Stan I learned how hard going away birds are to kill when shooting geese. A bird incoming or even side shot was a fairly simple shot to achieve a clean kill. But if the bird was quartering away or worse a straight away shot they became almost bullet proof. Part is the heavier feathers you have to penetrate, part is the armor plate of bone that protects the back and the fact that all the vitals are on the far end of the bird. The brain and neck are behind the bird. You could bring down a goose easier by breaking its wing than getting a fatal hit. But my golden hated wounded geese and would grow at me when I shot at them. I thought she was growing at the geese but suspect her critisim was for me. Birds are birds so what's true for one is true for another just scaled to size.
So true, Jon. I found that out decades ago, and it holds true on every bird I've ever hunted. IMO, quail seem to be one of the easier birds to put down going away. Don't know why. Doves are not, they're unexplainably tough to kill dead going way. Range is everything. Many people shoot at doves too far, going away.
SRH
