Bird hunting tips in TX for 1st timer

[MrMex]

Hey guys, well ive finally got lucky enough that one of my family has some land I can hunt on. Ive been wanting to for a while and this season isn't going to pass me by.

I will be starting with dove first. As the season progresses I will be trying to get me some quail and turkey.

Any tips will be great. The area is central zone just north of the special white tipped dove area...uvalde county. The gun is going to be my Remmy 1100 12ga with 26 inch mod.

 

[Art Eatman]

Any creeks or stock tanks on the property? Evening dove shooting at a stock tank is commonly productive. Afternoons around any sort of grain field or are with sunflowers is good. 7-1/2 or 8 shot size. Modified choke, maybe Improved Cylinder

Blue quail? I like 7-1/2 over 8s, unless you regularly get sorta close. Blues will commonly run, rather than fly, so don't feel bad about shooting when they're on the ground. My nickname for them is "run-run birds". Modified choke or even Full, if you find your shots out around 40 yards to be common. (Out here in Terlingua, 30 yards is close-in.)

Turkey? Full choke, or Xtra-full if you can. I'm no expert for shotguns on turkeys, but I'd think at least #4, if not #2.

 

[mbt2001]

First and foremost, be careful with your shots. I have seen people that are normally careful with firearms get on a dove, swing with the shot and end up painting someone or something (car) with the shot.

So park away and walk to the hunting spot. Watch your shots. Have some sunglasses handy in case the dove are flying into or out of the sun.

Other than that, listen to Art....