Shoot/Don't Shoot

when you go into the field to hunt wherever it may be whatever you're after you're bound to encounter certain situations often when you least expect them where you'll have to make an important and maybe even a fateful decision [Music] sometimes when hiding you'll have ample time to judge the safety of the situation but in other cases things happen so fast you have to make an almost instinctive split-second decision on whether a shot is safe or unsafe [Music] in this film we're going to confront you with a variety of hunting situations as though you were the Hunter in each one there will come a point where a shot is about to be taken then you'll have a few seconds to decide shoot or don't shoot based on what you saw in this way you can test your own judgment and reaction to situations that are likely to occur when you are actually out hunting [Music] here you're out after woodchucks settle in relax and take a quiet look around honey is a waiting game mostly and that's part of the real pleasure of it looking listening taking in the feeling of being outdoors this is perfect Chuck Country open farmlands old stone walls plenty of good food and places for a woodchuck to burrow just keep watching waiting looking around there you go now slowly deliberately you don't want to Spook him safety off steady now ready should he take this shot or not you make the judgment absolutely not did you see that pond back there if a high-powered bullet hit that well imagine this that's right a Ricochet can go anywhere that shot could have been a complete disaster its fall in the Deep Woods a perfect time and a perfect place to go after gray squirrels you and your friend are only carrying 22s but you know they can easily travel a mile or more so you're careful funny thing about squirrels when you're out walking you see them everywhere but when you're hunting them they just seem to up and disappear well they're bound to be somewhere in a situation like this your senses get all keyed up so your eyes and ears can fool you is that a bushy tail over there do I hear a gray squirrel chattering or is it only a chipmunk what's that over there watch and wait there's plenty of time hold it a second there over there on that big tree and that guy that spots him gets the shot a prone position is the best and it's a clear shot right against that big tree but is it safe you decide sure it was a safe shot that's right unload first before going to get him [Applause] he was shooting at a down angle at the base of a big tree with plenty of Earth in the background but don't worry if you got this one wrong it's always better to hold off on a shot than to make one you may regret nice shooting there friend now it's your buddy's turn when you're staked out on your post watching quietly for whitetail deer you're practically invisible except for your blaze orange which of course is the reason you wear it the drill for deer season is simple up at dawn out to the woods find a spot stand perfectly still all day long and try not to freeze to death yeah the colder you get the more you begin to feel you've been standing here just about forever pretending you're only another tree watching the same old spots for the slightest movement listening for the faintest sound a bit of quiet Body English will keep some circulation going anyway what's that over there well did you say shoot then look at what you would have shot that's right another Hunter and this is not an unrealistic situation hey many deer hunters get killed every year by other Hunters who shoot too quickly never shoot at just a sound never shoot at just movement be 100 certain of your target before you ever touch that trigger drag your deer out of the woods and wear Blaze arms we're gonna knock them cold this place was great a year ago I don't know what it wouldn't be now nothing has really changed sounds like you guys really got into it oh we did it was good good you're in Prairie country out after doves so you're in a situation that can really require a split second judgment those birds can Enloe fast and erratic you can never tell which way they'll break sit on the right here in the middle right here well there's one over there [Music] the lady elects to take the right position the man in the plaid shirt the center and the third Hunter moves out to the left in Dove shooting you have to keep a low profile and stay out of sight otherwise they'll spot you all we have to do is find some birds Dave I think there's some coming low out there you see him okay I got him yeah here they come should he shoot no sir and he never should have swung that far to the right to begin with this is what you saw him doing tracking clear over until he's right on top of that other shooter there's a sight picture you'd better never see his zone of fire stopped right here you should have an image of your own fire zone in mind at all times as well as the far zone of your hunting companions so memorize this picture and never forget it here you're out in a big Open Country the Far West after pronghorn antelope there's a nice herd about a quarter mile off but Antelope spook easily and can take off in high gear before you know it so you have a little problem how to stalk them and get within 150 yards or so for a Sure Shot work your way downwind and pick up whatever cover you can slow and quiet now you've got a little cover here good foreign okay perfect Target one last look now squeeze it off easy of course not there's no way that could have been a safe shot you saw that building back there or should have right in line with the game if you check this one shoot you've got no business even thinking about honey no business at all early morning cold and drizzling a perfect opening day for duck season so you head for the river with a few friends include a couple of fine black Labradors that'll really enjoy this day thank you the river's been a favorite spot for Mallards for as long as anyone can remember so you head for the old familiar blinds you've used for many years now why don't you guys take that blind over there good luck two people to a blind and each group takes a dog every year you wonder where the birds come back one more time you never know for sure how are the new decoys work and what about yourself will your eyes and reflexes be as good as ever this is a time for answers they're over there to our right just check on the others our shouts will be straight away or off to the left fire zones remember there they come ride on schedule you take it from here [Laughter] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] right you are a straight away shot your first clean kill where everything you've learned comes together that's a thrill you'll remember for the rest of your life project of course there are safe shots you just want to be sure that's all the Conifer slopes of the West during the fall that's a good time and a good place to go for mule deer you've scouted this area earlier and seen a few they're beginning to move down from the mountains now heading for the lower Alpine valleys where they'll find the kind of brows they need to get through the winter you know and love these woods and for now there's no place you'd rather be ah look what we have here droppings fairly fresh too they've been moving through here all right so find a spot that'll make a good Lookout post no guarantee you'll see them but then there aren't any short bets in hunting that's part of the excitement here you go from up here you'll have a clear view of the whole valley so settle in and wait maybe late afternoon before they move out there to feed if at all this is one of the great things about honey you get all the Time in the World to contemplate some Grand scenery and somehow as a honor you feel more a part of this Valley and these rocks and Hills than if you were merely strolling through there you go but she's taking off no he's turning now coming right back up the valley does illegal this year and they're certainly fine eating okay now just a little lead don't shoot look again did you see it once more now there another Hunter without blaze orange you'd never spot him and it was almost impossible to seem to begin with which is why you always have to look beyond your target remember in this field you never get a second look if you want some really fine sport take some Beagles with you and take off after rap okay okay this looks good let's let the dogs lose here come on crazy is back funny thing about hounds they either have it or they don't these dogs have it okay Brian you're off to the left Charles you off to the right keep it careful lion where your companions are now a straight line for Nations usually the best Pile in front of us you can start working it right away it's back yeah yeah get him up get him up get them up there he goes if you like Beagles this is pretty thrilling music [Applause] yeah they hit a chicken that way they're gonna Circle even the best dogs can lose his scent especially in the snow [Applause] not there watched you left there's a rabbit in there somewhere and he'll be yours if the dogs pop him out right okay Brian good move the dogs are too close you can't take a chance you bet they were let's look at that move again there's not one spot where the rabbit is clear of the dogs and That's a classic sight picture that comes up time and again in this kind of hunting moving up there try to get in front of the rabbit off to your left okay let's go find a new position maybe you'll get a clear shot this time rough shot up want to see some beautifully trained dogs watch czar up you'll need dogs like these to go for pheasant pheasant hunting's in art and fine bird dogs have been bred just for this for centuries foreign ER Spangles love their work hand signals and a whistle one to stop okay get on two to go There's real Instinct and a lot of skillful training in every move they make they've got sharp eyesight Akeem nose and cover a lot of territory as they crisscross back and forth it's their day just as much as yours and you're really working this field together foreign anywhere around they'll find it okay Heads Up Now dog watch your dogs safe that was a dream shot watch the bird takes off and she's always in her zone of fire while tracking it Czar never be afraid to take a shot that's yours and you know is safe after all that's what hunting's all about good dog good dog thank you thank you that's a good dog that's a good dog thank you isn't that a lovely bird a day of field with two beautiful dogs that says almost everything about this boy let's go the Open Range country of the Far West seems to go on forever that's why it's ideal for big game animals like antelope they need a lot of room to roam so if you want to catch up with him out here you've got to be prepared to do a bit of roaming yourself on these dirt roads a pickup truck is as good a way to do that as any but you may have a long drive ahead before you see anything well let's pull over here and take a look around thank you hold on what's that Yep they're out there all right this isn't going to be easy flat as a pancake from you to them and no cover in between but at least they're upwind that's something Antelope can spot you a mile away but you never know what they'll do then they're extremely curious and some of them just might wait to see what you're up to but they can also spook and be gone for the next County before you know it looks like you might make it so slow and easy does it they're within range now but what's your vote no not in a million years can you take that shot there they are but where's your background what's over the ridge behind them where will your bullet go pull that trigger and here's where it'll go right down there you could have shot yourself a steer a truck or maybe even God forbid a Rancher [Music] well how did you do miss a few and do you think that's okay for a test well these were very real situations they kind you'll encounter in the field and that's where you can't afford to miss any not a one once a shot is fired you can never take it back [Music] he's a serious business deadly serious in fact developing good hunting instincts is something you work on all your life but there's a great reward when others say that's a person I'd really like to hunt with he knows and understands his sport what will your companions say about you