Texas "National" Holiday - Opening Day of Dove Season
 

Had my 12ga DH out this morning for a great time. Birds weren't super plentiful, but I had plenty of shooting. Should have had my 15 bird limit, but I started the day 0/9. Got the kinks worked out and started hitting. Got a few doubles. Ended the shoot with 11 mourning dove (no whitewings this morning) and 1 pigeon, just for good measure, before heading in to the office for a while.

My son has a 5-mo old Pudelpointer. We're about to head out for an afternoon hunt with the pup. I'll leave my gun in the truck and just be along for the ride and for dog training tips this evening.

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Great pictures!!






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Nice job Shane! I'm jealous, I work till Friday. Too hot in the afternoons in AZ. We'll head out early Saturday for sure!

Chris, AZ

You guys started today we have to wait until Saturday :rolleyes:

We have to wait 'til Saturday in Georgia, too. But............ it's closer than it once was !!!!!

Saturday for us and probably a good thing

It was 102 this afternoon in Abilene when we went back out. I went back out this afternoon without my gun. I took my son, Zach, and his 5 month old Pudelpointer pup, Millie. About 30 seconds after we got sat down under a mesquite, a dove flew in to the decoys. Zach killed it. He took Millie out, and she found it and picked it up and brought it back to the chairs. Birds were slow this evening. He killed 5. Millie went and got all of them and brought them back, and then just sat or laid down waiting on the next one. Every time she heard a gunshot in the distance, she'd jump up and start to go toward the sound. She seemed to know that a gunshot = a bird. I think she's gonna make a great bird dog. You can train obedience and various commands and skills, but you can't teach instinct. She seems to have it.

Millie's first bird.

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Zach is a proud dad. :)

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Nice pictures Shane,
Our opening day was rained out, planning to go after them this afternoon.
Stan Hoover

I'm in the same boat as Stan. We got reeeeally rained out yesterday but today is going to be 72* , sunny and tolerable conditions for the dogs. Can't leave the pups home you know.

Waiting for the south zone opening. Birds around Katy are few and far between. 25 years of great hunts and then no mas.