What is this thing, the rail? A hairy-feathered coastal shorebird about the size of a dishrag with comparable flying abilities, the rail is closely related to crakes, coots, and gallinules. Sound familiar? Of course not! Most hunters have never seen a rail, let alone a crake or a gallinule, and the few who have, primarily saltwater marsh fishermen, utter the same refrain: “What the heck was that?” Good question.
Rails are also one of the most common — and underutilized — game birds worldwide. Rails are federally regulated game birds loosely managed as migratory waterfowl (even though their feet are not webbed). In Maine, for example, rails are considered to be migratory game birds but not migratory waterfowl, like the American woodcock. A migratory waterfowl stamp is not required to hunt them, but a steel shot is required — which makes as much sense as anything else related to rails!
And, yes, you can eat rails. They’re all dark breast meat that’s delicious grilled or broiled.
These unusual ground birds thrive in the mucky coastal wetlands on both sides of North America, but most of the hunting activity takes place in the East. While it is possible to hunt them at low tide (not for the faint of heart), most experts wait until the full moon high tide to pursue them.
For all intents and purposes, rail hunting is a two-person sport. Most rail hunters use a canoe, kayak or traditional lightweight, wooden skiff paddled or poled through the flooded reeds by one man while the shooter sits in front. Some skiffs are sturdy, stable and designed to include a platform for a retriever to ride on, but these high-end units are favored only by thoroughly obsessed rail hunters who, surprisingly, do exist.
Denne historien er fra Spring 2020-utgaven av The Upland Almanac.
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Denne historien er fra Spring 2020-utgaven av The Upland Almanac.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Tailfeathers
The essence of fly fishing, I think I've decided, is time.
Ten Questions with Tim Flagler, Fly Tyer/Cook Extraordinaire
Culinary Creations from Gordon Hamersley
GREY on the Wing
Hands clutching the wheel of a large, lumbering vehicle whose vintage and purpose partially prompted the invention of \"powering steering,\" disengaged the clutch and applied the brakes, bringing it to a stop.
James Purdey & Sons Ltd.One of London's "Best"
At the conclusion of a recent breakfast meeting of the Shrewsbury Men's Club of Massachusetts, I was packing up my show-and-tell aids after giving a presentation.
WAWAWAI
I don't chase chukars anymore, but from the time I was 16, chukar hunting had been my favorite bird hunting endeavor.
A FAIR EXCHANGE
Among the concerns faced by many small community gun clubs here in the Northeast is our inability to attract and maintain new and younger shooters.
Coming to Heel
I'n the world of gun dogs, it's not unusual that retrievers are taught to heel.
Bird Dogs - Health Matters
Avoiding Medical Mishaps on the Road
MATT HART
Matt Hart, owner, designer and artist of Hartist Metals, is a highly skilled metal sculptor based in the picturesque Catskill Mountains of New York.
Luigi Franchi Imperial Monte Carlo Extra: One of Italy's "Best" SxS Doubles
As on London’s gun-maker’s row, Italians had skilled craftsmen who made “Best” guns of superb quality