Dove hunting - What gun are you taking?

[Mills Morrison]

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?

[Eric Eis]

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

[Mills Morrison]

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

[Reggie Bishop]

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 :)

[Mills Morrison]

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

[Eric Eis]

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

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.

[davidboyles]

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.

[davidboyles]

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!!!

[charlie cleveland]

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

[Wayne Owens]

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

[Garry L Gordon]

I've been checking the local WMAs that have sunflower fields. We have been in the throes of a 2-year drought, but it looks like between some sunflowers that made and the ragweed that did well without moisture...and the State mowing the fields recently, we may just have a decent first day in Missouri. It's a hard choice as to which gun to take, but I have narrowed it down to two new-to-me Parkers: a PH and CH. The PH is choked a little tighter, but the CH has one very open choke and another very tight (always a nice combo). I'm glad to see that others have been scheming for this opener. Summer lasts far too long! Soon after the dove opener we'll have our early teal season -- yet another chance to break in a new gun!!

[Randy G Roberts]

DHE & VHE both 16's, 32", F/F. Might play with a VHE 20 some, 32" of course :)

[Gerald McPherson]

The killer VH 12ga mod and full 26in.. Gh 12ga cyl and full 30in Damascus. Gh 12ga full and full 30in Parker Spec Steel if it arrives on time. I sure hope we don't have another hurricane come through next week and drive the birds out like it did last year. Going to a new place that looks very good with sunflowers and corn. Must be 250 acres.Lots of birds.Hope there are enough shooters to keep the birds flying. I can't wait. At what age does this quit making a fellow excited? Hope everyone has a great season. Gerald

PS Just ate my last 12 Sunday from last year. I cooked them on the grill with some streak o lean.Best streak o lean I ever ate.

[Jeff Kuss]

I would love to do a hunt with that C 20 hammer! At least I got to handle it a couple of times in Vegas.

[Daryl Corona]

We've mandated 20's or 28's for opening day (9/01). I'll be packing my OO frame 30" VHE 28 with insanely tight chokes. The following days will still be with a smallbore 20, not in any particular order, a 30" Fox, 32"DHE, 30" Wm. Ford hammer, and so on and so on. Nothing bigger than a 20 though. Just would'nt be sporting. Good luck to all.

[Jeff Kuss]

I believe that a 30" dhe 16 with a vent rib will get the first hunt this year over a friends seed corn field. This 16 will get the second hunt.

[bobutler]

Hope to be able to hunt all weekend. Since right barrel on my VH20 ruptured last weekend (see WTB section), PHE16, VHE12 and GH10 will be in the truck. Hoping the birds show up.

[Todd Poer]

Hope to be able to hunt all weekend. Since right barrel on my VH20 ruptured last weekend (see WTB section), PHE16, VHE12 and GH10 will be in the truck. Hoping the birds show up.

What!. Your VH20 gun had a rupture.

[Mark Ray]

4lb. Laminated steel belgian hammer .410, and my VH 16 28”ic-im 16 day one...Lindner Diamond Daly 20 and my DeHaan custom .410 day 2

[John Davis]

GH 20, with 26 inch barrels, choked IM and Full.

[Daniel G Rainey]

This is one the biggest weekends of the year. Opening of hunting and football. May start with my 16 DHE using the 28 improved and mod barrels. Ordered a flat of RST 12 2 1/2 inch shells for my PH and CHE guns. Am looking forward to trying the CHE since it is choked improved and full.Looking to seeing friends and working my dog and having fun.

[John Dallas]

As a Hunter Ed instructor, I always get twitchy when I hear about 12's and 20's on the same shoot. Please make sure you don't stuff one of those 20's into your 12, then put a 12 in on top

[Mills Morrison]

Good point John.

[Bruce Day]

16 with a couple cases of 7/8 oz handloads. I’ll wait out by the stock tank. Two or three days out.

[CraigThompson]

Mill's if I go I'll take both the EH guns I showed you at Sanford the 28" gun that's choked cyl and light modified and as a back up for long shots the EH that's choked F and FY (FY is fuller yet) . Both are on #2 frames .

Have a 150 rounds of 10 gauge 1 1/8 ounce #8 pushed with 18.8 grains of Red Dot .

[CraigThompson]

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

A pair of Remington 1100's or Beneli's in 20 gauge . And if you take the 1100's a tackle box full of extra triggers bolts linkage and variouse other small parts .

[CraigThompson]

Mill's if I go I'll take both the EH guns I showed you at Sanford the 28" gun that's choked cyl and light modified and as a back up for long shots the EH that's choked F and FY (FY is fuller yet) ,

Have a 150 rounds of 10 gauge 1 1/8 ounce #8 pushed with 18.8 grains of Red Dot .

[Tom Flanigan]

Being a New Yorker, I wasn’t a dove hunter. Doves are considered song birds there. But when I moved to Maryland about 25 years ago I decided I wanted to try it. Not having any contacts for private land yet, I went to McKee-Beshers WMA on opening day. I had trepidations. I had never before hunted public land and had heard horror stories from those who did. But I decided to grab a 12 bore DHE with 28” modified and full tubes and give it a try. It was worse than I expected. It was a real carnival atmosphere. Yelling and screaming from one end of the field to the other. Every bird that was hit, elicited loud hurrah’s from the clowns in the carnival. I had my setter with me to retrieve my birds and he seemed confused by all the shooting and hollering. The third bird I shot, a yahoo ran out and grabbed the bird before my dog could get to it. He set up way to close to me. He pocketed the bird. I told him exactly what I thought of him and left the field, vowing never to hunt doves again.

But I later met a guy who had access to great private land in Virginia and I shot doves with him there for a few years. I enjoyed it but never fully got into it. I guess my sub-conscious New England upbringing still considered them song birds. But I can fully understand why folks like it so much.

[Garry L Gordon]

Thankfully most of the other hunters at our dove fields on North Missouri WMAs are more polite and safe. You still need to show up early to get a good spot on opening day (especially on a Labor Day weekend), but having others around the field helps to keep the dove flying. After the first couple of days I frequently have the place to myself, especially if I go in the morning. We are pretty isolated here in my part of the State, but the hunting tradition is strong. There are actually less people in the top two tiers of counties in Northern Missouri than there were in 1900(!)

I've hunted dove in my home state of Virginia, and have fond memories of those times. The only bad thing about dove hunting around here is that usually a front will come through and move birds on sometime during the first week of September...and then the hunting is poor. But, hey, the teal season opens then! And the squirrel season started back at the end of May, so if you can stand the heat and humidity, it's a pretty darned nice place to live.

[Garry L Gordon]

16 with a couple cases of 7/8 oz handloads. I’ll wait out by the stock tank. Two or three days out.

The wood on that 16 is gorgeous! Even if the birds aren't flying, you can sit and look at the gun.

[Charles Shelton]

Parker repro 20 gauge in picture to the left with pheasant.
Going on Dallas Woods and Waters Club annual hunt near Rule, TX,

Update: I just read some of the previous posts and was reminded of why I do not hunt on public land or with large groups any more. In fact, our DWWC hunt is a subset of the total club and is comprised of older and more experienced shooters. The total allowed is 12 hunters - after that the shoot is closed. If you sit out a year or two you may not get back in for a while. This tends to guarantee compatible attendees, good sportsman ship, mostly good shooters AND good accommodations and chow at the outfitters lodge. Sometimes a taste of the dew and a cigar before bedtime.

PS I do not take my grandson on the above hunt, but to Hidden Lakes or other preserve or property controlled by friends.

[Mills Morrison]

Had my son pull the dove tower for me. One of the more fun clay presentations, once you get used to it.

[CraigThompson]

Being a New Yorker, I wasn’t a dove hunter. Doves are considered song birds there. But when I moved to Maryland about 25 years ago I decided I wanted to try it. Not having any contacts for private land yet, I went to McKee-Beshers WMA on opening day. I had trepidations. I had never before hunted public land and had heard horror stories from those who did. But I decided to grab a 12 bore DHE with 28” modified and full tubes and give it a try. It was worse than I expected. It was a real carnival atmosphere. Yelling and screaming from one end of the field to the other. Every bird that was hit, elicited loud hurrah’s from the clowns in the carnival. I had my setter with me to retrieve my birds and he seemed confused by all the shooting and hollering. The third bird I shot, a yahoo ran out and grabbed the bird before my dog could get to it. He set up way to close to me. He pocketed the bird. I told him exactly what I thought of him and left the field, vowing never to hunt doves again.

But I later met a guy who had access to great private land in Virginia and I shot doves with him there for a few years. I enjoyed it but never fully got into it. I guess my sub-conscious New England upbringing still considered them song birds. But I can fully understand why folks like it so much.

The shooting of Mr Dove is not as important to me anymore as is the EATING of Mr Dove 😉

[Bill Murphy]

I have hunted (shot) the preserve described by Tom Flanigan for many years, including the 1960's when wild quail were a closely guarded secret. To be honest, Tom and I gunned "wild" quail there not too long ago. A couple of years ago, a friend and I situated ourselves in a shady area on the fringe of the main field. Our compatriots in the sun baked center of the field were phenomenal shots and killed dozens of birds while we killed one. I have killed hundreds of birds over the years and did not begrudge the young guns in the middle of the field shooting their autoloaders? No way. It was very entertaining to see that today's young shooters know which end of the gun the shot comes out. I may be on a walker, but I will probably be in that field September 1, unless I get a better invitation. My first hunting license was my Pennsylvania resident license #434, issued at the State Capital office in Harrisburg in 1958. I should have showed up earlier to get a lower number.

[Mills Morrison]

The worst hunt I have been on was so bad, it was almost comical. Shooting over the limit, shooting birds that weren't doves, lots of beer consumed during the hunt and cans just left on the ground. Won't go back to that. Beyond that, some hunts attract people who don't hunt, but want to be seen hunting. They show up with brand new hunting clothes, probably Orvis, brand new gun, and have no clue about things.

A friend has invited us opening day for years now and it is always a good hunt.

[Garry L Gordon]

I have hunted (shot) the preserve described by Tom Flanigan for many years, including the 1960's when wild quail were a closely guarded secret. To be honest, Tom and I gunned "wild" quail there not too long ago. A couple of years ago, a friend and I situated ourselves in a shady area on the fringe of the main field. Our compatriots in the sun baked center of the field were phenomenal shots and killed dozens of birds while we killed one. I have killed hundreds of birds over the years and did not begrudge the young guns in the middle of the field shooting their autoloaders? No way. It was very entertaining to see that today's young shooters know which end of the gun the shot comes out. I may be on a walker, but I will probably be in that field September 1, unless I get a better invitation. My first hunting license was my Pennsylvania resident license #434, issued at the State Capital office in Harrisburg in 1958. I should have showed up earlier to get a lower number.
Bill, I sure hope you get to go. It's nice to read of a hunter with a year or two on his resume that understands and appreciates the hunt like you obviously do (as you describe here). Good hunting, Sir!

[Bill Murphy]

Thanks for the compliment. My friend and I were equally impressed that a bunch of auto shooting very young wild men could actually shoot. We have never had an experience like Mills did, but a few decades back, we hunted a dove field with a few non English speaking fellows that had a campfire going on their stand and had barbecued doves on a stick all day and didn't have a dove in the bag when they quit shooting at dinner time. Mercifully, they weren't drinking any alcohol during the shoot. This was only a mile or so from the field that Tom Flanigan described. My gun of choice this year may be my Davenport 8 gauge with a 10 gauge chamber insert, 1 5/8 ounces of #8 or 7 1/2, easy to carry, easy to load, and good for a 95 yard shot. I killed one dove on my last hunt, earlier described, and that is a good day in my opinion, especially if it is a 95 yard shot and someone else in the field claims the bird. Years ago, on a goose shoot on the Eastern Shore, I snagged an injured goose on the opposite side of a pond with my second ten gauge barrel at roughly 110 yards after one of my companions put some shot into him. I was congratulated for the great shot, and started walking toward the victim, cane in hand. One of the other hunters, seeing my disability, said, "Sit down. I will retrieve your goose." It may have been the red letter day of my waterfowling career on the Eastern Shore. I wish I knew that fellow's name. He was a true sportsman.

[Tom Flanigan]

I have hunted (shot) the preserve described by Tom Flanigan for many years, including the 1960's when wild quail were a closely guarded secret. To be honest, Tom and I gunned "wild" quail there not too long ago. A couple of years ago, a friend and I situated ourselves in a shady area on the fringe of the main field. Our compatriots in the sun baked center of the field were phenomenal shots and killed dozens of birds while we killed one. I have killed hundreds of birds over the years and did not begrudge the young guns in the middle of the field shooting their autoloaders? No way. It was very entertaining to see that today's young shooters know which end of the gun the shot comes out. I may be on a walker, but I will probably be in that field September 1, unless I get a better invitation. My first hunting license was my Pennsylvania resident license #434, issued at the State Capital office in Harrisburg in 1958. I should have showed up earlier to get a lower number.



Maybe I was too hard on the folks in that field Bill. But the guy who set up next to me and stole my bird was a real jerk and I told him so. That day was my first experience on public land. And the hordes of people in that field and the shouting back and forth unnerved me. I always speak in hushed tones when I hunt. Hunting alone for much of my life and on private land didn't prepare me for my first public experience. But that WMA is a jewel for quail. I have hunted wild quail there often and always got birds. I rarely saw anyone else while quail hunting. You and I had great fun there Bill. Plus, they hold field trials there and Jeff and I used to go in after the field trials and clean up on the chucker's.


I might just go there on opening day of dove for the heck of it. Especially if you are there. I'll change my attitude about the crowd and sit there and observe and have fun. I probably won't shoot since my retriever is up in Pawling at the moment. I hate to hunt without a dog.

[Garry L Gordon]

Thanks for the compliment. My friend and I were equally impressed that a bunch of auto shooting very young wild men could actually shoot. We have never had an experience like Mills did, but a few decades back, we hunted a dove field with a few non English speaking fellows that had a campfire going on their stand and had barbecued doves on a stick all day and didn't have a dove in the bag when they quit shooting at dinner time. Mercifully, they weren't drinking any alcohol during the shoot. This was only a mile or so from the field that Tom Flanigan described. My gun of choice this year may be my Davenport 8 gauge with a 10 gauge chamber insert, 1 5/8 ounces of #8 or 7 1/2, easy to carry, easy to load, and good for a 95 yard shot. I killed one dove on my last hunt, earlier described, and that is a good day in my opinion, especially if it is a 95 yard shot and someone else in the field claims the bird. Years ago, on a goose shoot on the Eastern Shore, I snagged an injured goose on the opposite side of a pond with my second ten gauge barrel at roughly 110 yards after one of my companions put some shot into him. I was congratulated for the great shot, and started walking toward the victim, cane in hand. One of the other hunters, seeing my disability, said, "Sit down. I will retrieve your goose." It may have been the red letter day of my waterfowling career on the Eastern Shore. I wish I knew that fellow's name. He was a true sportsman.
Bill,
Take the good when you get it...and have the courage to forget the bad. Post a picture of your opening day if you can. Storms are predicted here. My young friend can’t make opening morning, but my wife says she will go to keep me out of trouble. I am blessed— good wife, good life, good gun (poor, but happy, shot).
Best of luck on your opener!

[charlie cleveland]

bill you make me want to take my 8 ga davenport to the field now...but i would have to use a 12 ga ga mate in mine. phil carr gave me this one...these old guns shoot good with those gage mates....were did you find your gage mate in 10 ga for the 8 ga...watch out and do not get to hot going after them 95 yard shots....charlie

[James J. Roberts]

My favorite for dover is my 16 ga. Parker Trojan. J.J.

[Mark Ray]

4lb. Laminated steel belgian hammer .410, and my VH 16 28”ic-im 16 day one...Lindner Diamond Daly 20 and my DeHaan custom .410 day 2

I have now changed my mind a couple of dozen times!!

I have decided to start out with the Darne Halifax sliding breach 16 I bought a couple of months ago. I have been harassing the grackles with it of late, and need a legit hunting outing with that gun....for the second half of the limit, or an extended limit of Eurasian Doves, I am taking the 1 frame restored VH 16 I got a few months ago. I have never even shot that gun!

[Todd Poer]

Awesome. An old fashioned head to head study. Since sport betting is now legal, wonder what Vegas has the odds set for which gun you will shoot better with and or like best.

[Mark Ray]

Well I'm really just hoping t avoid a run to the emergency room! I have run a couple of boxes of shells through the Darne, but it is low volume shooting, I usually stick a couple in the gun and walk out of the house and confront the car crapping intruders! Even still, I have narrowly avoided taking off my thumb at the knuckle with that receiver sliding back! It reminds me of my Grand Dad's 1897 Winchester Trap, you have to pay attention to avoid stitches!

[Daniel G Rainey]

I too have changed my mind. After thinking 16 DHE all week,I picked up my 12CHE last night and realized that I had shot it a couple of times since adding the ivory bead but that I had never shot a bird with it ( purchased the gun last winter) So 12 CHE with 28 inch barrels choked improved and full with 2 1/2 RST 7's here we come . May sound like an odd choke combination for doves but I have a 16 GH choked the same way that I used on a shoot last year and it worked well. Will enjoy the opener pray we have some birds.

[Todd Poer]

Yep I get that about the Darne action, which is actually a G rated name or label for that type gun action if your not mindful. That back edge that part that slides back also looks about as sharp as an axe. I hear wearing gloves is fashionably mandatory for shooting that gun. Not certain but also think the guy invented yard darts designed that gun.:)

Anyway enough about that and it may take a little learning curve but if you shoot a high percentage yield of dove/shells then that could be interesting.

[Mark Ray]

Yep I get that about the Darne action, which is actually a G rated name or label for that type gun action if your not mindful. That back edge that part that slides back also looks about as sharp as an axe. I hear wearing gloves is fashionably mandatory for shooting that gun. Not certain but also think the guy invented yard darts designed that gun.:)

Anyway enough about that and it may take a little learning curve but if you shoot a high percentage yield of dove/shells then that could be interesting.

I have the strangest fascination for the Darne. When I was around twelve, I got a copy of Shooters Bible for Christmas. I read that thing cover to cover, ingesting all of the articles, and studied the catalogue part incessantly. there was an article in that edition about the Darne guns, and the factory in France. Since then, I have always desired to own one, but until this gun arrived at my door a couple of months ago, I had never seen one "in the flesh". Although well used, it was very well cared for. The dimensions are really nice for a French gun, and so far, the Grackles are pretty upset with my decision to buy the gun! Still has the "Darne" sling swivels though!!

[Garry L Gordon]

I have now changed my mind a couple of dozen times!!

I have decided to start out with the Darne Halifax sliding breach 16 I bought a couple of months ago. I have been harassing the grackles with it of late, and need a legit hunting outing with that gun....for the second half of the limit, or an extended limit of Eurasian Doves, I am taking the 1 frame restored VH 16 I got a few months ago. I have never even shot that gun!

Mark,

I'm glad someone else waivers on which gun to take. It's a heckofa decision...especially when you own more guns than a man has a right to have, but "needs." Good shooting!

[Todd Poer]

Sacre`bleu she magnific!

Hey here is link to learn some French swear words, if you don't know any already. I think it important if your going to own and shoot a French gun you learn to cuss in french as well, especially in a dove field. I like the term "d`gage" which sounds like a great gunning term to yell at that dove that just broke the sound barrier coming from behind right over head. It actually means "piss off", and yet still proper and appropriate to yell to friend giving you hard time for missing a shot. Then it would be "d`gage connard"

https://www.lovefrance.info/french-swear-words/

I remember the first time I ever saw a Darne and it was July 14 of 1995 in the middle of nowhere Alaska. We had just finished a week long backcountry fishing trip and were waiting at a common point where two rivers joined to meet our bush pilot. It was like a mini Rendezvous of sorts since there were other parties coming out of the bush and meeting in same place. This Frenchman that was actually a doctor from France was there and for bear protection he had brought along his Darne. Since it was Bastille Day he was imbibing heavily and shooting his gun in the air.

[davidboyles]

Mark you should be in a real pickle to decide what to take. I finally have only a selection of 3 guns. My companions will be in shock!! Ok the new EH 10 will be on stage with RST 10 ga 7 1/2 loads plus the 12 gauge mates will be throwing Win AA spt clays loads at those pesky doves. Then most stage time will be an alternation of the 16 DHE 30” bought in May and the wonderful DHE 20 with 30” barrels bought last year. I have already penned an article about these two guns ‘even though they won’t see action in the Dove field until Sat. I hope to get it in the next PP. it’s different!!! Better hope I’m on and can bring some down.

[Mills Morrison]

My FFL buddy called and the new gun has arrived. Will pick it up tomorrow in time for Saturday's hunt

[charlie cleveland]

aint you luky mills getting to hunt with a new parker.....charlie

[Chad Hefflinger]

I am looking forward to trying out my newly acquired grade 2 hammer gun :)

[Phillip Carr]

Mark i think i have the baby brother to yours. Its a 24 gauge.

http://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/54882_600x400.jpg (http://www.jpgbox.com/page/54882_600x400/)

[Tom Flanigan]

It looks like I'll be spending opening day at the WMA I mentioned in a prior post. I don't kmow whether I will shoot or not but if I decide to, I'll bring a newly acquired DHE sub 7lb 12 bore. I'll leave my New England attitude about crowded fields at home and just enjoy the festivities with hopes of somehow running into the venerable Mr. Murphy. I'd love to see him again. We had a lot of fun with our dogs and the quail on that WMA.

[Mark Ray]

Mark i think i have the baby brother to yours. Its a 24 gauge.

http://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/54882_600x400.jpg (http://www.jpgbox.com/page/54882_600x400/)

I like it!!

[Mills Morrison]

GH. 12 gauge with straight grip and 32 inch barrels. Just picked it up today. Also a Filson vest we found and didn't know we had

[Garry L Gordon]

GH. 12 gauge with straight grip and 32 inch barrels. Just picked it up today. Also a Filson vest we found and didn't know we had

What a great combination: 32 inch barrels (Wow -- straight grip, too!!) and CC Filson. Enjoy your hunt.

[charlie cleveland]

they wont get to high for that new gun....i m going to start off shooting the lifter 10 ga no chokes made in 1874 30 inch barrels not cut....this is one of those plain steel barrel gun i have 2 of these plain steel barrel guns and seen a 3 rd one a while back all made in 1874.... charlie

[Phillip Carr]

I have been out 4 days over the last week scouting for birds. Late rains with weeds and grass still green has Really shatter the dove.
I Decided to go with my Remington DEO’s. Guns are packed and are ready to go.

Next week when things quite down I will take out my Parker DH 28 along with my daughters black lab that I have been training.
We have shot pen raised Chucker's and pigeons over him but I want to make sure there will not be any extra distractions on his first dove hunt.

Im really more excited about taking Tucker out and seing how he performs then I am about opening day tomorrow.


http://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/54891_600x400.jpg (http://www.jpgbox.com/page/54891_600x400/)

[Todd Poer]

Your wise on getting that dog into game. One of the first labs I trained took him to an opening day dove hunt when he was 9 months old. I was 17 so we were both pretty green. He was awesome. During training that spring and summer his sight retrieves on land were out to 75 yards and we kept his water retrieves to no more than 20 yards and he was already taking whistle and hand commands. Except I had not introduced him to live game yet.

Get off to myself a bit in a corner on that first dove hunt and was able to get an early loafer to cruise by at 20 yards and knock it down. I am sending Rufus on his first hunting retrieve and he has this shimmering intent look as I send him and he just explodes forward toward the dove but stops short and picks up my shotgun hull that ejected from bottom of pump shotgun. Uggh. It tool some more work but he figured it but he either hated litter or loved plastic. It took years for him to quit trying pick up hulls even if he had game in his mouth and coming back if he ran across a plastic hull he would pick it up to. Dang dog had an incredible nose. He could find old plastic shotgun shells that had been laying in fields for years. There was no leaving any plastic hulls around for him, especially if we were duck hunting and if a hull is floating near the blind had to police it up or he would try and pick it up.

Still remember day that he did not try and pick up a hull on cold duck hunt after a challenging retrieve. Knocked a wood duck down but only crippled him and Rufus had to chase him down and even dove down to get him, which was also a first. He swims back with duck and gets close and eyeballs hull but then just swims by it to deliver the duck. He is standing there looking at the hull and then looking at me as if to say, I have done my part, the least you can do is pickup your hulls. We sort of made a bargain about that issue from then on.

[Bruce Day]

Waiting.

Twenty gauge.

Hot and cooling off

[Todd Poer]

Bruce, that absolutely has to be the best use of a cattleman's crown crease on a straw hat that I have ever seen. That is a beautiful gun.

[Mills Morrison]

Good hunt if down from usual standards. Our puppy got to chase some wounded birds. All in all fun

[Jerry Harlow]

Hotter than Hades today. Ninety plus degrees and ninety percent humidity. At noon it started raining. Stopped an hour later and was so hot no one could sit out in the sun. Went to another field and had birds coming in. Set up and just at the prime time a tremendous thunderstorm stole the last three hours of what promised to be a good day. Did get a few with the new to me DHE 16 gauge. Choked cylinder and IM. Not too original but I like it and that is all that matters. Shot 1 ounce of 8.5 right, 1 ounce of 7.5 left.

[Mark Ray]

This weekend and next are “special whitewing season here”. You can have 10 whitewings and two mourning doves. My spots were devoid of whitewings after scouting. So, I loaded up the boat and headed south to the fishing cabin. My weapon of choice a G.Loomis 6wt. And an Abel Super 8 reel!! And two nights of solitude!!!!!

[Mark Ray]

Solitude!

[Gerald McPherson]

The heat was brutal on the Oostanaula River yesterday. About 70 shooters on about 120 acres of sunflowers.Over cast until about 2pm and then the sun popped out so I went to shade until about 4:30. My shooting was off and when my Old Reliable started doubling I got out a Gh Damascos 30in. 12ga. I don't shoot it as well but did to kill a few. I didn't count the birds but it was short of a limit. The most birds I have seen in many years. Many shooters started leaving around 5pm. I assume they had limited out. Around 6pm the birds were pouring in and lighting in the field. Needed more shooters. The birds seemed faster than I ever saw. Getting old is not what it is cracked up to be. Don't be in a hurry to get there. Thankful to be able to do it again. Going again in the morning with my grandson so keep me in your prayers. The Lord is good. Gerald

PS. Some people think I am crazy.

[charlie cleveland]

our hunt yesterday was a good one..i got up at 4.00 am and was on the field by 5.30 first bird came in and i got him with the old lifter 10 ga...i shot a box of shells and got 3 birds for my morning hunt...one fellas lab tried to retrieve ever bird shot down it was funny he had his limit in about 5 minutes...we quit shooting at 9.30 and headed for the spring our cooking campsite...we had bolonia french fries 120 doves on the grill fresh killed rabbit chiken baked beans and poodle sop gravey wow....i ate to much for sure.we went back to the field at3.30 boy was it hot only 2 of us crazy enough to set in the sun i got in the shade of a light pole...there was a gentle breeze that helped...i took the 20 ga v grade gun with factory 27 inch barrels i got 5 birds with it..i had really good shooters around me and i did not get many shots......it was really good hunt i was tired but contented and slept like a baby....tommorrow we are going to a new field at a friends house i m takeing the v grade 20 and i m takeing a d grade damascus 20 ga that once belonged to robert wood johnson the founder of johnson and johnson products.....gun has clyinder and full chokes the way it was ordered in 1901....charlie

[Reggie Bishop]

Sounds like a great hunt Charlie. A 20 ga. Parker is just about perfect for a dove hunt!

[charlie cleveland]

we went back hunting to a new field this morning a soft breeze and a good shade was the spot for me but not much shooting from this spot...the other fella s done really well most got there limit...saddy the lab dog went into this big lake at least 15 times after doves...she was wore out by 9.00...i left at 9.00 i rekon i was tired from all the git up and go s....they will shoot again this evening after another big meal at dinner time...hope every one that likes to hunt doves had a good weekend shooting i know i have...charlie

[Garry L Gordon]

Sounds like the weather shaped most people's hunts. We also had not-so-good weather for our opener. We got up extra early and headed to the closest WMA. The sky to the north was dramatic with intense displays of lightening. We waited for a couple of hours in the dark hoping the storms would miss us. They didn't, and so we were rained out of the morning's hunt. Went back the next day and pretty much had the field to ourselves. Not much flying, but the 126-year old PH did its job well (when I pointed it correctly!). Ya gotta love the choking done by those late 19th Century craftsmen. We got a few birds and enjoyed the sunrise. Hallelujah, the hunting season has finally started, even if the weather feels like mid-July.

Thanks to all of you who shared your hunts. My best to you all for the upcoming bird seasons.

[Mills Morrison]

Dove numbers were way down, but it was still a great hunt. Just not like Argentina. Probably 300 birds on a 30 acre field instead of 1500. This was our new puppy's first hunt and he enjoyed it, although he was mostly trying to figure out what it was all about.

[Gerald McPherson]

A young fellow {9} made my weekend even though I had never met him. Gerald

[Eric Eis]

Mills, both your son and that puppy are getting bigger.............!

[Mills Morrison]

Yes, Eric. The puppy has tripled in size since we got him. And feisty as ever. Basic training is going slow, but gun shyness is no problem at least

[Garry L Gordon]

Dove numbers were way down, but it was still a great hunt. Just not like Argentina. Probably 300 birds on a 30 acre field instead of 1500. This was our new puppy's first hunt and he enjoyed it, although he was mostly trying to figure out what it was all about.

I saw some pretty good signs of a wonderful future in those photos! Always nice to see another generation -- both dog and "boy" -- beginning an upland life.

[CraigThompson]

I didn’t go Saturday Sunday or Monday .

A friend puts on a big shoot in Madison County VA and on the first day out of thirty guys they killed a dozen birds I think .

Another friend puts on a paid shoot down in the Northern Neck of Virginia , they killed 10 or 12 birds out of I think forty guys in maybe three hours so he refunded everyone’s money .

And the place in Culpeper that’s managed exclusively for dove and my gunsmith buddy has been damage control popping the deer this year had forty hunters and they ALL limited out , that’s 600 birds .

[todd allen]

We had a nice little shoot on the side of the house.

[Gerald McPherson]

Todd thats my kind of hunting. Gerald

[Harry Collins]

Had a great opening day with my fathers 20 ga trojan. I shot 3/4oz of 8's and had my limit in an hour and a half and only shot about 30 times.
The Sunday hunt was slow and only took three birds with five shots. I let go both barrels on one bird and never cut a feather.
Monday morning I went into a field a 7AM and was finished by 8AM with two doubles under my belt and shot 35 times. This with the VH that Sherman Bell had blown the barrels off of. The replacement Damascus barrels are choked .022 and .042. !oz loads of 8's at 1180 fps.

[charlie cleveland]

looks like a very fine dinner to me...good shooting too...charlie

[Harry Collins]

Brined dove brest seared two minutes a side, baked acorn squash with butter and brown sugar, grits fried in panic bread crumbs.

[Todd Poer]

Now that looks like one fine brown heart healthy meal. Have eaten grits about as many ways as there are to cook shrimp but have not had grits like that, mostly because never had leftover grits.

Jeff Foxworthy in connection with a local restaurant made a run trying to make grit chips once. It tasted like a corn chips with no salt. Quoting Justin Wilson "Even one grit without salt tastes like schick, I ger-ontee"

[Dean Romig]

Unfortunately I've never had the pleasure of dining on dove breast.... Someday I hope to.

Are they anywhere near as fabulous as woodcock breast?





.

[Mark Ray]

Unfortunately I've never had the pleasure of dining on dove breast.... Someday I hope to.

Are they anywhere near as fabulous as woodcock breast?





.

Wow Dean....If you like Woodcock, or Snipe, you will love dove breast.

[Tom Flanigan]

Unfortunately I've never had the pleasure of dining on dove breast.... Someday I hope to.

Are they anywhere near as fabulous as woodcock breast?





.

I guess you either love eating woodcock or hate it. I fall into the latter catagory. I always ate everyone I shot and picked the birds like I do all my birds, but I really didn't enjoy them. I ate them out of obligation. I must admit that my bird dogs loved the woodcock bits I gave them. But what do they know, they also eat poop.

[Dean Romig]

Tom... somebody prepared it wrong for you.

If I didn’t like eating them I wouldn’t shoot them.





.

[John Dallas]

Our group likes dove breasts so much that we brought back 200 pairs from our Argentina shoot. Pierce the breast, insert a piece of onion or pepper (mild or hot), wrap in bacon, on the grill for about 3-4 minutes. Don't overcook 'em

[Tom Flanigan]

Tom... somebody prepared it wrong for you.

If I didn’t like eating them I wouldn’t shoot them.





.

I cook all my wild game myself. I don’t let anyone else touch it….never. I don’t use spices, herbs, marinade, bacon or anything else that hides the true flavor of wild game. I carefully age my venison and birds, never eating them fresh. I have refrigerator in my garage that I keep at 38 degrees to properly age game. I’m a fanatic about my game making sure I gut each bird before I put it in my pouch. When grouse hunting, I always pick an apple and cut a piece to put in the body cavity to soak up the blood. I have a regular routine that I follow religiously with all my game. And I love to cook it. It is always a special dinner when game is on the menu.

My grandfather didn’t favor woodcock either, although my grandmother loved it. In his later years he stopped shooting them. Not because he didn’t like to eat them but because he came to the conclusion that hitting them was relatively easy and he saw no need of killing so small a bird.

I’ll continue shooting them because they are a nice bonus in the grouse woods and I’ll continue to eat them although I am not really crazy about the taste. I do admit, however, that the fat on each section of the breast is nice eating.

I believe that it was the late Tap Tapley, of Field and Stream Taps Tips fame and a noted grouse and woodcock hunter, that stated that he thought woodcock tasted awful. He listed a recipe to cook the woodcock in. Then he stated that it was best to eat the sauce and throw away the woodcock.

[Todd Poer]

Unfortunately I've never had the pleasure of dining on dove breast.... Someday I hope to.

Are they anywhere near as fabulous as woodcock breast?





.

Taste more like a hawk.:)

Woodcock and doves have pretty much the same type of meat since migratory. Some people think doves,woodcock and duck are too gamy. To each his own.

Harry deboned and brined his for about 10 mins which really is helpful taking away a good bit of gamy flavor and is excellent table fare for different recipes for the over. Unfortunately when I get a mess of Doves its breast on the bone wrapped in some half cooked bacon over the grill with a sliver of jalapeno inserted into dove meat. I can't seem to get by this one and believe I could eat half my weight with this recipe sans those pesky daily limits.

Those doves by the bird feeder are stacking up and taunting me right now.

[Tom Flanigan]

Wild ducks are among my favorite meal. Nothing better than a fat woodduck or mallard, carefully picked and roasted so that the skin browns nicely but the meat is moist.

[Todd Poer]

Harumph! Harumph! Wood ducks are very mild. A mallard or gadwall hard to beat. I have had ducks lots of ways but the simplest and best recipe I have found is to cut the breast meat into slivers about a half inch wide. Make a marinade from a package of McCormicks meat marinade mixed with Zesty Italian and don't marinate more than 30 mins or it will overpower the duck. Slap it on the grill with some cherry wood smoking but don't overcook it. Served it to people who hate taste of wild game, (mostly non hunters) but afterwards are ready to slap on the waders head to the marsh.

BTW in the odd chance you have some leftovers, it makes an an incredible duck gumbo. I was skeptical at first but could not make one argument against it.

Ya know reading all this makes me hungry. Is there a recipe section on this forum?

[nick balzano]

hunted with my son shot a couple of doves. Dove hunting in PA. is no where near like it was in the 70's but still had a great time with my boy and my 16 ga. trojan

[Kevin McCormack]

Mills, that picture of your son smiling so wide with your dog on the tailgate is worth 3 limits!! Our dove opener was 'hexed'; 2-300 acres of freshly cut corn (first in the county) and great strips to hide in left for the hunters, but the birds may not be here in numbers yet. Very few flying; Sept. 1 opener here in MD featured very high heat and humidity, almost no breeze, and I doubt we saw a dozen birds all afternoon (2-6PM). Second (Labor Day) hunt I was unable to make. Today (Sat. 8 AUG) it rained off and on all day so no joy.

My moments of glory on opening day consisted of two very awkward over-the-wrong shoulder shots at 2 passers that had been shot at 3-4 times already; swung my butt around on my dove stool like a sinkbox shooter and killed both dead in the air. The new-this-year 32" AE Fox 20 ga.swung itself and the "harmonic motion" of the long barrels kept me from falling off my dove bucket onto my keister (follow THROUGH!!). Two birds with 2 shots put me into the high guns for the afternoon.

Thinking about some dove breast h'ord'eurves on the way home, had to stop for a bottle of red Zinfandel to offset the tangy taste. My current favorite is "1000 Stories", its a bourbon-barrel aged Zin with the image of an American Bison on the label.. I take the meats off each breast, toothpick a tiny sliver of jalapeno pepper between them, and saute in hot oil for only a few seconds each (till the meat goes grey), then drain and serve. This leaves the insides of the breast still pink but cooked and yet not overdone.

Years ago served 2 limits (24) that way taken as appetizers for an outdoor end-of-summer party; most people thought they were chicken livers but couldn't place the mild flavor. They gobbled them in about 12 minutes; guests ate everything except the metal cookie sheet I served them up on.

[davidboyles]

Mills I guess us Texicans can’t claim Dove poppers anymore. Seems everyone have discovered Japelenos toothpicks and cream cheese. Well I’m back out near Austin and the Circuit of the Americas racetrack where a buddy has 143 Ac with gravel and Dove waterhole. Out with a rookie friend and my Model 21 20 ga Skt 1 and 2, plus new DHE 16 30” bbls should be a late evening waterhole shoot already thinking about poppers!! Speaking of food I have had fried Whitewings at Garcia’s Grill in Pearsall last Sat nite after our hunt. We take our Dove breasts into the grill where they have put on the menu the DAVID Boyles Plate: doves, boracho beans guacamole, grilled onions tortillas japelenos and lots of Cuba’s. Plus a good cigar by the campfire afterwards. Si Si Ados Amigo Good luck to all.

[Mills Morrison]

Poppers are everywhere now. Dove, duck, whatever. Still good though

Sounds like you have some good guns for doves

[Mark Ray]

Couldn’t stand it any more! Have lots of “Mom” issues keeping me close to the house, so this evening I grabbed the 1 frame VH 16 I bought a while back, and have never shot, a box of Herters 1oz, 1165 fps 8’s and my vizsla Hobbs, and headed all the way to my back yard. Shot the little gun well, 11 birds (2 white-wings, 2 mourning doves and 7 Eurasian ring necks, burned up 17 rounds of the Herters ammo. FWIW, the Herters shells felt as though the recoil was pretty soft, and the killed the poo out of the birds, a couple at 45 yds or so with barrel #2!!

Bacon Wrapped grilled doves tomorrow night!! Would have had them this eveining, but the Speckled Trout Meuniere was already tee’d up for tonight!!

Hobbs did great on his first work of Fall 2018!,

[todd allen]

People, please. The secret is, don't over cook dove. Sauteed in butter and garlic works, just don't overcook. Whatever recipe you use, rare is better. Enjoy the shoot, eat well.
That's all.

[Dean Romig]

I completely agree - do not overcook.

I’ve never had dove but it sounds like it has a slightly more delicate flavor than woodcock and I braise woodcock breasts in sizzling hot butter for 1 minute on one side and 45 seconds on the other and take them out of the pan quickly!






.

[Tom Flanigan]

Great pictures Mark. All game should always be cooked so that the meat is moist. I wish I could say I tasted dove, but I always gave them away to the gentleman who I hunted with. He loved them.

Dean, I hope you are picking your woodcock and not breasting them. The fat little legs have white meat and are delicious. That and the skin and fat under the skin is the only part of the woodcock that I really like. The woodcock is a very strange bird. Ears before the eyes and dark meat with white meat on the legs. I love the little fellows and I can foresee the day when I stop shooting them like my grandfather. Off season I've observed them walking around and they are a really pretty bird that struts with pride with their little tails spread.

[Kevin McCormack]

The Herter's 16 ga. loads are great; I shoot a lot of them. Also love the "What's In Your Wallet?" look on Hobb's face in the picture!

[Tom Flanigan]

I don't know how many of you guys remember the original Herters in Waseca Minnisota. They had a wonderful big catalog filled with hyperbole and witty commentary written by Jacques L. Herter himself. I still have some of them and read them from time to time. I ordered a lot of stuff from Herters back in the day. Some of it was very good and some was not so good. Their fly tying materials were crap but I liked their crow and duck calls. Herters was a grand old company. I even made a pilgramage to the Waseca store when I was in Chicago for a month on an auditing assignment.

[Tom Flanigan]

Oh my gosh! I misspelled Minneasota. My apologies to the folks that live there. I haven't had my morning coffed yet. Thats my excuse.

[Todd Poer]

I am sure there will be plenty of argument to this statement and I love variety as well in gauges of shotguns and enjoy shooting them all. However, read this statement the other day and it made perfect sense. "If we were starting from scratch to design the shotgun and its cartridges, it would be the 16 gauge with a 1 ounce load." Add to that I think a Parker 16 gauge on a 1 Frame is the ultimate in firearm congress.

I have not used the Herters brand shells yet but read they were made by Sellier and Bellot out of Czech Republic, but even S&B is a subsidiary of a Brazil company CBC. Its a world economy. I guess Bass Pro/Cabelas owns the Herters name and slapped that brand on them. Good idea since people still remember the brand. I remember as kid getting the Herters catalog and reading the stories. Still have a few Herter's Duck calls. Also have my first weapon. A Herter's fiberglass recurve bow with a 15 lb draw and leather quiver.

Here is neat article.

https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/books/review/Collins-t.html

[Tom Flanigan]

I am sure there will be plenty of argument to this statement and I love variety as well in gauges of shotguns and enjoy shooting them all. However, read this statement the other day and it made perfect sense. "If we were starting from scratch to design the shotgun and its cartridges, it would be the 16 gauge with a 1 ounce load." Add to that I think a Parker 16 gauge on a 1 Frame is the ultimate in firearm congress.

Todd, if your statement was about grouse guns, I would totally agree. The 16 bore with an ounce of 9's was my standard grouse load for years. Now I just use 20 and 28 bores. But my best shooting at grouse was probably done with the 16 bore ounce loads.

Sorry, but I believe the 16 bore falls short as an all around gun. My patterning tests with the 16 bore showed, at least with my guns, that the 16 doesn't handle shot larger than 6's that well. You can get away with 5's, but anything larger falls short of even and consistent patterns. Likewise, I've never got decent patterns from my 12 bore guns with shot sizes larger than the old St. Louis 3's. I wish I could get size 3 again. It was my favorite size for geese. I used to get it from Herters of old. I still have a partial bag that Destry gave me that I will be loading in a 10 bore. Leave it to Destry to find St. Louis 3's.

[Tom Flanigan]

Let's change my statement above from grouse guns to upland guns. No finer upland gun, in my opinion, than the 16 bore, unless you stuff 1 1/8 ounces in the shell. One ounce of shot and the 16 bore were made for each other. The ultimate upland load in ,my opinion.

[Todd Poer]

Let's change my statement above from grouse guns to upland guns. No finer upland gun, in my opinion, than the 16 bore, unless you stuff 1 1/8 ounces in the shell. One ounce of shot and the 16 bore were made for each other. The ultimate upland load in ,my opinion.

Yup. The shot column on ounce load with 16 bore at .662 is 2/3 of an inch and 1 ounce of lead shot almost measures out to same height. Recoil is very manageable and shot stringing is minimal, which is perfect for fast moving game like a dove.

I agree with you about shot size but I have never shot much of anything in small game on the wing that required bigger than 6 shot with a 16 gauge. I do prefer a 12 gauge when it comes to ducks though. They are just tough birds and want more shot in the pattern.

If Bill Hanus was alive he would still be pumping out info on 16 gauge merits.

I posted this before here is a link to a great article.
https://dailycaller.com/2013/08/20/what-happened-to-the-16-gauge-shotgun/

[Mark Ray]

Year over year, I average taking, and cooking, 150 to 200 doves. Cook them lots of different ways, but the advice not to overcook is paramount.

Growing up, my Dad insisted that each bird be plucked “neck to toes”, carefully gutted, retaining liver gizzards and hearts, snipping only the feet and head from the carcass. All the gizzards were split and skinned, then fried in bacon fat with the rest of the giblets, with flour tossed in to make a roo for giblet cream gravy. The birds were dredged in buttermilk, seasoned cracker crumbs, and pan fried. Served with “grandad’s bisquits”, turnip or collard greens, that meal was my absolute favorite growing up!

I will never forget the first time , after college, that I took my Dad dove hunting at “my” lease, and proceeded to breast out my birds in his presence!! I thought he was going to disown me!!

A couple of times each season, I’ll get the urge to do the birds “my Dad’s way”. I never could shoot them his way though. His butt never left the overturned, extra tall galvanized, bucket that he used for a seat, and transport device. Dad was a lefty, but shot a right handed A5- 16, until he bought a brand spanking new right handed 1100 12 in Gibsons discount store when I was 8, trading in his old Browning for it. He did not care what ammo he used for doves, as long as they were AA 9’s. I truly do not think I can remember a time that he opened a second box of shells on a shoot in order to get a limit, nor do I ever remember him keeping count of how many birds he shot!! He would shoot a box, and it might mean 12 birds in the bucket, or 20. How he shot that well, sitting on that damn bucket i’ll never know!

[Tom Flanigan]

When I was a boy and had a bunch of grouse to pick, I asked my grandfather if I could skin some of them. He replied, “anyone who skins a bird doesn’t deserve to eat it”. I took that to heart and never skinned a bird in my life. Not even ducks or geese which take time to pick properly. I’ve never popped the breasts out of a bird either but I can understand why it is done with doves. But woodcock…..never.

[Todd Poer]

Great story Mark. Yea we talk about Churchill method of instinctual shooting, gun mount, gun fitting, footwork, etc. etc. The old timers just did it and could probably out shoot most standing on their heads if they had to. Those old heavy gas operated 1100's were some soft shooting guns. What was the old saying, a 1100 is a 12 gauge that kicks like a 20. Did your dad happen to wear glasses? Even if he didn't it sounds like he was not shooting a whole lot of followup shots in succession, which is easy to do with an 1100.

Since a lefty myself and not optically challenged yet I never shot with glasses when I had an 1100. I don't think they ever made a lefty version of that gun until maybe in the last 10 years. Since nowhere as good a shot as your dad I shot a lot more chasing them doves. After an afternoon hunt I would look like I came out of a Kentucky coal mine. Ya know your suppose to shoot with your eyes open but after more than a few of those spent cartridges with slow burning powder flies across your face with some still smoldering residue blowing into your eyes, you can't help but close your eyes and almost develop a flinch.

Still remember the first time I shot my dad's Parker VH 16 in a dove field. It was heaven not having powder burns, been hooked since.

[Todd Poer]

When I was a boy and had a bunch of grouse to pick, I asked my grandfather if I could skin some of them. He replied, “anyone who skins a bird doesn’t deserve to eat it”. I took that to heart and never skinned a bird in my life. Not even ducks or geese which take time to pick properly. I’ve never popped the breasts out of a bird either but I can understand why it is done with doves. But woodcock…..never.

Tom do you hand pluck every single bird you harvest or do have one of those power pluckers?

[Mark Ray]

Great story Mark. Yea we talk about Churchill method of instinctual shooting, gun mount, gun fitting, footwork, etc. etc. The old timers just did it and could probably out shoot most standing on their heads if they had to. Those old heavy gas operated 1100's were some soft shooting guns. What was the old saying, a 1100 is a 12 gauge that kicks like a 20. Did your dad happen to wear glasses? Even if he didn't it sounds like he was not shooting a whole lot of followup shots in succession, which is easy to do with an 1100.

Since a lefty myself and not optically challenged yet I never shot with glasses when I had an 1100. I don't think they ever made a lefty version of that gun until maybe in the last 10 years. Since nowhere as good a shot as your dad I shot a lot more chasing them doves. After an afternoon hunt I would look like I came out of a Kentucky coal mine. Ya know your suppose to shoot with your eyes open but after more than a few of those spent cartridges with slow burning powder flies across your face with some still smoldering residue blowing into your eyes, you can't help but close your eyes and almost develop a flinch.

Still remember the first time I shot my dad's Parker VH 16 in a dove field. It was heaven not having powder burns, been hooked since.

Later in life, I gave my Dad a lefty 1187 Premier 12. He shot it just as well as any other gun he handled. I shot it a few times, and just cannot imagine shooting like that all the time!

Dad did wear glasses, but very rarely shot twice, he would just call a miss a miss. Also, although he always had one of our Setters trained to retrieve, they were never good enough to be reliable on doubles, as they were primarily “sight” retrieves, and Dad was serious about not getting up from that bucket. Funny, shooting quail, he would walk all day! But I think he considered Dove “hunting” a combination of target shooting and beer drinking! Those auto’s he used only for dove hunting, quail hunting was a German Empire grade Daly 12 O/U with the ejectors disabled, he also shot skeet with that gun. He had a rabid opinion about spent hulls, and it was an anathema to him to leave a spent hull on the ground. It was a rule for my brother and I to bring back at least as many empties as shots we took, and the old man would count them every time, and if they didnt add up, we were sent to find either the shells we didnt pick up, or some someone else has discarded.

[Todd Poer]

Those trigger safeties on right handed autos most of the time are set and you can't switch them since built into the to trigger guards, at least we never tried to. Had to learn to carry or hold that gun cross chest and push safety over thumb and then mount the gun. Lots of barrel movement, but hey you adapt and overcome.

My dad still has a bunch of humpbacks and we will bang with them some and its like riding a bicycle. As matter of fact I don't think I have ever shot a true left handed auto loader with a safety in the trigger guard. That would be weird for me since have never thought to use my trigger finger in shooting sequence. I guess it would be easy enough though since putting safety on used trigger finger.

BTw I know it is frowned upon but some of finest people I knew and true sportsmen could sit on a cooler of beer in a dove field and wear them out. Personally I have only been to Mexico hunting a few times in early 90's on a hunts where there was no limit. They gave me a cooler of beer and flat of shells and pump 12 gauge shotgun. I went off to corner by myself down a road covered with mesquite. It was so hot I lost count but sitting there knocking back cold 10 oz carta blancas and nailing anything flying by was almost Zen like, until a you touched the barrel. Had to tear the bottom of the T-shirt I was wearing wrap it around my hand so not to touch barrels when working action. All I had to do was make the effort to pick out the dove and then the gun would seemingly mount it self to shoulder and fire and work that pump. That was a lot of fun then, but going there now, I don't know.

[Tom Flanigan]

I hand pick them Todd. Always have, always will. You have to be very careful with grouse since the skin rips easily. Woodcock are easy and you don't have to worry about the skin ripping. Ducks and geese take some time because of the down and all but when you see them roasting in the oven with skin and legs intact, its worth the time spent. The skin helps to hold in the moisture of birds and is wonderful eating.

Picking is easier when the birds are warm but I always age my birds in my aging refrigerator with feathers intact. So they are a bit harder to pick. One thing I always do is gut my birds before they go in my pouch. This lets them cool down quicker. Quick cooling is important for any bird or big game animal. I am very particular about how I handle and cook my game. Turkeys take about a week to age properly, grouse I leave in the aging refrigerator for about three or four days. Then I freeze the ones that I can't eat within a week. I hate to freeze them but when you get a lot of birds there is no other choice. Aging comes before freezing because meat will not age in a freezer. I have found 38 degrees to be best for aging birds and venison.

[Jerry Harlow]

Took Mosby for his second hunt today. Took with me a Sweet 16 and a mint condition Light 20. Decided on the 20 when I got there at daybreak, with an extra Poly-Choke barrel I picked up at a gun show last year. Mosby got to retrieve all fifteen birds, with my help on about three of them. He sure saved me a lot of wasted time since they are hard to find in a cornfield.

A little over a box for the fifteen birds.

[Todd Poer]

Holy smokes you actually put a barrel with a poly choke on that gun. Awesome. Good job. Close to 60% shooting on a dove field is a good day, even better when a bit handicapped working with a young dog. That handicap clearly moves you into the 75 percentile and maybe 80% since you put that poly choke on there.

BTW I have a 16 gauge A5 in the quiver with a polychoke that was wife's grandfather's gun and holding for my kids. It ugly but the dang thing shoots well.

[Mark Ray]

You have inspired my choice for Saturday morning (if we aren't drowning down here) I'm going to pull out my old 11-48 28 ga, no rib, that proudly sports a factory cutts compensator!!

[Jerry Harlow]

Holy smokes you actually put a barrel with a poly choke on that gun. Awesome. Good job. Close to 60% shooting on a dove field is a good day, even better when a bit handicapped working with a young dog. That handicap clearly moves you into the 75 percentile and maybe 80% since you put that poly choke on there.

BTW I have a 16 gauge A5 in the quiver with a poly choke that was wife's grandfather's gun and holding for my kids. It ugly but the dang thing shoots well.

The gun is 99% and I found the Belgian barrel with a new poly choke at a gun show. It had a little rust and a few pits so I reblued it. I keep the original VR 27" modified barrel off it when hunting so it does not get the two rub marks from the forend.

[Mills Morrison]

I am glad we got opening day in before the hurricane this year. Last year, it all but ruined our season.

[charlie cleveland]

poly chokes are ugly as sin but the best one choke ever made..i have a model 12 with a cutts on it and it does not look good either...charlie

[Mark Ray]

Charlie,

For years I have used a 3 1/2” Browning BPS with a 30” barrel and invector+ chokes for geese and bay duck shooting. I was in Cabelas “bargain cave” about 15 years ago, and picked up a true poly choke, with the ported front that was threaded to be used on invector+guns. It adds almost 5” to the BPS, but it is a freaking anti aircraft gun for those high flying honkers!,!

[Mills Morrison]

Pretty is as pretty does

[Todd Poer]

Mark I am in agreement with you for using BPS for duck hunting. They are flat out one of the best guns ever made for it and can work for just about everything else you can think of. Nothing more dependable than a pump shotgun that your not afraid to get wet, knocked around, or get into muck. Also when it is down right awful out is the best time to be out duck hunting and I have never had my pump lock or freeze up like any semi-auto. What I like most about BPS is the safety. It being mounted in same place as typical double shotgun is perfect. For me that perfection also extends to the fact gun is bottom loaded and ejected, obviously neutral and ideal for lefty's.

For many years only owned 2 guns an 1100 and a BPS. After I got the BPS I never used the 1100 again and used that pump for everything. Loved it when in early 90's sporting clays was emerging. A few buddies of mine went and got Beretta's and I would show up with BPS and out shoot em. Even on true doubles I could work that pump so fast and gun just fit me so well it was magic.

I love old sxs's and Parker's as much as anybody, but if you follow Eyptian custom of taking what you need with into an after life and you can only take one gun, I am taking my BPS with me. Leaving my nice sxs's for others to enjoy in my absence. BTW I have been to a few funerals where someone was buried with their favorite shotguns, but they all forgot the shells. A gun with no bullets is a club, gotta take some rounds with you.

[Mills Morrison]

A BPS 12 gauge was my duck gun for years.

[Scott Chapman]

The first shotgun that I bought with my own lawn mowing money was a 12 gauge BPS in about 1980 (the Japanese version). I am sure the it was about $275 at Oshman's Sporting Goods in Houston, Texas as my mother had to fill out whatever paperwork was required at the time. I sent the barrel off and had a poly choke installed on the 26" barrel because according to my Dad that was the thing to do. I still have that gun. It has killed a bunch of birds over the years but I would like to get a replacement early BPS barrel to switch out for that ugly Poly Choke thing.

[Todd Poer]

Its hard but I bet you can find one or an older BPS. But probably might as well just buy the whole gun since barrels are dang expensive. My first BPS was the first year Browning had come out with the Invector screw in choke and started overboring barrels. I think it was in 1982.

[Garry L Gordon]

The first shotgun that I bought with my own lawn mowing money was a 12 gauge BPS in about 1980 (the Japanese version). I am sure the it was about $275 at Oshman's Sporting Goods in Houston, Texas as my mother had to fill out whatever paperwork was required at the time. I sent the barrel off and had a poly choke installed on the 26" barrel because according to my Dad that was the thing to do. I still have that gun. It has killed a bunch of birds over the years but I would like to get a replacement early BPS barrel to switch out for that ugly Poly Choke thing.

1980!!?? You're making me (and I'll wager I'm not alone) feel pretty darned old!

[John Dallas]

First duck i killed (a blackjack drake) was taken with a 20 gauge 11-48 with a pickle on the end

[Todd Poer]

Pickle. That is awesome, Never hear that term before and it is accurate trying to figure out which choke that gun is set on.

[Wayne Owens]

Hunting yesterday was rather slow. Hunted until 10:30 when the temperature was 100. It was the first time I actually hunted with this gun. My shooting capabilities are definitely not up to par with this fine Parker.

[Mills Morrison]

:shock::shock::shock:

[Garry L Gordon]

Hunting yesterday was rather slow. Hunted until 10:30 when the temperature was 100. It was the first time I actually hunted with this gun. My shooting capabilities are definitely not up to par with this fine Parker.

That's a beauty! Thanks for posting.

[Kevin McCormack]

Didn't seem to matter much what gun I took either day for doves so far - the incessant off & on again rainstorms have disoriented the birds so much that I believe they have left our immediate hunting farm(s) area.

Opening day (1 SEP) I was one of the high guns with 2 birds for 2 shells; Labor Day I couldn't go but thankfully so since upper 70s per cent humidity and high temp of 89; heard that a total of 10 doves were shot off our 800+ acre lease. Went back today, not bad weather at all; humid but not excessive, high in the upper 70s, but literally saw NO BIRDS at all - none on the wires, sitting in trees, jumped in the fields, shown in people's hands, nothing flying at all - a real first for us this time of year hereabouts (central MD and NO VA).

Some of our best fields adjacent to rivers (Potomac, Monocacy, Shenandoah) and sizeable creeks (Antietam in MD, Goose Creek in VA, were obviously over-flooded during the last 2 nights (Thurs. & Fri.) by the outer orbital rainstorms of Florence. The two fields we closely examined immediately adjacent to the river(s) showed signs of a 6"-1 ft. overwash flooding; not a single kernel of corn or other grain crop visible on the ground, only animal tracks visible this AM (deer, coon, fox, etc. - one set could have been a coyote) showed that all other surface impressions in the earth had been scoured away, not unlike a hosed off driveway.

Areas mentioned above are usually very good for dove - but Mother Nature rules!!

[Garry L Gordon]

Didn't seem to matter much what gun I took either day for doves so far - the incessant off & on again rainstorms have disoriented the birds so much that I believe they have left our immediate hunting farm(s) area.

Opening day (1 SEP) I was one of the high guns with 2 birds for 2 shells; Labor Day I couldn't go but thankfully so since upper 70s per cent humidity and high temp of 89; heard that a total of 10 doves were shot off our 800+ acre lease. Went back today, not bad weather at all; humid but not excessive, high in the upper 70s, but literally saw NO BIRDS at all - none on the wires, sitting in trees, jumped in the fields, shown in people's hands, nothing flying at all - a real first for us this time of year hereabouts (central MD and NO VA).

Some of our best fields adjacent to rivers (Potomac, Monocacy, Shenandoah) and sizeable creeks (Antietam in MD, Goose Creek in VA, were obviously over-flooded during the last 2 nights (Thurs. & Fri.) by the outer orbital rainstorms of Florence. The two fields we closely examined immediately adjacent to the river(s) showed signs of a 6"-1 ft. overwash flooding; not a single kernel of corn or other grain crop visible on the ground, only animal tracks visible this AM (deer, coon, fox, etc. - one set could have been a coyote) showed that all other surface impressions in the earth had been scoured away, not unlike a hosed off driveway.

Areas mentioned above are usually very good for dove - but Mother Nature rules!!

Kevin,

It's tough when things like the weather take days, and even seasons, away. It's not like we have an unending number of seasons to hunt. Good luck to you.

[Reggie Bishop]

The heat we have been having here in the Southland has all but stopped any flights of birds, but we were out there trying this past weekend!

https://i.imgur.com/o9VPvAX.jpg

[Karl Ferguson]

At least you had something awesome to look at ... what a beautiful gun

[Reggie Bishop]

Thanks Karl! Its just about my favorite!

[Dean Romig]

Wow Reggie! Is that a 20 or a 28?..... I want it to be a 28.



Aw nuts.... I just noticed the yellow shells.




.

[Reggie Bishop]

It is a 20. 30” DHE with a 14.75 LOP. It’s a super little Parker!

[Dean Romig]

Beautiful Parker Reggie! On my short list for "the quintessential Parker".

Is it the one in your avatar photo?



.

[Reggie Bishop]

Forgot to mention factory choked IC/M. Letters just as it sits. And Dean, it is not the one in my avatar.

[Phillip Carr]

Had a great dove hunt this past Saturday. Met 2 Parker members Dale and Chris at one of their dove spots in Phoenix.
The dove started to fly welll at 6:30 AM and shot till 9:00 when the tempeture started reach out to 100 degree.
Great shoot with all of us limiting out on Whitewings and morning dove. Topped off with big flights of Eurasian dove that seem to outnumber our native birds two to three to one.
Chris allowed me to shoot a box of his handloads which were loaded with 1 oz of shot and were under 6000 psi. What a great low recoil load that flat knocked dove down at 40 yards.

[Benjamin Koppes]

I just bought a new Parker and cant wait to get it out!! I honestly disocvered my Parker after reading a book called The Traditional Side by Side: King of the Upland Bird Guns by author Doug Stewart. It is loaded with information that got my brain turning and inspired me to switch to sxs. Has anyone else read this book? the website is www.dougstewartauthor.com and I've seen them do contests for free copies on the FB page King of the Upland Bird Guns. Awesome pictures of some beautiful guns in the book!

[Todd Poer]

Congratulations. Doug Stewart comes on here sometimes and he will be glad to hear that he contributed to a convert.

As a matter of fact might I suggest you create a new thread talking about it. Think there are some good guys here that would like to talk it up with you.

[Mills Morrison]

Doug's book is very good

[Jerry Harlow]

Even Mosby was mad that I took a 20 L.C. Smith this morning . After lots of success in the past hunts, only saw three pairs of birds all morning (monsoons from Florence have driven them away). Owned the gun for fifteen years but had never shot it at game until today. Not enough shots to judge.

[Bob Retter]

I concur. I made a thread specifically about Mr. Stewart's book a while back, it is a great read. I dont know if you have heard his podcast on Project Upland as well, the guy knows his stuff and seems like a true gentleman! I think I saw the link to the episode on his website that you mentioned Benjamin!

[Benjamin Koppes]

Thanks @Southpaw, I did create a new thread about the book in the General Discussions Other Fine Doubles section. I'm glad to hear others have enjoyed this book!! I'll definitely be sharing the book with my buddies!

[Todd Poer]

Thanks @Southpaw, I did create a new thread about the book in the General Discussions Other Fine Doubles section. I'm glad to hear others have enjoyed this book!! I'll definitely be sharing the book with my buddies!

Welcome Ambassador and to whatever providence you choose to serve in your new mission. So, was it just Doug's book that convinced you to go on this SXS journey or did it start somewhere else as a state of awareness.

[Benjamin Koppes]

Welcome Ambassador and to whatever providence you choose to serve in your new mission. So, was it just Doug's book that convinced you to go on this SXS journey or did it start somewhere else as a state of awareness.


I stumbled across Doug's book and have never really considered SxS until completing the book and learning about the traditions that come with those guns. Seeing the pictures Doug provided really sold me

[Todd Poer]

So what type gun did you get as far as model and gauge. Might of missed that. SXS's can sometimes take a little bit to get used to but if you get one that shoots at what your looking at, its a great feeling. Especially shooting an old Parker. The sun is a little brigther, the air is a little cleaner, gun is easier to carry, your posture will improve and those adult beverages at the end of the day will taster better, guaranteed.

As a matter of fact saw T-shirt that thought was funny and got me thinking.

"Education is Important but shooting Parkers is Importanter"