Being a hunter means conducting your hunts according to a high standard of ethical behavior. A significant part of this is striving for quick, clean kills of game that you're after.

Tony Dean of South Dakota observes that some upland bird hunters take shots that are too far, and this leads to a high crippling rate and birds that get away. He advocates learning to avoid taking shots at birds at the edge of your effective range.

Dean, an outdoor writer and broadcaster who lives in Pierre, S.D., also is a lifelong hunter. Dean makes a point about one important facet of good hunter ethics, and that's not taking shots at game that's too far.

"I believe we have an obligation as hunters to kill game as quickly, as cleanly, and humanely as possible." he says. "That means confining your shots to a reasonable range."

"For pheasants, I set that range at 35 yards," he notes. "I don't shoot at many birds beyond what I perceive at a range of 35 yards. If I take those shots, I know that my crippling rate goes sky high and the bird is usually dead before it hits the ground and that's what I strive for."