1st Dove Hunt ???

[CZSteve]

Going on my first dove hunt here in N. Texas, Graham to be precise.

Any suggestions as to gear to take/use or words of 'wisdom'?

Would a 5 gal. bucket be good to take for sitting on or carrying birds (hopefully)?

Gun will be an 870 - 26" w/ modified choke.
Brother has a 28" barrel I can borrow, is it worth the longer barrel. Plan on picking up a full choke to take w/ me.

Planned to take:
License
2 shell limit plug
ammo
sun screen
mosquito spray
obvious safety gear
???

 

[bbrown609]

I wouldn't worry about taking a full choke. If you've never hunted them before, they are pretty tough to hit. I would shoot modified or even IC and lay off the long shots. Doves coming straight out from you or straight into you are easier to hit. Try to pick a stand that will lend itself to more of those shots. Being new man, you probably won't have a choice on stands though. It probably won't make much of a difference with 26 or 28 inch barrels. I would just shoot the gun I was more comfortable and familiar with. 5 gallon buckets can get hard after a couple of hours of hunting. Also, if you plan to put your doves in it, it will be upright and not upside down to sit on. I have a seat that is actually a five gallon bucket that has been equipped with a swivel padded seat on top. It works very well. You will need something to put doves in to keep them off the ground, so ants will not get on them. A trash bag works well in a pinch. Take a good bit of liquids to hydrate yourself. Opening day in SC is always hot, I am sure it is the same in Texas. Good luck.

 

[sm]

Peppermint - to bribe the dogs to retrieve your birds first.
Jerkey - birds won't fall unless one has Jerkey on person or in system.

I use skeet or IC, 2 3/4 " 1 1/8 oz of hard # 8.5 and #8 shot. in 12 ga. in a shell pouch. I wear jeans, kahki shirt , and sit on the ugliest bucket I can find . I use burlap bags for birds. I wear a bandana , gray , green , khaki , shooting glasses. Guns is plugged if a repeater...

When the truck comes by...with water I wet the burlap to keep birds cool...or use my water bottles to do same....cold coffee works.

I have range marked and I try to bring markers for downed birds if no dogs. Actually - I let the birds come to me....I try to shoot so I can catch them or fall at feet.

The "serious" hunts where we head out with only 15 shells( 15 bird limit here) and the one that brings in the most birds - get the pot.

When it is kid's day - I don't take a gun afield - its their day. I will assist with basics and fundamentals if need be ... if a dove falls well a kid needs to limit out don't ya think?

Fun - Run -Gun- anything goes. Crank Up Hendrix "Star Spangled Banner" ...ZZ top, I f they ain't flying - we go after them. Rebel Bandana, and Dog that knows the game... I usually take point and head into the field. [ Mind you Hendrix is cranked at two ends of this field] I have folks on my flanks. 28 ga and I literally head in at full bore run.

Doves will look back hesitate for a fatal second. "One shot - One Kill" "Leave no prisoners".

This works when the field "has been shot out" or in late season when more wary. Yes be very wary indeed. I will chase you into that tree line and beyond...

I have to show Smoke this "method".

 

[Fred Fuller]

Steve,

Hope you have a great day afield.

Add to your list of things to take- your sense of humor! You will have opportunities to laugh/poke fun at yourself- be sure you beat everybody else to the punch, when the gang gathers for the palaver after the day is done. You can always accuse somebody of sneaking all the pellets out of your shells when you had your back turned, or swapping out your shells for blanks. All the jawing and joshing before, during and after is a major part of the day, be sure you are prepared to enjoy it.

And don't think about it too much, 'just shoot it.' Too much worry about how you are gonna do or how many birds you have downed will jinx you for sure. If you find the only birds you hit are the ones that surprise you, you're thinking too hard. Just relax, swing that barrel, and keep on swinging through the trigger pull- don't stop swinging!

Set yourself up some range markers (an obvious weed, a few corn stalks propped together, a bunch of grass etc- move what you have to) 35 yards out or so. Then WAIT for the birds to come to you.

Put that plug in the gun BEFORE you go hunting. In fact, do it now.

Does your state require HIP registration? If you need harvest information program (HIP) data to report, you don't wanna find out about that from the game warden.

Many a time I have lugged all my stuff into the field in a feed sack in a 5 gallon bucket painted drab, and upended the bucket to sit on. Fold up the burlap sack for a cushion, carry an extra sack to hide your water bottle/shell boxes in, or stuff them under the bucket. Then use the bucket to lug everything out again.

Pick up your hulls as you shoot. Take them out of the field with you. Give'em to a reloader or trash 'em when you get home, but don't leave them out in the field. Litter is litter no matter what it came from.

Don't forget to have a good time!

lpl/nc

 

[Smoke]

I've hunted around Graham and vicinity a good bit.

You'll probably be hunting millet fields. Expect birds. Lot's of them.
Country around Graham is wide open, usually a wide ope field with small scrub brush and mesquite surrounding it. Put your back to the brush but look both ways.

There will be no shade...dress appropriately and hydrate. Graham is west TX...think dry. Find a water hole if you can or at least be in the flight path to one.

Have fun. Give us an after action report here.

Smoke

 

[Kingcreek]

somewhere along the way I picked up a 5 gal bucket, brown with a padded camo swivel seat and a styofoam liner and tray. I added a shoulder strap. Great dove bucket. I put some ice in the bottom and bag my birds in plastic bags (5/bag) and put em on ice soon after shooting them. room for a couple of water bottes in the bottom and a couple boxes of shells in the tray. bring a bag to pack the hulls out.