Probably 15 years ago I was invited by an insurance agent I did business with to go "bird hunting". I agreed to go. He picked me up in his new Cad and we headed for the bunk house on a large Nebraska ranch. The agent made sure I was aware this was a VERY expensive hunt. I couldn't figure out what a VERY expensive hunt for pheasants in Nebraska meant, I always hunted for the cost of a license and ammo. There were 10 people at the ranch, all more affluent than I and all from major metropolitan areas. Four had never been hunting before.
Shortly after we arrived our host at the ranch explained our itinerary. It became apparent to my naive conscience that this was not the type of hunting I had been enjoying since childhood. This was a game farm. The birds, chuckers and pheasants, were farm raised. They were set in the field before the sun came up. It was our job to find those illusive critters with the aid of several top notch bird dogs and guides (who set the birds out).
The next morning we ate breakfast and were on the balcony of the bunk house. Before the big hunt we would take a few practice shots to get warmed up. They lined us up along the rail. The first person in the line was to take the first shot. The 2nd Person was to take the follow up shot. This would continue down the line so everyone would get both first and followup shots.
They had a commercial trap thrower below the balcony. This thrower had a piece of 2" plastic pipe on the rock platform. They put live pigeons in the tube and launched them out. I couldn't believe my eyes, I didn't know if I should laugh or :barf: .
Has anyone else shot pigeons like this?
We broke up into 3 groups. The hunt was equally sporting. I had my limit (I think 15 birds) in about 1 1/2 hours.
Chuckers fly low to the ground when they get up. I cannot imagine turning this group loose with guns following my bird dogs. I was surprised there were no dead dogs at the end of the hunt. By the time we went from the field to the bunk house our dressed and frozen birds were ready for the trip home.
Does anyone here game farm "hunt" regularly?
Is this the way most game farms operate?