Doves

[Dave Moore]

I shoot lots of doves, all year 'round. Here are some easy tips and thoughts:

When looking for a shooting spot, stand next to something and in the shade, it blocks your outline and movement. It will make far more difference than camo or a face mask.

Doves are not big birds, you will kill them just as dead and just as far with 7/8oz of #8 at less than 1200 fps than you will with 1 1/8 oz of #6 at 1350 fps. If you are chasing them through the brush or they are sailing off it is because your shot was off not because you did not have powerful enough ammo. I have mostly been shooting ammo that is factory seconds or cosmetic rejects because I buy them for $3 a box and I just shoot whatever load comes along. I have used shot sized from #5 to #9 and gauges from 12 to 410. I can honestly tell you that my bird counts are not significantly different whether I am shooting a 1/2oz of #9 from a .410 or 1 1/4oz of #6 from a 12ga. Light loads shoot softer and most people will shoot better with a load that does not kick them.

The best piece of advise for killing more doves for the average shooter: lead them more.

[MarketHunter]

I dunno about that when it comes to high birds. I was on a tall pass shoot last year on opening day and if I hadn't had some high brass 7 1/2 I wouldn't have gone home with many. I started with light load #8 and wasn't pulling them down, went to the truck for bigger bullets and killed my limit pretty quick.

Destry

[Double Lab]

IMHO when it comes to doves use plenty of choke and 7 1/2's.

[Mills]

At this point, it is only a question of which gun I take and that is a big enough decision for me. I will probably lean towards the 6s or 7s

[Double Lab]

6s? How big are your doves down there Mills?

[Mike Franzen]

I think so far in this thread we've read everything from 10 gauge to 410 is used. 6 shot up to 9 in the shells. Has anyone ever carried a SBT? I was going to bring one but st the last minute decided against it.

[Mills]

My cousin tried a single shot gun once and did not like it.

[Opening Day]

Man, being in Michigan I can only wish ... I love the tradition of a dove hunt, it reminds me of the old days of deer camp in Michigan. It was more about the stories and the people.

[MarketHunter]

I don't know how many more years my opening day invite is going to last. Our friend Russell is talking about selling his farm, he's already retired and just leases out the ground.

But he's got flowers planted this year, and there's corn in the wetland for the ducks. So one more season anyway.....

Destry

[Mike Franzen]

Enjoy it while you can. Nothing stays the same forever.