Dove opener

[Double Lab]

Nice setup Stan. I see you use a blind which is pretty slick. I've got a really comfortable dove stool but I absolutely cannot shoot sitting down so I can see where the blind would allow some movement. I generally sit against a tree line in the shade if possible with the sun at my back so that way the birds are flying into the sun. Old fighter pilot trick.

[Stan Hillis]

Yeah, Daryl, in some situations I do use a blind. I bought some 1/2" aluminum rod from which to make my stakes. I made seven of them for use with one of the commercially purchased 12' long sheets of camo burlap. Each rod is long enough to be pushed about 10" into the ground. The bottom ends are ground to a point on a big belt sander, then a foot peg is welded to the upright about 10" from the pointed end. The burlap is held to the rods, which are painted flat black, with numerous cable ties cinched up tight. It erects very quickly, and comes down easily, and when I'm sitting on the stool it's high enough to hide everything but my head and neck. In the later seasons I wear a full head/face mask. The later birds are much more wary.

It works great in a harvested peanut field, where there is no cover at all over 3" high. But, you have to match the camo pattern to the surroundings to get the most effectiveness.

[Double Lab]

Stan,

I use the same setup to hunt deer where I can't hang a stand. I use 1/2" EMT, pound down and shape one end into an arrow head shape then paint it primer brown. 4'x14' nylon camo becomes my portable blind. I've also started using those MoJo dove decoys which work very well if you are not in a hot spot.

[Stan Hillis]

I've used Mojo Doves since they were introduced. There are days when they are a dove magnet, and there are days when the birds totally ignore them. Over the years I've found that elevating the Mojo increases it's odds of being an effective decoy. Tied to the pipeline on a center pivot irrigation system with rubber straps is the absolute best place I've found, but sitting atop a 10'-12' tall section of 1" conduit is very good at times, too. There's an insulated power cable that runs along the top of the pivot pipeline that works perfectly to snap the plastic decoys onto.

Here's how I do it on a center pivot. Mojo with some stationary decoys beside it .........

[mobirdhunter]

That is some serious dove hunting! I can see why you're so successful, Stan. Attention to detail, knowledge of the quarry...and Oh, yea, you obviously know how to handle that .410.

[charlie cleveland]

Saturday I hunted at my uncles place the shooting was slow I only killed 3 doves that morning...but Monday was a different storey...it was a nice 80 degrees with a good breeze blowing..i used my old Remington 1894 b grade 12 ga used federal no 7 1/2 s...had my limit by 9.00 then we cut out to aspring were we fixed the doves for dinner the boys wrapped them in bacon and a strip of cheese very good eating...we also had barbeque chicken baked beans and good oldcountry gravey polish hot sasage....to much to eat....had a great time seeing old friends and new friends.... used my old stevens 32 inch 12 ga that evening kicked so hard I could not hit very good so much for that dove gun it want see no action on doves again...I was shooting the same load as the Remington gun and I bet the stevens out weighed the remy by 2 lbs...these were 3 drams 1 1/8 ounce...now the stevens has been rechambered to 3 1/2 inch would this have caused the kicking problem...I think maybe it was the way its stocked I don't no....any way had a good time glad hunting season and cooler days ahead....keep your powder dry...charlie

[Stan Hillis]

Charlie, you need to quit shooting those blasters in the early season and go to a .410 like I did about 9 years ago. Three-quarters ounce of shot is a magnum load in it, and there's no recoil to mention. I very seldom use 1 1/8 oz., even in the last season when the big, tough migratory doves come down. I've found that, from here to Argentina, one ounce of shot is a gracious plenty to kill any dove in any condition, and 3/4 to 7/8 ounce is plenty in 95% of the situations. Not trying to push my methods on anybody else, just offering it as information.

Best to you, and hope you get lots of good shooting this season ......