Fantastic dove hunting this morning!

[gamestalker]

Hey ya all! I hope everyone had as much fun as I did this morning. My shoulder is so sore, but it was so worth it. Looks like hunting season is off to a good start.

One of my Son's and his wife, who is a first timer, did pretty darn good considering. We mentored her, and considering this was her first time wing shooting, we were so proud of her. We took her out and did a bunch of clay busting over the last several weeks, and it really paid off. She went through several boxes of 12 gauge, and although she only killed like 5 birds, she was on cloud 9, and got lots of trigger time with her nice new 870 Super Magnum.

And then to top it off, she jumped right in and dressed out the birds right along side of us. I thought that was so neat, many girls won't get their hands bloody, not this young lady.

And last deer season I guided deer for both of them, and they each killed a nice white tail couse deer. And like this morning, she jumped right in and helped gut and skin those deer, what a gal!

All in all, the 3 of us came back to the house with 28 dove, of which 10 were white wing. We probably could have limited out, but they were flying extremely fast, low, and in large numbers, 10-15 birds at a time coming in.

One of my other Son's went out yesterday and killed a small white tail couse deer with his bow, actually it was the day before. He dropped off a bag of jerky from that young velvet buck yesterday afternoon, yum!

I think I'll get back out this afternoon and see if I can finish off my limit, I need 6 more birds.

GS

 

[midland man]

I wish I had a place to go dove hunting

 

[Jlr2267]

Sweet. I cant go until Saturday afternoon, but looking forward to it. Hope to see the quantity of birds you saw.

 

[Pit4Brains]

Glad you had a good outing. I went to my regular honey hole and it was dead this morning! I bagged one bird and fired a total of three shells. I have to blame the nice weather for the lack of birds. This was by far the coolest, driest Sep 1st. in a long time and it didn't seem like the birds were in a hurry to go to feed like usual. Oh well, 14 days to go..

 

[midland man]

is there any place here in around coalgate Oklahoma I could go dove hunting? plus congrats there on the great dove hunt!

 

[Captcurt]

Looking forward to it.

Our season opens next weekend and I'm ready. This year I am going to start with my 28 ga. Last year I shot my 20ga Beretta on the first day and did the best that I have ever done. Knocked down 16 birds with 32 shots. Went back 3 days later with my 28 and go smoked. Those birds had been shot at for 3 days and were flying like F22's. I shot 13 or 14 shots and never touched a feather.:banghead::banghead:I love it. Doves can humble you in a hurry.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Our morning tally was 154 birds, mostly Eurasians (no limit on them). I don't know how many shooters we have, maybe ten adults and as many kids.

Getting the smoker ready for a big feast this evening. Still birds flying so this evening should be great!

 

[morcey2]

Tried to go hunting this morning. My body is still recovering from a son's wedding last Friday. I had 4 eurasians and a mourning dove sitting on our antenna on our house this afternoon. I'm going to try to get out one of these evenings to a couple of little springs out in the boonies that I know about. Barring that, I'm definitely going Saturday morning.

 

[Pit4Brains]

Our morning tally was 154 birds, mostly Eurasians (no limit on them). I don't know how many shooters we have, maybe ten adults and as many kids.

Getting the smoker ready for a big feast this evening. Still birds flying so this evening should be great!

Have you ever used Morton's TenderQuick to cure them prior to smoking? They come out like jerky snacks but are cured so they don't spoil quickly. I'll post up some pics and instructions in the recipe section when I get enough birds.

 

[gamestalker]

Pit4brains, you should cruise down here by Marana. Just about any where west of the Tucson Mountains is always over run with them. we only hunted for about an hour this morning if that. So it was our fault we didn't limit out, I usually do, but my daughter in law got tired / hot, what can I say, she's a girl ya know, ha, ha.

Specific directions would be to take the Avra Valley exit west. Turn south (left) on Sandario, go west (right) on Manvile Rd until you see the BLM signs on the fences, all that BLM is great. Especially around the CAP and the farm land.

GS

 

[Joespapa]

Are you in Texas?

 

[Pit4Brains]

Pit4brains, you should cruise down here by Marana. Just about any where west of the Tucson Mountains is always over run with them. we only hunted for about an hour this morning if that. So it was our fault we didn't limit out, I usually do, but my daughter in law got tired / hot, what can I say, she's a girl ya know, ha, ha.

Specific directions would be to take the Avra Valley exit west. Turn south (left) on Sandario, go west (right) on Manvile Rd until you see the BLM signs on the fences, all that BLM is great. Especially around the CAP and the farm land.

GS

Thanks for the scoop, that info is hard to come by.
I live near 3 or 4 dairies on the outskirts of town. Google Sossaman and Guadalupe for an idea. I normally limit within an hour or so during the first season. Today was abnormally cool, dry and slow as far as the bird activity. We're heading out for the evening shoot in a little.
If I come down that far maybe we can meet up for a evening/ morning shoot and a camp out.

 

[Pit4Brains]

Are you in Texas?

By the grace of God, No.

 

[midland man]

you know I just got to thinking I don't have any grain fields to hunt over but do have a pond and a creek and river to sit and see if they will come in to drink I wonder if doves at lest surely come in to drink maybe I can go hunting by sitting over where water is?? what ya'll think?

 

[1911 guy]

I really enjoy dove hunting. I don't do it often, for two reasons. First, there are very limited opportunities in my immediate area. Secondly, I stink with a shotgun. I'm usually for for two or three doves. Per box of shells. Did I say box? I may have meant case.

There are doves to be had, to be sure. But I'm not anxious to drive an hour just to embarrass myself. My dad finds it hysterical that I can outshoot him by a wide margin with a rifle or a handgun. Then he cleans my clock when it comes to shotguns. But as he is beginning to show his age, I'm happy just to have the opportunity to still shoot with him.

 

[Pit4Brains]

I really enjoy dove hunting. I don't do it often, for two reasons. First, there are very limited opportunities in my immediate area. Secondly, I stink with a shotgun. I'm usually for for two or three doves. Per box of shells. Did I say box? I may have meant case.

There are doves to be had, to be sure. But I'm not anxious to drive an hour just to embarrass myself. My dad finds it hysterical that I can outshoot him by a wide margin with a rifle or a handgun. Then he cleans my clock when it comes to shotguns. But as he is beginning to show his age, I'm happy just to have the opportunity to still shoot with him.

Wing shooting is difficult. Most liars are born on a wing shoot. I'm in the stage where I'm teaching my son how to do it. Success is measured by the experience, not the bag.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

you know I just got to thinking I don't have any grain fields to hunt over but do have a pond and a creek and river to sit and see if they will come in to drink I wonder if doves at lest surely come in to drink maybe I can go hunting by sitting over where water is?? what ya'll think?

Absolutely! The best hunting is normally next to a stream or river in the evening. They always come in for water before they roost.

BTW, afternoon count was 81, for a total of 235 on the day. A new record!

 

[Sniper66]

I have a great place to shoot and took my newly acquired, beautifully restored Remington Model 17 20ga. I was excited. Mother Nature had other ideas though and she dumped 1.3 inches of heavy rain on the field, which made it virtually inaccessible. Unless you want to slog through mud for a 1/4 mile...I don't, even though I could see dozens of doves in the distance. Oh well, there is always tomorrow.

 

[loose noose]

Hunted the indian reservation this year, and got my bag limit with the .410 using just under a box of shells. (one under) I got 6 White Wing, and 9 Morning doves, all within an hour. Ended up hunting by myself this year as my grandson just couldn't make it, and my other old buddy just couldn't get up out of bed, believe me getting old sucks big time. Got just enough birds to make a decent mushroom gravy with the doves sautéed in same, with mashed potatoes, and green peas. Man that makes me hungry already. Only thing would have made it better is if I had company.

 

[Captcurt]

Loose,

I know what you mean about getting old and hunting alone. The only up side is that there are no witnesses to dispute your shooting ability. If I shot a 410 that well I would be pumped. Well, pumped until I went out the next trip and rectified things. One year I shot skeet every week all summer long. Opening day I missed the first 9 birds that came by me.

 

[scottishkat]

Shot 11 myself here in VA yesterday 4 shy of our limit. Probably would have gotten my limit but the sun from 1400 to 1700 was brutal and had me hiding in the cedars.

All in all it was a great opening day.

Good luck and shoot straight especially at them tasty doves.

Bob

 

[Armored farmer]

Not a good opener for us. My 12yo and I only got 6.
But hey...that was enough for a dozen bbq'd bacon wrapped dove/jalapeno poppers!

 

[gamestalker]

Pit4Brains, your more than welcome to come on down, it's only an hour or so from Mesa Tempe. Honestly, we have so many birds that sharing good spots is of no consequence, so I would be happy to show you the best spots.

As for camping out, it's a little too warm my taste at this time of year. Now when late season dove and quail starts, we could get some serious wing shooting and camp fire stories going.

GS

 

[griff383]

We had a great day in mid-central Texas, everyone limited out I think and we all left fairly early in the afternoon with plenty still flying.

I will be the first to admit I have alot to learn with wing shooting, it took me almost 3 boxes to get my birds. But, I have improved since last year so maybe in about 20-30 years I will have that down to only 2 boxes!

As much as I hate to miss, its hard to be upset when you get to watch the sunrise with some good people and a shotgun. Even harder to be mad when youre all sitting around after the hunt with a tasty cold beverage and laughing at the guys that shot 3 boxes of shells that day.

 

[Pit4Brains]

Pit4Brains, your more than welcome to come on down, it's only an hour or so from Mesa Tempe. Honestly, we have so many birds that sharing good spots is of no consequence, so I would be happy to show you the best spots.

As for camping out, it's a little too warm my taste at this time of year. Now when late season dove and quail starts, we could get some serious wing shooting and camp fire stories going.

GS

I truly meant that I would have to camp out to make the trip worth while. I will keep the invitation open though. I'll PM you if I come down that way.