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John N. Felsher's Bird Hunting Adventures
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Often overlooked shore birds offer
excellent sport, warm up for season
excellent sport, warm up for season
TOP: Steven Felsher takes a shot at a gallinule while hunting in the
marshes along the St. Johns River near Geneva, Fla. CENTER: A
purple gallinule walks across lily pads. BOTTOM: A purple
gallinule (left) and a common gallinule (right) feed along a shoreline.
marshes along the St. Johns River near Geneva, Fla. CENTER: A
purple gallinule walks across lily pads. BOTTOM: A purple
gallinule (left) and a common gallinule (right) feed along a shoreline.
“Shoot,” I yelled as birds exploded in all direction from thick reeds just a
few feet from us! “There’s another one. Fire! Here comes a straggler. Get
him!”
In seconds, my son Steven pumped out three rounds from his 20-
gauge Remington Model 870, scoring a double. More birds flushed from the
dense cover as others raced into the canes to escape on foot. Hastily
dropping one shell into the chamber, Steven nailed another bird struggling
to get airborne. We watched where most headed, picked up our kills and
took a brief break. Minutes later, reloaded and recomposed from the initial
adrenaline rush, we found them again and began another stalk. We
repeated this procedure for the next two hours, until Steven bagged his 15-
bird limit.
Sound impossible for anything short of an African safari or a jaunt to
the legendary dove fields of Argentina? Well, American sportsmen can hunt
gallinules in more than 30 states, often with liberal bag limits, long seasons
and little competition.
Two gallinule species, common and purple, populate most of the
eastern United States and southern Canada from the Great Lakes to the
Gulf Coast, across parts of the Great Plains to California. Although
considered migratory, many gallinules remain in their home marshes all
year long. Gallinules inhabit freshwater marshes, lakes, sluggish river
backwaters, rice fields and other wetlands with thick grass growing in or
near the water edge. Along weedy shorelines or areas with matted
vegetation, gallinules sometimes congregate in huge flocks. In some areas,
cackling gallinules grow so numerous that people consider them pests.
A small aluminum boat, kayak, wooden skiff or canoe make an
excellent choice for stalking gallinules. Federal law prohibits people from
shooting at any migratory birds from boats under motor or sail power.
However, unless state or local laws prohibit it, people can paddle, drift or
pole through shallows and legally shoot from human-powered boats.
Paddle through sloughs and small channels with matted aquatic
vegetation and tall reeds that provide significant shoreline cover. As silently
as possible, dip paddles into the water and listen for the distinctive cackling
and clacking or feet pattering over the surface. In very shallow, hard-
bottomed areas, use paddles almost like push poles, sculling along without
lifting them from the water. Hug the shorelines or keep islands, tall canes or
other available cover between the boat and the birds whenever possible.
Take the inside curve on any bends. When rounding bends or emerging
from behind tiny islands, sportsmen may surprise birds only a few yards
away.
With their long lobed rather than webbed toes, gallinules nimbly step
over floating lily pads, water hyacinths or other matted vegetation and
typically prefer to run or hide rather than fly. If birds dart into thick reeds,
they often emerge after a few minutes. Paddle about 30 yards away and
wait. If the birds don’t reappear, remember that spot and return to it later.
When hunting alone, paddlers can stretch their shotguns across their laps
or put them in another convenient place for easy access as targets come
into range. Many anglers hunt in pairs. Position the shooter in the bow seat
with the rear person serving as primary paddler and spotter. For safety
reasons, only the shooter should hold a loaded gun.
Since gallinules seldom experience much hunting pressure, boaters
can often paddle fairly close to birds. Some won’t even spook after shotgun
pellets splatter their neighbors. In fact, people regularly bag two or three
birds before others nearby become nervous, scatter and disappear into
lush thickets. After shooting one or two, sportsmen can often pick off
stragglers if they react quickly enough. Even after fired upon, gallinules
typically won’t travel very far. Hunters can usually relocate them after the
flock settles down.
A short-barreled 20- or 28-gauge shotgun loaded with number 7.5 or 8
lead shot makes an excellent gallinule buster. Even a .410 can take these
birds down without much trouble. Most shots occur within 40 yards.
Gallinule hunters don’t need to rise before daylight to bag a few birds.
When season overlap, many observant sportsmen add a few gallinules to
their bag as they return from a morning duck hunt.
Paddling up gallinules offers an excellent way to introduce youngsters
to hunting. In the bow seat, the youth can sit in relative comfort and usually
expect action. Just a few hours in a good location can usually provide
numerous opportunities at game. In addition, hunters can carry food and
refreshments in the boat to take occasional breaks.
few feet from us! “There’s another one. Fire! Here comes a straggler. Get
him!”
In seconds, my son Steven pumped out three rounds from his 20-
gauge Remington Model 870, scoring a double. More birds flushed from the
dense cover as others raced into the canes to escape on foot. Hastily
dropping one shell into the chamber, Steven nailed another bird struggling
to get airborne. We watched where most headed, picked up our kills and
took a brief break. Minutes later, reloaded and recomposed from the initial
adrenaline rush, we found them again and began another stalk. We
repeated this procedure for the next two hours, until Steven bagged his 15-
bird limit.
Sound impossible for anything short of an African safari or a jaunt to
the legendary dove fields of Argentina? Well, American sportsmen can hunt
gallinules in more than 30 states, often with liberal bag limits, long seasons
and little competition.
Two gallinule species, common and purple, populate most of the
eastern United States and southern Canada from the Great Lakes to the
Gulf Coast, across parts of the Great Plains to California. Although
considered migratory, many gallinules remain in their home marshes all
year long. Gallinules inhabit freshwater marshes, lakes, sluggish river
backwaters, rice fields and other wetlands with thick grass growing in or
near the water edge. Along weedy shorelines or areas with matted
vegetation, gallinules sometimes congregate in huge flocks. In some areas,
cackling gallinules grow so numerous that people consider them pests.
A small aluminum boat, kayak, wooden skiff or canoe make an
excellent choice for stalking gallinules. Federal law prohibits people from
shooting at any migratory birds from boats under motor or sail power.
However, unless state or local laws prohibit it, people can paddle, drift or
pole through shallows and legally shoot from human-powered boats.
Paddle through sloughs and small channels with matted aquatic
vegetation and tall reeds that provide significant shoreline cover. As silently
as possible, dip paddles into the water and listen for the distinctive cackling
and clacking or feet pattering over the surface. In very shallow, hard-
bottomed areas, use paddles almost like push poles, sculling along without
lifting them from the water. Hug the shorelines or keep islands, tall canes or
other available cover between the boat and the birds whenever possible.
Take the inside curve on any bends. When rounding bends or emerging
from behind tiny islands, sportsmen may surprise birds only a few yards
away.
With their long lobed rather than webbed toes, gallinules nimbly step
over floating lily pads, water hyacinths or other matted vegetation and
typically prefer to run or hide rather than fly. If birds dart into thick reeds,
they often emerge after a few minutes. Paddle about 30 yards away and
wait. If the birds don’t reappear, remember that spot and return to it later.
When hunting alone, paddlers can stretch their shotguns across their laps
or put them in another convenient place for easy access as targets come
into range. Many anglers hunt in pairs. Position the shooter in the bow seat
with the rear person serving as primary paddler and spotter. For safety
reasons, only the shooter should hold a loaded gun.
Since gallinules seldom experience much hunting pressure, boaters
can often paddle fairly close to birds. Some won’t even spook after shotgun
pellets splatter their neighbors. In fact, people regularly bag two or three
birds before others nearby become nervous, scatter and disappear into
lush thickets. After shooting one or two, sportsmen can often pick off
stragglers if they react quickly enough. Even after fired upon, gallinules
typically won’t travel very far. Hunters can usually relocate them after the
flock settles down.
A short-barreled 20- or 28-gauge shotgun loaded with number 7.5 or 8
lead shot makes an excellent gallinule buster. Even a .410 can take these
birds down without much trouble. Most shots occur within 40 yards.
Gallinule hunters don’t need to rise before daylight to bag a few birds.
When season overlap, many observant sportsmen add a few gallinules to
their bag as they return from a morning duck hunt.
Paddling up gallinules offers an excellent way to introduce youngsters
to hunting. In the bow seat, the youth can sit in relative comfort and usually
expect action. Just a few hours in a good location can usually provide
numerous opportunities at game. In addition, hunters can carry food and
refreshments in the boat to take occasional breaks.
