Hammers back ...........
 

Grey day, grey skies, grey birds. Getting tougher and tougher to kill a limit on these wary, mature birds this late in the season. They flare from almost anything. Sir Joseph Nickerson had a sign above the door exiting his "ready room", from whence he went gamebird gunning. The sign read "About to be humbled". Above the same door, on the outside coming in, another sign read "Having been humbled". Sir Joe may not have ever shot late season doves but, I certainly can share the "having been humbled" aspect of gunning with him.

1973 Italian hammergun, reportedly made by the Bernardelli factory, and labeled San Georgio. 12 ga., 30", modern steel barrels ........ Another one of my "not so fine" guns (Hey, I got by with it here once ...... :whistle:)

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/62363_800x600.jpg

SRH

A bad day hunting is better than a good day at work!
Just getting out is good enough for me. Good shoot Stan!
Chris, AZ

I know what you mean, Chris. I was invited to a shoot yesterday afternoon on a big sunflower field. We drew numbered poker chips for our stands. I drew one at the back end of the field. I killed one bird. All the doves were at the other end.

Yet, it was a great afternoon. My host was apologetic but, I told him, I would rather sit in a dove field and watch others shoot than sit in the house.

Amen Stan, my buddy and I shoot so many year around, that when we invite friends up to shoot, I find myself drinking more coffee and talking with them than shooting. We are very fortunate to have this little piece of heaven on earth to shoot on, many birds, everyone has the perfect spot. Within the next few years it will be gone. The houses and businesses are closing in. A day in the field with a fine gun in your hands is the best!
Chris, AZ

a 4 lane high way is now being built on our dove field...so be thankful if you have a place to hunt....charlie

I do, and am thankful, charlie. We own 900+ acres (row-crop land and woodlots), and lease another 500-600, or so. Growing peanuts and corn attracts lots of birds on our land, plus we are surrounded by intensive row-crop agriculture for many, many miles. I seldom have to drive over 15 miles to a dove shoot, and may shoot 20 times a season. I have killed many limits within walking distance of my home.

I doubt there'll be any four lanes built out here anytime soon. Biggest employer is Plant Alvin Vogtle, a nuclear power plant, and a two lane handles the traffic to and from it with no problem.

It's a nice little piece of "heaven on earth".

SRH

stan I believe you have found your heaven on earth...charlie

Stan,

I purchased a Bernadelli Brescia 20 gauge hammer gun new in Italy some 49 years ago. I shot a lot of skeet with the lite little gun. It went to the mountains of Southern Italy to take pheasant, hare, guanine fowl, etc. I moved to London where the little gun and I poached pigeons. Sadly it was stolen from my home in England while I was in Innsbruck to watch the olympics in 1976. It was a handy little gun and I miss it. It warmed my heart to see your gun in the field.

Harry

Thank you, Harry. That means more to me than you can know.

SRH

I like that the newer Hammer guns have safeties. I love hammer guns, but usually only hunt them when by myself.