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Hunting pheasant with a handgun?

Henry0Reilly
I've never hunted pheasant - I don't think I'd be quick enough to tell the hens and cocks apart and still get a shot off.

quote:I even brought down a couple of pheasants with it using .38 Special Shot Loads.

Lack of experience not-withstanding, I call BS.

http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=252012
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Comments

19 comments

Date Votes
  • tobefree
    Hell, I used to Pheasant hunt with a bow!!! That is when there were still Pheasents here! I worry about where that slug is going to end up though!!!
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  • tsavo303
    They used to shoot em (or at least at em) from rail cars with pistols. remember "young guns" also
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  • allen griggs
    I have fired lots of .22 shot loads, but never fired the .38
    But..... at best, the .38 would be one underpowered, rinky dink shotgun.
    If he killed a pheasant with one, it had to be a damn close shot.
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  • LOKO383
    maybe he was talking about "pen" raised birds they wont fly till you kick them,I would bet money that i could kill a pen raised bird with 38 shot shells, they have very little natural instincts, wild on the other hand......tough at the very least[:D].Loko
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  • tobefree
    Here is another pheasant bow hunter evidently just beginning but he got him!!
    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3380600268488069820&q=Pheasant+hunting+with+a+bow&total=18&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1
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  • spanielsells
    I bet that if you had a .410 pistol, you could do it. But, with a 38-special shotshell? I'll cry foul.

    There's a far cry of difference between a 38-special bullet and a 38-special shotshell.
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  • idsman75
    quote:Originally posted by LOKO383
    maybe he was talking about "pen" raised birds they wont fly till you kick them,I would bet money that i could kill a pen raised bird with 38 shot shells, they have very little natural instincts, wild on the other hand......tough at the very least[:D].Loko


    I've hunted wild pheasants and I've hunted pen-raised birds--both with dogs. The pen-raised birds were released about 45 minutes before we worked the property over with dogs. I wouldn't say one was easier to hunt than the other. The dogs flushed and both types of birds flew like mad.
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  • iluvguns
    quote:I've hunted wild pheasants and I've hunted pen-raised birds--both with dogs. The pen-raised birds were released about 45 minutes before we worked the property over with dogs. I wouldn't say one was easier to hunt than the other. The dogs flushed and both types of birds flew like mad.

    That's been my experience too. Heck, we went to Mitchell, SD several years ago on a hunting trip with the president of Trail King Trailers. The farm we stayed at, they pen-raised birds to, as they said, "supplement the local population." Couldn't tell a difference on a drive. Get to the end of the field and birds flying every direction!
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  • rogue_rob
    quote:Originally posted by spanielsells
    I bet that if you had a .410 pistol, you could do it. But, with a 38-special shotshell? I'll cry foul FOWL.

    There's a far cry of difference between a 38-special bullet and a 38-special shotshell.


    Fixed it for ya[:D]
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  • wundudnee
    Nope, ain't gonna happen. I have shot pheasants with a .410 and I have "tried" to shoot blue rock with a .410 pistol and I'll bow to anyone that can down a pheasant with a .410 pistol.

    He could have possibly potted one on the ground.[:(!]
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  • Henry0Reilly
    quote:Originally posted by LOKO383
    maybe he was talking about "pen" raised birds they wont fly till you kick them,I would bet money that i could kill a pen raised bird with 38 shot shells, they have very little natural instincts, wild on the other hand......tough at the very least[:D].Loko


    It it wasn't flying and you could walk right up to it, why not use a bullet rather than shot?
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  • rock,roll,n,load
    I've shot dove over a sunflower field using a T/C Contender in .410, didn't put many in the "bag" but sure had one heck of a time trying! One of the funnest shoots I ever had!
    [:D][:D]
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  • LOKO383
    I guess you could Henry,I prefer to use a 12 gauge,some of the pen raised birds I have seen that had a lot of human contact would just sit there out in front of you at about 5-6' a head shot with 38 snake shot would not be immpossible agree? ,not arguing just saying that it wouldn't be impossible,I personally know a older bow hunter that shoots ruffed grouse w/a bow does he kill everyone he shoots at no, but practice makes perfect or damn close to it,Loko
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  • select-fire
    Peasants or Pheasants?
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  • oldgunman
    Grew up shooting wild pheasants. Started with a .410 and went to 12g as I got older. That was just about the standard practice for everyone growing up here in Idaho. Even shot 2 roosters with a .22 in my teen years. Same day and about 10 min apart. Each got up under my feet and flew straight away from me. Shot them in the air and had nobody with me to see it for proof. Now with lots of penned raised birds it might be possible to get off a quick short shot with a pistol like a .410. Not real likely but could happen. Roosters make a different sound from the hens when getting up under your feet. Both still startle the heck out of you though.
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  • dakotashooter2
    I have shot quite a few flushing pigeons with a TC 410 but have not tried pheasants. Shooting them over a pointer would not seem that difficult a task as you are prepared for the flush and can get the shot off reasonably fast. If the birds were visible before flight and very close I think it would be possible with 38 birdshot but tough.
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  • Idahobound
    I have only shot clay birds with a TC 410. That was hard enough for me.
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  • oldemagics
    i once shot a woodpecker that was raiseing havoc on my moms house and used .38 shot in case i hit more wood trim than bird.
    at about 15 feet on the wing,it brought him down but needed a finishing shot.
    on a moveing pheasant? no way i can see it happening, their feather is a lot thicker and heavier armor than a thrush, cant see you would get past that
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  • spanielsells
    quote:Originally posted by manoldgun
    Grew up shooting wild pheasants. Started with a .410 and went to 12g as I got older. That was just about the standard practice for everyone growing up here in Idaho. Even shot 2 roosters with a .22 in my teen years. Same day and about 10 min apart. Each got up under my feet and flew straight away from me. Shot them in the air and had nobody with me to see it for proof. Now with lots of penned raised birds it might be possible to get off a quick short shot with a pistol like a .410. Not real likely but could happen. Roosters make a different sound from the hens when getting up under your feet. Both still startle the heck out of you though.
    LOL yeah I know. About ten years ago I was on my first pheasant hunt. I was with a buddy of mine, and we were wandering through the corn field, and all the sudden... WHOOOSH right between my legs a pheasant took off. I sat there with my jaw pretty much on the ground, holding my 12-gauge in front of me and my buddy screaming, "You're supposed to shoot them!"
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