruce, I shot once in the air. I couldn't even see it (only heard the wings) let alone get any kind of shot at it, but I wanted to reward her and reinforce that she did the right thing. She was zoned in looking for a dead bird after the shot too. 

Keep at it! You'll get him on some birds soon enough. This is a tough year for guys with pups. Check station is finally admitting to stocking half the birds they normally stock. 

[Mike103]

As you probably know NYS had to kill its entire flock of pheasants due to the bird flu. Incredibly NYS worked hard to raise and buy birds in time for the season. 
 

But there are forces out there that want to stop the stocking of pheasants in NYS.
 

Last week or so the head of the humane society on LI called for the governor to stop the stocking of pheasants. Apparently two birds were killed in Eastport on the highway and he attributed the kills to the stocking program. Never mind that it occurred near the Smithtown club and the birds most likely came from there. 
 

So the mountains of dead deer on the roads are ok but two pheasants are beyond the pale. 
 

If you want the stocking on LI to continue you have to write your representatives. 

[Joe T]

8 hours ago, Mike103 said:

Mike C and I are very good friends. Next time you are with him tell him you were chatting with @Mike103 on a hunting board. He knows my handle. 
 

We are both members of Peconic. Ask Mike to take you there one day for a lesson. He also has a connection to hunt pheasants locally. Save you from having to leave the Island. 

Yes he has taken me to Peconic Club and is an awesome guy!  

[Joe T]

7 hours ago, ATbuckhunter said:

Since your dogs a pup and still learning, take a shot in the air anyway. The dogs will associate a shot as a sign they did something right. Almost as much of a reward as a dead bird (nothing will compare to an actual dead bird). When my dog pointed and held her first grouse this year and it flushed behind a spruce, I shot once in the air. I couldn't even see it (only heard the wings) let alone get any kind of shot at it, but I wanted to reward her and reinforce that she did the right thing. She was zoned in looking for a dead bird after the shot too. 

Keep at it! You'll get him on some birds soon enough. This is a tough year for guys with pups. Check station is finally admitting to stocking half the birds they normally stock. 

Thanks for info and the encouragement

[Joe T]

5 hours ago, Mike103 said:

As you probably know NYS had to kill its entire flock of pheasants due to the bird flu. Incredibly NYS worked hard to raise and buy birds in time for the season. 
 

But there are forces out there that want to stop the stocking of pheasants in NYS.
 

Last week or so the head of the humane society on LI called for the governor to stop the stocking of pheasants. Apparently two birds were killed in Eastport on the highway and he attributed the kills to the stocking program. Never mind that it occurred near the Smithtown club and the birds most likely came from there. 
 

So the mountains of dead deer on the roads are ok but two pheasants are beyond the pale. 
 

If you want the stocking on LI to continue you have to write your representatives. 

Will do!

[Joe T]

On 12/18/2023 at 12:39 PM, Mike103 said:

Mike C and I are very good friends. Next time you are with him tell him you were chatting with @Mike103 on a hunting board. He knows my handle. 
 

We are both members of Peconic. Ask Mike to take you there one day for a lesson. He also has a connection to hunt pheasants locally. Save you from having to leave the Island. 

Mike- I just scheduled a session with our mutual friend Mike to work on my shooting tomorrow in prep for going out to Hunt Family Preserve on Friday.  I will tell him you said hello.  It’s worth the trip out there to Jersey to give my Enzo some solid bird contacts- Otis just doesn’t have enough to give him the exposure.  Then planning to go to Fire Island on Sunday morning for ducks and I scheduled a half day Goose hunt with Elite. Needless to say, I have gotten the bug!  I never would have guessed I would take this up at 64 years of age!

[Mike103]

Say hey to Mike. It’s guys like you that keep paying him so he doesn’t have time to hang out with me!!! Lol!!

Shoot more shoot more often.