Dove hunting - What gun are you taking?
 

Our season comes in September 1 and we are fortunate to have an invitation waiting for us. Hope everyone else with a dove season has an invitation lined up as well. What gun are you planning to take? I am leaning toward the GH 12 I bought from John Allen a few months back. Have not totally decided. I have said, half jokingly, that maybe I should just get a new one to take.

In any event, what is everyone else doing?

Wish I was going......Michigan doesn't allow dove hunting :cuss: One of those hunts that's still on my bucket list.

Eric, If you have never been and want one good hunt to remember, my suggestion is to go to South America. The gun of choice there, though, is one that can take some serious abuse and heavy shooting

I will use a VHE 28 gauge with 30" barrels and a straight stock. Or a CHE 20 gauge with 28" barrels and a straight stock. Or a DHE 20 with 30" barrels and a straight stock. So I should say I will be taking a straight stock Parker :)

It would be cool to take my early back action, but I need more choke.

Mills,
No what I want and love about dove hunting is the tradition, family and friends getting together and the start of a new season. I've never been a numbers guy (shooting hundreds or thousands is not what I want) I look forward to seeing good friends, good dog work, and the traditions that goes along with a hunt, and shooting a gun that I would never trust shipping on an airline :rolleyes: If I want to shoot numbers I go to the clay course, if I can't shoot my guns with my friends with nice drink in the evening I'm really not interested. That's just me, not saying it wrong for others just doesn't do it for me.

Opening Dove
 

I'm Nervous as a cat as it opens here in Texas Sept 1. I like to keep my buddies guessing so I'll let you know when I pull out a recently acquired EH 10 circa 1893 30" bbls F/F on #3 frame. Also have Guage Mates so will use some WIN AA 12 gauge shells as well as RST 10's. High flying Whitewings can be plenty of action and long shots. Also recently acquired mint 16 ga DHE 1921 gun with 30" bbls and tight chokes on 1 frame. Will shoot modern 7/8 oz # 71/2 shot loads. None of my regular dove shooting friends shoot SXS so it's a hoot to rib them when their autos jamb!!!! My daughter Perry will join me on later hunts with a newly repaired GH 20 with a new stock courtesy of fellow PGCA member. Thanks Jim Dispangio !! Best to all who pursue those little acrobatic birds.

Opening dove
 

FYI My little Brittany Dessa who has been in more Parker Pages articles than me just a week ago had a titanium plate and 4 screws removed from her rear hind leg that she had put in 7 years ago as it recently started to bother her. Bone had more than healed so it was time to fix. She looks pretty silly with a cone on her neck but come the First she will he doing back flips to get in her crate and head south minus the cone!!!

i will be takeing my 10 ga lifter and a 20 ga vh and a 20 ga lefever and my 3 frame p grade 12 ga...and a 5 gallon can of shells..if i get 3 -4 doves a box on average i m doing good so need plenty of shells....charlie

A C grade 20 hammer shooting RSTs and a grade 3 10 gauge 2 5/8" lifter shooting brass shells.