What's the best shot size for bagging hummingbirds?

DARISC · 07-20-2008, 04:24 PM

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azasadny · azasadny's Garage

.22 caliber rifle

Eric Coffey · 07-20-2008, 04:41 PM

40 mike mike

Jims5543 · 07-20-2008, 04:42 PM

widgeon13 · 07-20-2008, 04:43 PM

why not just bait them and then use a badminton racket, then you could nail the carcass to the side of the garage.

creaturecat · 05:27 PM

10 guage. Buckshot. Short barrel. Unless you are planning on eating the bird.

DARISC · 07-20-2008, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creaturecat

10 guage. Buckshot. Short barrel. Unless you are planning eating the bird.

Well, I heard they were good eatin' was why I was askin'.

Buckterrier · 07-20-2008, 04:59 PM

if you were a real hunter you'd use a lasso around the beak, poke it's eyes out, de-feather while it's alive, (kinda like throwing a lobster in boiling water), they are fresher that way. What I really enjoy are hummingbird kabobs on the grill, mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

pwd72s · 07-20-2008, 05:03 PM

hummingbird tongues...the only good part.

Jeff Higgins · 07-20-2008, 05:07 PM

I prefer shot sizes somewhat smaller than I normally use for other game birds, such as spotted owls and bald eagles. The diminutive size and relative quickness of the hummingbird demands good pattern density, but does not require all that much penetration. A rifle is totally out of the question. Unlike similarly quick earth bound game (like the black footed ferret, for example) they seldom sit still long enough to bag with the rifle. That, and it is considered less than sporting. While some of my fellow hunters have bagged their birds in what they refer to as the "pre-flight" position, the rest of us sportsmen consider that somewhat unethical. Best to shoot them on the wing; you will find that infinitely more satisfying.

DARISC · 07-20-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

if you were a real hunter you'd use a lasso around the beak,...

That viscously sharp beak is what scares me about the little bustards ( I know, they're not bustards, different genus)!

legion · 07-20-2008, 05:24 PM

I prefer 3 1/2" slugs.

varmint · 07-20-2008, 05:47 PM

seems the best method of killing humminbirds would be a scrawny grey cat. mine got one last week. sat on the kitchen counter brushing florescent green feathers from his whiskers with a very pleased expression on his face.

there's a nest near my garden. every time i'm down there one of theses dumb as all hell birds will come out and challenge me. the male hovers about three inches from the tip of my nose and tries to stare me down. i think it's cute. i'm sure the cat can't beleive his luck.