I just got back from my first ever Sora Rail hunt. I first learned about Soras after seeing them in the regulations for migratory birds and then began researching how to hunt them. I learned it was traditionally done hunting in a canoe being push poled by another person in the tall grass usually consisting of spartina grass down South or in the wild rice flats up North. John J. Audubon called rail bird shooting: "The sport of kings" and the fact that it is so esoteric made me want to experience it even more. There are four huntable rail species which are the Sora, Virginia, Clapper, and King Rails. The Sora Rail is the smallest of the four, most common in New England, and can fly at speeds of 40 miles per hour, which I soon found out which makes them difficult quarry for a novice wingshooter such as myself. I found a guide in Maine who is experienced in hunting Soras the traditional way and I quickly jumped at the opportunity to hunt a game bird that many don't know even exists.
As I was push poled through the wild rice we bumped hundreds of ducks - Mallards, Blacks, and Wood ducks. The scenery itself made the hunt worth it. About an hour into the hunt we flushed the first Sora rail of the day and it was a clean miss! After a few more shots and perseverance I connected on my first Sora and it was retrieved successfully. I was incredibly proud to be part of a tradition that dates back centuries. Unfortunately the number of rails was much lower than in years past in this particular area and I finished with two birds. On an ideal day a limit of 25 can be had. However, I had an amazing time and got to see beautiful country and got humbled by a little bird the size of my hand with a shotgun. I look forward to rail hunting again!
Regrettably I did not get a picture of myself with the birds I harvested. One was sent away for mounting and the other was destined for the plate. The finished products of each will be posted in time.
As I was push poled through the wild rice we bumped hundreds of ducks - Mallards, Blacks, and Wood ducks. The scenery itself made the hunt worth it. About an hour into the hunt we flushed the first Sora rail of the day and it was a clean miss! After a few more shots and perseverance I connected on my first Sora and it was retrieved successfully. I was incredibly proud to be part of a tradition that dates back centuries. Unfortunately the number of rails was much lower than in years past in this particular area and I finished with two birds. On an ideal day a limit of 25 can be had. However, I had an amazing time and got to see beautiful country and got humbled by a little bird the size of my hand with a shotgun. I look forward to rail hunting again!
Regrettably I did not get a picture of myself with the birds I harvested. One was sent away for mounting and the other was destined for the plate. The finished products of each will be posted in time.
