[natedog]

My sister's boyfriend has invited me to go dove hunting with him. I enthusiastically accepted his offer. Shotgun-wise, I have a Winchester Model 12 20 ga. I am curious on what is the necessary equipment to have. Should I wear blaze orange? Just regular jeans and a sweatshirt? Some sort of game bag? Shell holders? Thanks....

By the way, I will be hunting in central California (Kern County).

[BenW]

I hunt just up the valley from you in Visalia. Your gun is fine. What's your choke? There's a lot of old locals that only shoot full chokes, but I prefer improved cylinder or modified. If you're hunting grain fields from cover, you're more likely to have close, fast shots that require an open choke.

Doves have good eyes, so I don't wear blaze orange. I don't camo out either though. I usually wear drab colors that fit in with the field I'm shooting. It could be olive drab for cornfields and alfalfa or khaki for grain fields. You might want to ditch the sweatshirt. It'll be in the high 60's to 70's the first hour you hunt in the morning, rapidly climbing to the 90's. Bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

You'll most likely be stand hunting, so you should bring a cooler for both your birds and some non-alcoholic refreshment for yourself and your dog if you have one. Bring plenty of shells. The average for doves (they can fly 50 MPH) is one dove for every five shots fired. I like 7 1/2 shot.

Watch out for falling shot from other hunters on opening day if you're on public land, and above all, have fun!

[natedog]

The bag limit is 10 doves, correct? So, say, 3 boxes of Remington 2 3/4" 7 shot? My choke is a rotary type, so I can go from cylinder to full choke in about a second. What about a bag to hold the game?

[BenW]

I haven't looked at this year's migratory regs yet, but it should still be 10. You should go to www.dfg.ca.gov to verify though.

You can get a game bag if you want I guess, you should probably opt for a mesh one though so the birds can cool a bit. I generally keep my birds in a cooler or else lay them out in the shade in my blind. You should breast your birds as soon as you're done hunting so the heat doesn't get to them.

[Kingcreek]

I use one of those camo 5 gal bucket coolers with the padded swivel seat, styrofoam liner and a top tray for shell boxes. Cold water for me and the dog, a little ice to keep the birds cool.
A trip to the local skeet range will help tune you up for the dove hunt.
round here steel or nontox shot is required on public land since the dove is a migratory bird.
Have fun!

[Grayrock]

Man- all this talk of dove is gettin my itch a goin'. I can't hardly wait for 9-1-03 to get here.

[sm]

Did someone say " Grey Missles" ? :D Evil gray missels MUST be taken out, every opening day...its in the Old Testament. I know its on my birth certificate...All us Southern boys have that on our BC.

Me, jeans, kahki long sleeve (skeeters early, roll up for shooting) stool or really 5 gal bucket...or I use the "15 Dove size" . Pc of old burlap over my legs in the midst of traffic route...I don'tuse a ball cap, I use a cowboy, or boonie...anything to keep sun off neck...keeps the shot from going down your back...I try to use the ugliest and mos t distracting hat --not for the missles...my shooting buds.:)

I use a 12 bore, usually skeet or skeet one choke with skeet loads. See we have a dealie. 15 bird limit,we take 15 shells...loser buys breakfast. Shooting glasses and ear plugs, water, junk food and I always bring a treat for the retrievers.

I'm trying to beat my best, 15 birds with 13 shells :D Got to get them missles to "pair up".

Gots to have afternoon hunt...got to do something while the BBQ is smoking.

pattern your gun, be safe, but most of all have FUN...tidbit: Dove season was invented by shoshell mfg's...quick over your shoulder...blam...oh how I get a kick on doubles...:D

[Larry Ashcraft]

15 birds with 13 shells
You got me beat! I once got 11 birds with 13 shells, jump shooting them out of windbreaks. And I've been hunting doves for, uuuum, 42 Years! Started when I was 11.

[Intune]

Fun, fun, fun, fun, FUN! Did I mention FUN! It only takes once with a great group of folks & you'll be hooked! Oh, and it's really FUN!

:D

[sm]

Larry...you shoulda had 2 more shells :D

Hey, I was in my groove and shooting a LOT of competition. I can't help it if the dumb missles kept "running into my shot". ;)

I remember a time before I learned about shotguns, gun fit and hard shot...and getting only mumbly2 birdsoutofaboxsomething .

Larry- you just quit shooting and went in early...otherwise the pickin' s on the BBQ would be slim...I can't really blame you...smart man.

IT's FUN, It's a tradition, the dads and kids, the dogs and food. I've even just gone out and sat after opening day to watch 'em...just to see how they flew and where I wanted to set up. I have also lain my gun aside with kids and just helped them. Didn't fire a shot. Dad took the boy and I took the 11 y/o girl with 28 ga 1100. She was estasic...she got herself 6 birds...me, I felt so good , so proud I almost couldn't fit into the cab of my truck.

It is opening day yet ?

:D

[sm]

Oh yea, I sat myself at the corner of two 'dirt paths'. Milo, sunflower, surrounded by soybean on outskirts. Watering hole behind me, the roost in front...I had watched and knew where I was gonna be on day one. My buddy was at the other road that teed. We each limited out in less than 30 min., I really think we shot for 20. Kinda like "flurries" at the range.:p We thought we were being attacked. The two doubles were coming straight at me, both times, I waited till the last moment on the first and shot while still sitting...had to get up and take 3 steps to retrieve. The second pair did the same thing except I guess they must have been spooked by other shooters...I stood up nailed them 'just as' they started to part and dart...ok 5yds ain't far to retreive...Them style points are nice too? :D

[spectr17]

Hello natedog,

Lots of info on Cal dove hunting at this website.

http://www.jesseshuntingpage.com/caldove.html

[Art Eatman]

I have read that for whatever reason, doves don't like the color blue, and will veer away from it. I wouldn't bother with camo, but dull and drab earth tones are best for clothing.

Art

[Larry Ashcraft]

mumbly2 birdsoutofaboxsomething
BTDT. Once hunting the Cuchara river they were diving in on us like we weren't even there, me and one friend. Final tally: 3-4 boxes of shells, 7 doves.
gun fit
Very important. The first time I used my Rem. 11-48 about 30 years ago, it was a little too long. After 2 boxes of shells, I was black and blue from my neck to my elbow. :D

[sm]

doves don't like the color blue,

I've heard that too, many times I use the drab kahki pants...then again I wear jeans with the burlapover the legs...incomers see the blue...so that "screaming afterburner rise lets get outta here thingy" and that's when for that brief moment...suspended in space...nail 'em...doubles. ;)

How's that for rationlization and theory?

I was black and blue from my neck to my elbow.

:p oh yea BTDT, gee what fun tho' add the skeeters, sweat, ribbing and thirst...suppose to still grin tho'..."Support the Shotshell Industry--Go Dove Hunting"..."Blood Drive--Farmer Jones' Field Opening Day"

I ever get where I can't hunt gonna get a cart /concession" Get your shells, bug spray, water,sitting stools Ben Gay, ...excuses 2 bucks each, get 'em here while they last..." I'd make a fortune. :D

[natedog]

Okay I got a camo vest, it can hold 10 doves and 16 shotshells. Also, I have a 25 round bandolier and a makeshift droppouch (used a binocular case) that can hold 55 shells. i was thinking about a slip on but stock shot shell holder. Your thoughts?

[Grayrock]

What works for me is the belt pouch type game bags. I put spent shells in the right pouch, beverage, bug spray, bandana, bags in the left pouch and birds in the rear. I carry shells on a bandolier over my shoulder where they are always at my fingertips for quick reloads. My stool has a pocket under it for an extra box of shells or beverage or anything else I might need. A pair of tan BDU's blend in to the dirt and a light weight camo shirt to fit the terrain and my light colored camo cap complete the ensemble. I can hardly sit still thinking of it.

Any of you have success using dove decoys?

[Larry Ashcraft]

When my little brother was a teenager, he had my mom modify a hunting vest just for doves.

It held 48 shells and had NO game bag. :D

[Lennyjoe]

Counting down the days till 1 Sept here too. Gonna be a warm one though.

Going out Sat morning to shoot some skeet/trap at the range here on base. Gotta tune in the shooting skills.

Them Northern blue streaks are a blast to shoot out here. Plenty of them down this way.

Found a small pond last year when I was home on midtour in the middle of the desert and had a blast. Think we took home round 300 between the two of us. Still some of em in the freezer. Gotta eat them up and make room for more.

I shoot a Winchester Model 1400. Got a vest that I sewed extra shell holders onto. Usually just throw on an old pair of work BDU's and thats about it.

[Selfdfenz]

nate,

Get a stool of some kind. The folding kind with a back and a carry strap and bag underneath are great but I have a full adults sized one with arm rests that is the best thing.
The bag is perfect to stuff trash and MTs in if so equipped.
I hunt in a faded tan t-shirt and a pair of faded green shorts. It's hot in TX. I have used vests but not so much any more. I perfer a tan basball cap but I won't sit out in th e open if there is shade:) so usually go w/o a hat.
I have a box of shells open sitting on my cooler and a handful in each pocket. When I walk out to pick up birds I have a few reloads on hand but otherwise don't have to haul all that weight around.

20ga is great in early season when the birds aren't educated. Late season birds are fewer and faster and farther away=12 ga.

Grayrock
I hunted in Abilene last year on the opener.
One day decoys seems to pull'em, the next day I don't think they helped or hurt.
I just can't wait.
It'll be a hot'un uh?
Take care and good hunting.
S-

[Grayrock]

I made the mistake of forgetting about 6 decoys on a wire a couple of years ago. When I asked my "buddies" to retrieve them for me the next week, I got back a bag of perforated styrofoam :cuss:
'Course I then mounted one on a plaque and presented it to them at a later date! :neener:

[pinetree64]

I host two hunts in South Alabama every year (September & December) . We usually all have dove stools, wear neutral colored cloths and take plenty of water. Must of us use Filson Game Bags as vests get too hot. An AM radio is good for listening to College football until the birds start moving. Also important are sunscreen and bug spray. Hats are important. Every year we get more complicated, last year it was face masks. This year we are taking blind material. Last year there wasn't much cover.

Lastly, we always though in a box of clays and a couple hand throwers.

tjg