Dove season...

gator

Starts at sunrise in the morning........anybody want to guess where I'll be?

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timc

Hmmmmm...... Denny's?

I'm in the field tomorrow afternoon myself, don't know if I'll hit anything it's been about three years since I got out bird hunting. Whatever the outcome there will be beer and BBQ after the hunt!

Jayhawker

Yeah...it is that time of year.....unfortunately in MI, doves are "songbirds".....

CaliFFL

Jayhawker wrote: »

Yeah...it is that time of year.....unfortunately in MI, doves are "songbirds".....

I remember that law passing some years ago. Surprising for such a hunter friendly state.

Teach

Tennessee's dove season opens at noon today, but the birds would need radar and/or an instrument rating to fly today. The remains of hurricane Henry are passing through!
Jerry

JerryBobCo

Jayhawker wrote: »

Yeah...it is that time of year.....unfortunately in MI, doves are "songbirds".....

I was told that Nebraska also has a hands off policy for doves. That was in the 70s, though. Maybe sixgun can provide an update.

We're starting to see them show up around here. Unfortunately, I don't have a place to hunt, nor am I qualified as a Texas resident for the purpose of getting a resident hunting license. Texas requires 6 months of residency for that, and I've only been here since June. Even if I did have a place to hunt, I'm not going to pay non-resident fees to shoot at and miss doves.

jaywapti

Of all the birds i have hunted, doves for me are the hardest to hit.

JAY

Six-Gun

JerryBobCo wrote: »

I was told that Nebraska also has a hands off policy for doves. That was in the 70s, though. Maybe sixgun can provide an update.

We're starting to see them show up around here. Unfortunately, I don't have a place to hunt, nor am I qualified as a Texas resident for the purpose of getting a resident hunting license. Texas requires 6 months of residency for that, and I've only been here since June. Even if I did have a place to hunt, I'm not going to pay non-resident fees to shoot at and miss doves.

Oh, no. There's no issue taking them this year. We got out for first light today and limited out (15 birds) by 9AM. I'll make a report thread a little later.

Bigslug

BREASTS: They're always better in pairs. :tooth:

Broke in the bird barrel of a 2-tube Mossberg combo set out at the Salton Sea with some friends this morning. Other than being as hot and humid as Satan's personal gator swamp, a great time was had by all. Got 11 mourners, one whitewing, finished off somebody else's wounded bird, and possibly left two wounded on the field.

Time to re-hydrate!

NN

Starts today---gonna be raining

RugerFan

Opened this morning here. I'm hearing lots of shooting. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone with a field.

timc

We had an awesome hunt yesterday, I was worried the hurricane blew all the doves out but we had lots of birds. Several of us limited out early, I'm going back out this afternoon, too much fun to not try again!
I haven't bird hunted in several years, now I realize how much I missed it. I was a little rusty at first but came back strong later in the afternoon, it all came back to me.

snake284

JerryBobCo wrote: »

I was told that Nebraska also has a hands off policy for doves. That was in the 70s, though. Maybe sixgun can provide an update.

We're starting to see them show up around here. Unfortunately, I don't have a place to hunt, nor am I qualified as a Texas resident for the purpose of getting a resident hunting license. Texas requires 6 months of residency for that, and I've only been here since June. Even if I did have a place to hunt, I'm not going to pay non-resident fees to shoot at and miss doves.

Hey, there's no law here, but some more religious types say it's God's bird so don't shoot it. I just figure God put it here for me to use as food like everything else.

But you'd be surprised how many people think like that. I know people that love to shoot quail, deer, Rabbits, Squirrel, and Turkey, but they won't shoot dove. They're not anti hunting.

snake284

jaywapti wrote: »

Of all the birds i have hunted, doves for me are the hardest to hit.

JAY

That's quail for me, because they scare the pacaca out of me.

Gene L

snake284 wrote: »

Hey, there's no law here, but some more religious types say it's God's bird so don't shoot it. I just figure God put it here for me to use as food like everything else.

But you'd be surprised how many people think like that. I know people that love to shoot quail, deer, Rabbits, Squirrel, and Turkey, but they won't shoot dove. They're not anti hunting.

I think it comes from the Biblical Flood story. Noah sent a dove off from the Ark to search for dry land, and if it returned, there was no dry land. If it didn't, meant there was dry land. That's my story, anyway.

snake284

Gene L wrote: »

I think it comes from the Biblical Flood story. Noah sent a dove off from the Ark to search for dry land, and if it returned, there was no dry land. If it didn't, meant there was dry land. That's my story, anyway.

I think you're right are that's part of it.

timc

God sure sent me a bunch today, Birds still flying well, I came out on fire today and limited out two hours early today, I think the rust has blown of nicely considering how long it has been since I bird hunted. I will honor them by meticulously wrapping them in bacon and Jalapenos tomorrow then lovingly roast them on the BBQ.

Jeff in TX

Olney TX is where they host the one arm dove hunt. Reason being it's the dove capital on North Texas and usually we have a gazillion birds flying. Last year a week before the season a cool front dropped in and pushed the doves out, but at least we had a few to hunt. This year another front came through, very little shooting as I only fired twice at one bird and missed in three mornings of hunting. My buddies were on their dove lease with 10 shooters and they got 15 total birds in two days. Worst I/we've ever seen it. If it's like last year they'll be back the few days before the early season ends.

Six-Gun

snake284 wrote: »

Hey, there's no law here, but some more religious types say it's God's bird so don't shoot it. I just figure God put it here for me to use as food like everything else.

But you'd be surprised how many people think like that. I know people that love to shoot quail, deer, Rabbits, Squirrel, and Turkey, but they won't shoot dove. They're not anti hunting.

I heard a mildly sacrilegious, mildly hilarious comment on a YouTube video about dove hunting down south. I can't recall the quote perfectly, but to paraphrase:

"Some people say that it's wrong to shoot a bird that Jesus referred to as The Holy Spirit...to that I say, 'Jesus wasn't from Arkansas'"
:tooth:

timc

Jeff in TX wrote: »

Olney TX is where they host the one arm dove hunt. Reason being it's the dove capital on North Texas and usually we have a gazillion birds flying. Last year a week before the season a cool front dropped in and pushed the doves out, but at least we had a few to hunt. This year another front came through, very little shooting as I only fired twice at one bird and missed in three mornings of hunting. My buddies were on their dove lease with 10 shooters and they got 15 total birds in two days. Worst I/we've ever seen it. If it's like last year they'll be back the few days before the early season ends.

I've seen several this weekend with the same results but it wasn't for lack of birds! LOL

timc

Please delete, pic won't upload.

gator

Well things came up and I didn't make it out on opening day or yesterday but am here now.
Keeping my fingers crossed for a good flight.

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Bigslug

snake284 wrote: »

Hey, there's no law here, but some more religious types say it's God's bird so don't shoot it. I just figure God put it here for me to use as food like everything else.

But you'd be surprised how many people think like that. I know people that love to shoot quail, deer, Rabbits, Squirrel, and Turkey, but they won't shoot dove. They're not anti hunting.

Si vis fragmen columbarum, para bellum: "If you want a piece of dove, prepare for war. " :jester:

I dunno if a box or two of 7.5's is "preparing for war", but I DO like that the paleontologists have decided that birds DID in fact evolve from dinosaurs, and have, in some circles, even started calling them "modern avian dinosaurs". The way I see it, I'm hunting dinosaurs! (little bitty ones)

tennmike

Last time I went dove hunting was three seasons ago. It reminded me of the AA fire during the Battle of Midway! By the time the birds got to my end of the field they were on full afterburners and getting to fire up the warp engines! :rotflmao:

Nowhere to hunt now. I could go to the TWRA fields, but they require non leaded ammo, and I'm not paying for that mess, and I HATE steel shot with a passion.

gator

Started off kinda slow till about 15 minutes before sunset, then they all came at once.......got six and then the warden showed up to check license and plug...

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Gene L

My dove gun...I think. A 20 ga.

gator

They say that in sports the hardest thing to do is hit a baseball.........I believe that in hunting the hardest thing to do is hit a dove.
Easy to find the doves.....not so easy to bring them down.
Yesterday evening a couple of guys set up about fifty or sixty yards to my left,there was mesquite trees between us so I could not see them but from all the shooting going on I assumed they must have been limited or very close.
These two must have fired three hundred rounds........I found that one guy got eight and the other got five.
Made me feel somewhat better about my six in less than a box.
Many good trap and skeet shooters are seriously humbled when they go dove hunting..........clays start slowing down as soon as they leave the thrower and they are going away from you in a straight line.......but dove on the other hand.......they are coming towards you then change direction and speed up when you start your swing.
When they come in eight or ten at a time it is hard to pick one bird and track him when another cuts between you and the first one.
All in all, in my mind, the most fun and challenging thing you can do with a shotgun.

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timc

I agree doves are probably the most challenging birds to hunt. But it is the most fun to me as well. I think equipment is more important for doves as well. I'm running 30" tubes on my Citori with IM and LF chokes. The advantage is I seem to have quite a. It more reach over my buddies. All I know is we had a bet for the most birds this weekend and I have a free breakfast coming tomorrow morning!

Glad you were able to get out gator!

snake284

timc wrote: »

I agree doves are probably the most challenging birds to hunt. But it is the most fun to me as well. I think equipment is more important for doves as well. I'm running 30" tubes on my Citori with IM and LF chokes. The advantage is I seem to have quite a. It more reach over my buddies. All I know is we had a bet for the most birds this weekend and I have a free breakfast coming tomorrow morning!

Glad you were able to get out gator!

Tim, two things in this world I love to hunt, well three actually. I don't need trophy elk or moose or anything, except white tail deer, hogs, and DOVE!

I would love to hunt quail also, but I can't hit them. When they break off the ground they get me all flustered. But dove, oh man, my absolute favorite. I used a straight modified choke back in the day. That was when I used my dad's old Model 31 Remington Pump. Now I usually hunt with my Citori and I have a full and a modified in it. First shot modified, second full. I wait til they pass over me or are beside me and shoot the mod. Then I shoot down field with the full.

timc

snake284 wrote: »

Tim, two things in this world I love to hunt, well three actually. I don't need trophy elk or moose or anything, except white tail deer, hogs, and DOVE!

I would love to hunt quail also, but I can't hit them. When they break off the ground they get me all flustered. But dove, oh man, my absolute favorite. I used a straight modified choke back in the day. That was when I used my dad's old Model 31 Remington Pump. Now I usually hunt with my Citori and I have a full and a modified in it. First shot modified, second full. I wait til they pass over me or are beside me and shoot the mod. Then I shoot down field with the full.

Sounds lovely me we have pretty much the same setup. I used to love quail hunting but fire ants have all but wiped them out around here. I've given up on my Elk hunt wishes getting too old and arthritic to stomp around the mountains .

gator

We get a lot of quail here but they don't sit till you flush them, you pretty much gotta chase them down and I don't do that anymore.

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