Wing-shooting: How valid is its nobility?

Virtually all promoters of an ideal, fair-chase hunt value taking game with practical, well-placed shots to maximize recovery and use of the animal. There is much more to fair-chase, but my concern here is with the killing practice. Typically, I sit tight, or slowly still-hunt into the wind, spot a suitable deer, and take that ethical shot. That's with deer.

Then there is wing-shooting.

Drift through the hunting innertubes, and just the mention of "ground sluicing" (practice of shooting birds on the ground or water) or "pot shooting" (shooting birds from trees) will be met with charges of "unsporting," "overkill," "market hunt practices," "poor shooting skills," and even "crippling." Are these charges valid when dove "hunting?"

Last year, I took a daily limit (15) of dove in Texas. On this wonderful hunt, I stood in a field and got most of my bag by wing-shooting; but 2 I "puffed." Though I tried to recover them, they flew off to become Artemis' share. I also dropped a few from distant trees. I put the sneak on them and shot when in range. All these I recovered.

Now, my wing-shooting is fair, but am I a better hunter or human to have taken most birds this way, but leaving 2 to waste? Better than when my Mr. Hyde crept through oak and cedar for a few sure-shot birds-in-hand? Where were my hunting skills best displayed, waiting in a field of sunflower for Mother Nature to yell "Pull!," or when slippin' & slidin' through trees, brush and cacti to shoot birds that hadn't spotted me?

Sounds like the "staffer" was a trial balloon, and went the way of the Hindenburg.

Gator Softball team National Champs.

Tonight, the University of Florida Gators defeated the University of Alabama Crimson Tide 6-3 in six and a half innings to win its first national women's softball championship, according to ESPN.

Go Gators! Class of '70