berettashotgun
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Time to get the stuff ready, Hackberry Flat in Frederick,OK is the place to go- I'm out'a here. I love dove hunting THE BEST!!
Dove season
- Thread starter berettashotgun
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Smoke
Member
Hunting locally tomorrow afternoon...then heading to Monahans Friday for the 3 day Dove slaughter.
It's my favorite time of year. [snifff]
Smoke - wipes away a tear of joy
It's my favorite time of year. [snifff]
Smoke - wipes away a tear of joy
Can't hunt until Friday (well, maybe tomorrow evening).
I think its finally going to be a good season here. We own a river bottom property that has never been good for doves, though it should be. But lately, I've counted about forty per hour flying over my barn.
Gonna see if this 28 ga is as good on doves as Steve says!
(Meanwhile, the Citori and several boxes of 12 ga wait in reserve
.)
I think its finally going to be a good season here. We own a river bottom property that has never been good for doves, though it should be. But lately, I've counted about forty per hour flying over my barn.
Gonna see if this 28 ga is as good on doves as Steve says!
(Meanwhile, the Citori and several boxes of 12 ga wait in reserve
.)
Lennyjoe
Member
Season opens up here tomorrow as well. I'm going to the place where the doves are as thick as thieves. The airfield. 
buzz meeks
Member
Dove opens here in Montana tomorrow, too, but all four of them flew south during the last cold snap. Nope, I'm going for Huns in the morning and grouse in the afternoon. Since I broke out the vest an hour ago, the dog will not leave my side.
berettashotgun
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Fixing to go wake up the little devil...er honey. She is sure snoring right now, BUT her pintail is sparkling clean, my 686 is clean,the "other" pintail is clean, the 20 O/U is clean, the stuff is loaded, the pets are fed and the fish are watered. Hurry up 3:30 had to edit- were on central time- it's 2 o'clock and all's well and waiting. I quit dipping 2 WHOLE weeks ago and I think I'm gonna go nuts waiting to get to swing a lead...... :banghead: I hope the wind is blowing on the prarie. Would only stand to increase my fun quotion
ID_shooting
Member
I couldn't make the AM run (work :banghead: ) but just got back from the PM rush, dropped 7!
Aurelio_Ortiz
Member
I hunted central Texas opening evening. There were some birds. But not like I expected to see. I was just wondering how everyone else did and if ya'll actually saw a lot of birds
berettashotgun
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12 birds for me on opening morning- a casual observation would be that only about 1/2 the normal amount were flying, Fewest birds I have ever seen at Hackberry Flat. Gonna go 35 miles N.W of Frederick sat. Still had a great time, but Sandy got a pellet in the arm about 2 seconds after we set up. THEN the same moron shot my pickup. He was young,dumb and lectured about gun safety by a tall,blond,hot female who happened to be holding a nice beretta pintail. I love her.
Gordon
Member
The BSS is loaded in the trunk of the Jeep, leaving for a 2 hour drive at 3:30 am
good night!
good night!
hobbeeman
Member
Were headed to Pampa, Tx in 30 minutes. I'll let you know how it goes. By the way, there are 8 in my backyard this morning. I wonder if the neighbors would wake up if.....Uh, back to packing.
Greybeard
Member
Spent all day at new (quail) lease in Archer County Thursday, including watching the sunrise, which which was one of the better parts of the day. Not much on our place to specifically attract dove except three stock tanks. But, there's been a lot of recent rains and there is standing water in low spots everywhere ...
The dove there seemed to be "just passing though", most of which were out of range. A 16-year old kid we took though got his first dove ever around 7:30 and was so thrilled that he promptly called both of his parents on the cell phone.
My 17-year old son got a confirmed kill on a 10" rattlesnake - or what started out as one. I only got a shot at one dove that went in the bag with just two others by others. But did get to separate the head and neck of a 4' water moc from the rest its body.
With gas now over $3 a gallon, I'm probably going to just watch the sunrise and sunset from the house today ... Y'all be safe out there.
The dove there seemed to be "just passing though", most of which were out of range. A 16-year old kid we took though got his first dove ever around 7:30 and was so thrilled that he promptly called both of his parents on the cell phone.
My 17-year old son got a confirmed kill on a 10" rattlesnake - or what started out as one. I only got a shot at one dove that went in the bag with just two others by others. But did get to separate the head and neck of a 4' water moc from the rest its body.
With gas now over $3 a gallon, I'm probably going to just watch the sunrise and sunset from the house today ... Y'all be safe out there.
TrapperReady
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Got a handful on Thursday, and may do a little more dove hunting tomorrow... but it's also early goose season (5 per day limit) here in WI. Due to the fact that 5 geese have lots more edible flesh than 15 doves, I'm going after the honkers in the morning.
Gordon
Member
Wouldn't you know it: On the way to the dove hunt this morning at daylight 10 miles up a dirt road , I spotted a NICE 6 point buck in a meadow. I pulled the jeep over got out binocs and the .224 Weatherby with my 55 grain Barnes Triple shock load at 3500fps and walked back the couple hundred yards to meadow. I glassed the buck as a BIG 6 pointer (3 each side) about 175 yards away. I cranked up the old Weatherby Imperial to 7x and put the rifle on my cowboy hat (my hand supporting foreend- of course) held 6 inches from bottom of chest and just behind rt front shoulder. Let the breath out and when I looked up I saw the dust where the deer 'bounced' off the ground !
I went right down and cut the throat and dragged it by the hind legs to a tree about 100yards away. I went back to jeep and got it about 50 feet away, found some rope and hoisted it up. I had my brand new John Greco 6" clip point and put on rubber gloves and went to work. Seems to be about the same weight as a hay bale so I think it was 150 blacktail before gutting and skinning. About 100 pounds dressed and tagged with one of my 2 tags!. I had only plastic sheeting so I drove 2 hours home and hung it in my (cool) garage wrapped in a muslin bag. The .224 Barnes hit within an inch at 175 yards of POA and tore a 1" entrance hole jellied the lungs and EXPLODED the upper heart before breaking thru ribs and leaving a 2" nasty exit hole. I really expected this performance on this light deer, for me it seems an ideal match for a deer under 150 pounds or so under 300 yards.
Well that means I will have to go dove hunting Monday as I go to church tommorrow am.
I went right down and cut the throat and dragged it by the hind legs to a tree about 100yards away. I went back to jeep and got it about 50 feet away, found some rope and hoisted it up. I had my brand new John Greco 6" clip point and put on rubber gloves and went to work. Seems to be about the same weight as a hay bale so I think it was 150 blacktail before gutting and skinning. About 100 pounds dressed and tagged with one of my 2 tags!. I had only plastic sheeting so I drove 2 hours home and hung it in my (cool) garage wrapped in a muslin bag.
The .224 Barnes hit within an inch at 175 yards of POA and tore a 1" entrance hole jellied the lungs and EXPLODED the upper heart before breaking thru ribs and leaving a 2" nasty exit hole. I really expected this performance on this light deer, for me it seems an ideal match for a deer under 150 pounds or so under 300 yards.Well that means I will have to go dove hunting Monday as I go to church tommorrow am.
12 Volt Man
Member
I went out for a little dove hunting adventure today. My Father owns some land with trees that usually will hold a few dove's.
I am still not very strong or stable on my knee due to the recent surgery. I had to stay close to the vehicle in case there was a problem. I was a dough head and left my cell phone charging at home. I was able to go till about noon, then I felt like my knee wasn't going to hold up much longer. Still, it was long enough to bag 5 doves.
Today was my first time out with my new (to me) CZ 712. Also the first time I have used an auto loader shotgun. I hit doves with my first three shots out of that gun. I would say that makes it a keeper. Recoil was almost nonexistant compared to my Benelli Nova. I was using size 7 1/2 shot and an improved cylinder choke.
Cooper did well. He retrieved all the birds. It was a great time.
Here he is coming back with a Dove.
And now, his best Gene Simmons imitation.
Here is a picture of 4 of the Doves and the new CZ.
Not the best picture, but I ran in to these turkeys. I hope I draw a tag for this Spring. I know where these ones hang out.
I am still not very strong or stable on my knee due to the recent surgery. I had to stay close to the vehicle in case there was a problem. I was a dough head and left my cell phone charging at home. I was able to go till about noon, then I felt like my knee wasn't going to hold up much longer. Still, it was long enough to bag 5 doves.
Today was my first time out with my new (to me) CZ 712. Also the first time I have used an auto loader shotgun. I hit doves with my first three shots out of that gun. I would say that makes it a keeper
. Recoil was almost nonexistant compared to my Benelli Nova. I was using size 7 1/2 shot and an improved cylinder choke.Cooper did well. He retrieved all the birds. It was a great time.
Here he is coming back with a Dove.
And now, his best Gene Simmons imitation.
Here is a picture of 4 of the Doves and the new CZ.
Not the best picture, but I ran in to these turkeys. I hope I draw a tag for this Spring
. I know where these ones hang out.
hobbeeman
Member
Pampa was fantastic For my son and myself, it was our first time to dove hunt A good friend went with us and showed us where to go, and when to leave one field for another. We had birds coming right at us for the entire morning, about 5-10 minutes apart. However, we had a VERY difficult time hitting them. We had 3 downed birds and only one in the bag for 100 shells expended by 11am (clay pigeons don't really prepare you do they?)
We changed fields for the afternoon and wound up the day with 20 birds in the bag.
A great day for a newbie and his son
For my son and myself, it was our first time to dove hunt A good friend went with us and showed us where to go, and when to leave one field for another. We had birds coming right at us for the entire morning, about 5-10 minutes apart. However, we had a VERY difficult time hitting them. We had 3 downed birds and only one in the bag for 100 shells expended by 11am (clay pigeons don't really prepare you do they?)We changed fields for the afternoon and wound up the day with 20 birds in the bag.
A great day for a newbie and his son
berettashotgun
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Went to my buddies place yesterday, he is much of a dove hunter-but a 6K acre QUAIL lease tells off on him. Anyhows, didn't see a bird at location #1, but shot one on the trip to the pickup. Went around the corner and found the mother lode. We limited out in 2hrs, but I sure felt like a dofus- I have only used my homerolled steelshot on everything but turkeys for 7 years; Wanted to conserve my shells I have left (gotta remodel the reloading cubicle I'm allowed to have 
) so I used some rem nitros.Couldn't hit a fast passing shot for squat- head on and quarting away fell like normal but my lead has become so adjusted for the "normal" shells I carry (1oz #7 steel, 32gr solo 1250) I was not leading enough, made the adjustment and had some fun. I did forget the steel pellets never stayed in the meat- the lead often does. Oh yeah, typically shoot a 686 onyx (3.5" chamber 
) with factory victory extended lt.mod and mod- perfect for the long passing shots with steel, but lacking with the limited pellet count from the factory loads (which I got on sale for $3 per) they still worked great. I don't know what I'd do if that shotgun got hurt 
) so I used some rem nitros.Couldn't hit a fast passing shot for squat- head on and quarting away fell like normal but my lead has become so adjusted for the "normal" shells I carry (1oz #7 steel, 32gr solo 1250) I was not leading enough, made the adjustment and had some fun. I did forget the steel pellets never stayed in the meat- the lead often does. Oh yeah, typically shoot a 686 onyx (3.5" chamber ) with factory victory extended lt.mod and mod- perfect for the long passing shots with steel, but lacking with the limited pellet count from the factory loads (which I got on sale for $3 per) they still worked great. I don't know what I'd do if that shotgun got hurt Guyon
Member
Man, I envy some of you guys.
I went Saturday down to a 70 acre field leased by the TWRA. Worst hunt I've ever been on. We got there about 7 and by 8:30, we were the only ones left. It was surreal. Saw maybe 15 birds total, most of them too far off. I shot at two birds--killed the first, missed the second. My dove BBQ will consist of a single breast.
I think two things were working against us. Katrina, I imagine, scattered the birds in these parts. And the farmer/landowner cut his field too early. Just not enough food left on the ground to attract many birds.
Nice shot of those turkeys!
I went Saturday down to a 70 acre field leased by the TWRA. Worst hunt I've ever been on. We got there about 7 and by 8:30, we were the only ones left. It was surreal. Saw maybe 15 birds total, most of them too far off. I shot at two birds--killed the first, missed the second. My dove BBQ will consist of a single breast.
I think two things were working against us. Katrina, I imagine, scattered the birds in these parts. And the farmer/landowner cut his field too early. Just not enough food left on the ground to attract many birds.
Nice shot of those turkeys!
Lennyjoe
Member
Three of us went out this morning on the airfield and took 29 birds. Missed far more than we took thats for sure.
Camjr
Member
Opening day success
I went out to Throckmorton, Tx. The birds were very thick over thrashed sunflower fields. Full limit of 15 each day. We had a ball.
A red hi-viz front sight worked great at first light to allow me to keep my eyes on the target and know exactly where the muzzle was at all times.
I went out to Throckmorton, Tx. The birds were very thick over thrashed sunflower fields. Full limit of 15 each day. We had a ball.
A red hi-viz front sight worked great at first light to allow me to keep my eyes on the target and know exactly where the muzzle was at all times.
12 Volt Man
Member
We had some fast shooting right away. A flock of 15 or so came in to out decoys. I dropped 3 with one shot. The best part was that Cowboy retrieved all three to my hand. I was pleased as can be.
In the end, we dropped 10 between us. The dogs did great.
Here are a few photos.
My buddy went out to see if he could flush some that landed out in the field. The dogs waited nicely.
Here is Gur (my buddy's Gordon on a retrieve.
Cowboy with the nights Doves.
Gur with the same.
In the end, we dropped 10 between us. The dogs did great.
Here are a few photos.
My buddy went out to see if he could flush some that landed out in the field. The dogs waited nicely.
Here is Gur (my buddy's Gordon on a retrieve.
Cowboy with the nights Doves.
Gur with the same.
~z
Member
Looks like everyone is doing well. The Amarillo winds have not been helping, but sitting on a tank dam before dusk seems to help things along. No full bags yet, but I'm getting closer to a full 15.
~z
~z
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