THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 2, 1994 TAG: 9411020125
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: Lee Tolliver
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
It is a grave misconception to think that hunting on a shooting preserve is akin to fishing in a barrel.
Anyone who has ever resorted to fishing in a barrel knows it isn't all it's cracked up to be. For starters, just because there's a barrel full of fish doesn't ensure they're going to bite.
Hunting preserves aren't a sure thing, either. Yes, the odds are increased because you go out knowing that birds are out there.
But beyond that, it is like a regular hunt. The dog must work to find the bird, the hunter must flush out the bird, and then he must exhibit shooting skill and safety in order to home the bird.
It is by no means an easy task - even for the best hunter and the most proficient marksman. I learned this firsthand recently at Back Bay Sportsman Unlimited - 170-acre hunting preserve south of Pungo.
Owner Mark Vaughan, Joe Ficarra, myself and an English setter named Noble set out to see if we could bag a few quail and pheasant. Vaughan had released many of the pen-raised birds earlier in the morning, so the guess work was eliminated.
Now, it was a matter of doing the work.
Noble was the point man, sniffing his way through a plowed-over corn field and working hedge row ditches until he located the birds.
From there, Vaughan and Ficarra worked to flush out the birds - kicking aside thorny bushes and heavy cover. When birds took flight, several quick decisions had to be made - What direction was the bird flying? Was the shot safe? Was Noble or another hunter anywhere near the line of fire?
In many instances, Noble was quicker than my reaction, chasing the bird and being visible in my line of fire. Often, I let the bird go rather than risk accidently hitting this beautiful 2 1/2-year-old workhorse of a dog.
Other times, Ficarra had the better shot, so I backed off.
And sometimes when the shot was clearly mine, I showed a lack of skill and missed the bird completely - even on three shots.
``Bird hunting is like that,'' Vaughan said. ``They are often hard targets.''
When it was over, though, I had bagged a couple of quail and one fine pheasant. We were all tired and wet from walking through the fields and flushing the birds. Noble was covered in mud and burrs from helping us locate our targets - a chore that dogs like him love dearly. He was so happy with the hunt we had to drag him out of the fields when the hunt was over.
It was in no way like fishing in a barrel. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MORT FRYMAN
Even though the hunt is on a preserve and the birds are raised in
pens to let loose in the fields to be hunted, the going can get
tough. Joe Ficarra, a jeweler, makes his way through a ditch in the
cornfield. On a cool morning, it didn't take long to work up a
sweat.
by CNB