Sitting ducks

I'm just curious, and not judging, if a lot of hunters shoot waterfowl just as they land or only in flight?

I will do either depending on circumstances but prefer in flight since it's more likely to kill quickly rather than cripple in my experience.

Better to shoot them in flight or while landing. Once they land you will be surprised they are harder to dispatch .

It all depends on the situation. If you have birds that are receptive to the calling and decoys and are cupping in, I’ll take them on the fly. If I’m jump shooting out of a canoe, I might take one on the water coming around a corner. Also if I have crippled one, I’ll try to dispatch it on the water. I guess there’s no real rules about it, just ones own morals.

I like to wait until they're coming in to the dekes and they set their wings. For me,there's less cripples that way.

I'm with Birdbuff.

It amazing how rough a duck is when its sitting all tucked in on the water. Even a cripple at 30 yards on the water may take a couple extra to put to bed.

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Either, or, it matters not to me

If you don't like pellets in your breast meat then shoot them on the water but as stated it is harder to kill them unless you connect with their little head. At least in flight there is more body mass to hit.

Obviously I'd rather kill them in flight, but I'm no stranger to the odd water swat here and there!

As for finishing off cripples -- aim a foot low and shoot #4-6.

-Nick

Whichever provides a quick kill and meat on the table. Too many people sit on their high horse when it comes to the unwritten "ethical" rules of hunting.

Taking those long shots and Hail Mary's are a lot more unethical.

Either Or doesn't matter

Not much better than a water swatted green head or woodie in the roasting pan !!

i'll wack them sitting in the water or flying in the sky. usually my easier shots are when they swim down the stream right to me :P

I've shot a few birds that swam right into my decoys. Usually about 20 or 30 feet away and with head shots. I'm finding it to be a bit habit forming though lol

I always shoot ducks in the air.
If you have to shoot cripples on the water, try Federal Upland #7 1/2 steel or Challenger #7 steel - far more effective than trying to kill them with heavier shot and you won't have to worry about pellets in the breast meat - most of the time the light shot won't penetrate the wing / breast feathers.