Pricked Birds, Leg Down

[Seal Morning]

I have a magnificent cock pheasant visiting the garden at the moment, his colours, stature and extra long tail feathers outshine all the other visiting pheasants put together.

There is only one problem, he is hopping on one leg as the other leg is clearly broken. I am guessing he is a casualty of a nearby driven shoot where so often pricked birds with a leg down are able to 'glide' on over the guns, the picker-uppers and their dogs. With their wings intact and pumped with adrenalin, these birds can fly on considerable distances and land several fields away where even the keenest dogs are unable to mark and retrieve them.

Its very sad to see this bird in this condition and its a pity that in the spirit of true sportsmanship, the gun on this occasion didn't lower his barrel and let this bird pass over.

[johnf3f]

Originally Posted by Seal Morning

I have a magnificent cock pheasant visiting the garden at the moment, his colours, stature and extra long tail feathers outshine all the other visiting pheasants put together.

There is only one problem, he is hopping on one leg as the other leg is clearly broken. I am guessing he is a casualty of a nearby driven shoot where so often pricked birds with a leg down are able to 'glide' on over the guns, the picker-uppers and their dogs. With their wings intact and pumped with adrenalin, these birds can fly on considerable distances and land several fields away where even the keenest dogs are unable to mark and retrieve them.

Its very sad to see this bird in this condition and its a pity that in the spirit of true sportsmanship, the gun on this occasion didn't lower his barrel and let this bird pass over.

With the best will in the world (and the best marksman) this sort of thing will sometimes happen. I personally spent a long time shooting clays before I ventured out on game and VERY quickly learned that scores on clays do not translate to live subjects. A good shooter will only fire when he/she thinks they are going to get a "good" kill, unfortunately the real world doesn't always work like that.
The bird you mention is obviously injured and will probably not survive (pity if it's such a fine specimen), so I suggest the pragmatic option - do you have/know anyone with a suitable gun? You might as well benefit rather than the local fox. Harsh, but true, just like nature.

[animartco]

Originally Posted by johnf3f

With the best will in the world (and the best marksman) this sort of thing will sometimes happen. I personally spent a long time shooting clays before I ventured out on game and VERY quickly learned that scores on clays do not translate to live subjects. A good shooter will only fire when he/she thinks they are going to get a "good" kill, unfortunately the real world doesn't always work like that.
The bird you mention is obviously injured and will probably not survive (pity if it's such a fine specimen), so I suggest the pragmatic option - do you have/know anyone with a suitable gun? You might as well benefit rather than the local fox. Harsh, but true, just like nature.

Or you could run up a makeshift pen with chicken wire and keep him till he heals. Is the leg dangling loose or sticking out to the side? if not then he WILL heal, if kept on the ground, or you could splint the leg if it isn't straight. I have splinted a pheasant's broken leg They heal within a fortnight, but only if kept in an enclosed area.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by johnf3f

so I suggest the pragmatic option - do you have/know anyone with a suitable gun? You might as well benefit rather than the local fox. Harsh, but true, just like nature.

Would'nt that be illegal though at this time of year?

[johnf3f]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Would'nt that be illegal though at this time of year?

Don't actually know, I have never been a Pheasant shooter so haven't looked into the seasons!
Good point.

[STYRBJORN]

Originally Posted by johnf3f

Don't actually know, I have never been a Pheasant shooter so haven't looked into the seasons!
Good point.

Humane dispatch.

[FUDGEY]

Originally Posted by johnf3f

A good shooter will only fire when he/she thinks they are going to get a "good" kill, unfortunately the real world doesn't always work like that.

The shooters around here say the higher/faster the bird the better so its quite the opposite John, around my way any way.

[johnf3f]

Originally Posted by FUDGEY

The shooters around here say the higher/faster the bird the better so its quite the opposite John, around my way any way.

The same down my way! That's why I like clays!
Whilst I am quite happy to kill animals I must have a valid reason to do it, for example to eat. If I want sport I'll shoot clays or paper targets, If I am going to kill something then I want to dispatch it as cleanly and quickly as possible - that's just me.

[werdnal]

I thought season was 1st Oct to 1st Feb? If your bird was injured through a legal shoot back then, would he have survived this long?

We have a few pheasants here, and noticed one this week who had an obviously bad leg. He seemed to be getting around OK, but hopping rather than walking. We've heard several territorial fights in neighbouring fields, and assumed he had sustained his injury in one of these, or in his efforts to get away from a more dominant male. We don't have organised shoots locally, so unless someone taking a pot-shot, a shooting injury is unlikely in our case.