killing doves and shot size

[Daniel G Rainey]

The first dove season has ended in Mississippi and with it my 62nd year of shooting. the season was awful as few doves as I have ever seen. I only when on three shoots and killed 30 birds. Hate it but they seem to be going the same route as our quail. Last year and this year I shot my 12 CHE choked improved and full with RST 2 1/2 7's. after using 8's or 9's all of my life. It is my observation that you wound fewer birds with 7 shot. When my dog brings back the dove it is most always dead. All those years of shooting 8's or 9's I estimate 1/3 of the doves I knocked down were not dead when picked up. My shooting percentage is about the same. Years ago a dear friend from Alabama told me one the best dove shots he ever saw would use nothing but 6's. Wonder other shooters observations on shot size.