So far this dove season had been another disappointment. Between work, family, and a really hot fall down here (I can’t handle anything much over 93 for long, which makes South Texas a tough place) it has been a season of 1 or 2 birds and morning hunts or a random rainstorm interrupting a shoot.
Today I went out to check out a public field I hadn’t ever seen. It was a beautiful day so there was no reason not to go out. I figured I’d be lucky to see a few birds this late in the season. So I took the Ithaca 37 Featherlight 20 ga. It’s a delight to carry walking around and exploring, plus it’s really pretty compared to my usual 20 ga Benelli Nova. I didn’t expect much, but the field looked promising and I decided to set up the Dove Cabana (a blind without shade is nothing here) to see what happens.
I haven’t fired that shotgun in at least 10 years but it shoots well with a ribless, beadless, fixed IC barrel. I did shoot my first dove with it back in the mid 1990s. I am having some problems with passing shots (probably underestimating distance on a big field) but that’s another story.
Well, the birds were there. I wound up with 9 birds and a sore shoulder. Putting two boxes of heavy 1 oz reloads through a 6 1/2 lb gun kicks a bit. I guess next week, I’ll take something heavier to close the early season out.
Today I went out to check out a public field I hadn’t ever seen. It was a beautiful day so there was no reason not to go out. I figured I’d be lucky to see a few birds this late in the season. So I took the Ithaca 37 Featherlight 20 ga. It’s a delight to carry walking around and exploring, plus it’s really pretty compared to my usual 20 ga Benelli Nova. I didn’t expect much, but the field looked promising and I decided to set up the Dove Cabana (a blind without shade is nothing here) to see what happens.
I haven’t fired that shotgun in at least 10 years but it shoots well with a ribless, beadless, fixed IC barrel. I did shoot my first dove with it back in the mid 1990s. I am having some problems with passing shots (probably underestimating distance on a big field) but that’s another story.
Well, the birds were there. I wound up with 9 birds and a sore shoulder. Putting two boxes of heavy 1 oz reloads through a 6 1/2 lb gun kicks a bit. I guess next week, I’ll take something heavier to close the early season out.
