doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Most humane way to dispatch a bird?

I have no experience of 'sharpies' but in the UK, anything up to pheasant size is most often despatched by a quick spin whilst holding head between index and middle fingers. However, it does take skill and experience to not separate head from bird!
For myself, I nearly always use my thumb stick or a weighted priest, one of which I invariably have with me when shooting, picking up or walking the dogs. I hold the bird by its feet, or both wings folded together over its back, with my left hand, breast facing to my left and sharply hit the back of the skull in a downwards movement. I rarely have to strike more than once, there is some flapping as the bird expires but the head stays attached and there is minimal blood splatter.
This works well for rabbits and hares as well. Rabbits are so delicate that I find a side of a hand applied like a karate chop behind the ears while holding the animal up by its hind legs is usually quite sufficient to break its neck and cause its instant demise.
Geese and ducks are a whole different challenge and I use a humane killer, rather like a pair of pliers.

With doves, quail and woodcock I hang the bird by the head between my first two fingers and, with my thumb, press it's head sideways until the neck breaks. Flapping ensues but only lasts a few seconds, then life is gone. The flapping is an involuntary reaction, the same every time.

With ducks I put it's neck in my mouth and bite as hard as I can to break the neck bones and sever the spinal cord. They make a tool that accomplishes the same thing. I seldom have to finish off a duck so have never bought the tool. I'd either forget and leave it home, or lose it, anyway. I'm a minimalist when it comes to hunting. I don't pack much paraphernalia in my "kit".

For years as a bird dog judge. Any retrieved live birds were handed to the judge for a quick spin holding the head for an instant neck break. Later they required a pliers type tool called a "necker" to dispatch birds.

Days End makes a multi tool necker

Lion Country Supply has their version of a necker tool

I suppose, if the head comes off, it was already bleeding on the carpet. I think a wring has always worked, can get a hand in quickly on a lively bird, and end it fast. More options with small birds that aren't flapping, but I decided decades ago that I didn't want to get stuck or bit out in the field if it was avoidable.

There is a reason that hunting Pheasants is known as dangerous game hunting, always best to proceed with caution Hope you are well Craig, don't lose any blood out there.

I just use the Ozzy Osborne method.

Another version of the death grip I use on pheasants (they often have some life left in them whenthe dog brings back: Grab right above the wings presssing on both sides. If a wing bone is broken, beware potential cuts to your hands from sharp edges of the bone.

With early season doves, the predominant bird is this year's hatchling and the skull is still soft. I use a one hand hold, with head between forefinger and thumb. My thumb depresses the skull, killing the bird instantly. I learned this from an old snipe hunter and use it on snipe as well. With older dove, a neck wring or a rap across the stock does the job. With woodcock, chest compression prevents breathing and death results in under a few seconds. Gil

That's why I only shoot hens, at least you can tell which is which out in the field. I could be better, tried chest compressions on a Sandhill. It took a good half hour picking up all the super hero bandaid wrappers. Stay well Steve, don't drop a boot into a hole and end up with a twisted ankle.

A friend tried to dispatch what he thought was a soon to die pintail which he wanted to have mounted by placing it in a home freezer. He didn't want to wring his neck. He hadn't considered the duck's duck down insulation. An hour later when he opened the freezer door, the duck came out wings a flappin'. Gil