SHOOT / DON'T SHOOT

when you go into the field of 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 it important and maybe even a fateful decision [Music] sometimes when hunting 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 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 were actually out hunting here you're out after woodchucks settle in relax and take a quiet look around honey he's 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 shut 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 it's fall in the deep woods a perfect time and a perfect place to go after grey 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 for 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 you were 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 and to make one you may regret by shooting their friend now it's your buddy's turn when you're staked out on your post watching quietly for white-tailed deer you're practically invisible except for your blaze orange which of course is a 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 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 many deer hunters get killed every year but 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 birds we're gonna knock I'm cold this place was great a year ago I don't know that wouldn't be now not really change it's like you guys really got into him all we did it was 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 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 InBev 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 common law out there you see him okay I got him yeah here they come Chitti 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 is 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 fire zone of your awning companions so memorize this picture and never forget it here you're out in that 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 and high gear before you know it so you have a little problem how to stalk them and get within a hundred and fifty yards or so for a sure shot work your way down wind and pick up whatever cover you can slow and quiet now you've got a little cover here good now get relaxed and steady 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 a 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 friends include a couple of fine black Labradors that'll really enjoy this day the rivers been a favorite spot for mallards for as long as anyone can remember so he ahead for the olds and though you're blind you've used for many years now why don't you guys take that blind over there good luck to 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 them the others our shots will be straight away or off to the left fire zones remember there they come right on schedule [Laughter] [Applause] [Music] right you are a straight away shot your first clean kill were everything you've learned it 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 from you'll dear 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 look what we have here droppings barely flesh - they've been moving through here alright 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 yes at all this is one of the great things about hunting you get all the time in the world to contemplate some grand scenery and some how is our 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 she's turning now coming right back up the valley those are legal 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 they're another hunter without blaze aren't you'd never spot him and it was almost impossible to see him 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 bagels with you and take off a funny thing about hounds they either have it or they don't these dogs have it keep a careful eye on where your companions are now a straight line formations usually the best there he goes if you like Davis this is pretty thrilling music [Applause] even the best dogs can lose his scent especially in the snow there's a rabbit in there somewhere and he'll be yours if the dogs brought him out right 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 okay let's go find a new position maybe you'll get a clear shot this time RUP shot want to see some beautifully trained dogs watch sar you'll need dogs like me to go for pheasant pheasant hunting is an art and fine bird dogs have been read just for this for centuries these two Springer Spaniels love their work and signals and a whistle one two stop okay you two go there's real instinct and a lot of skillful training and every move they make they've got sharp eyesight a keen 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 if there's a pheasant anywhere around they'll find it okay safe that was a dream shot watch the bird takes off and she's always in her zone of fire while tracking it never be afraid to take a shot that's yours and you know is safe after all that's what hunting is all about not a lovely bird a day a field with two beautiful dogs that says almost everything about this for 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 an 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 hold on what's that yep they're out there all right this isn't gonna 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 what's your vote no not in a million years can you take that shot there they are but where is your background what's over the ridge behind that 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 the 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 hunting is 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 [Music] [Laughter]