Dove season around the corner

[Mills Morrison]

Getting close and looking forward to getting out. We sure need it after all the stuff 2020 has thrown at us.

Here are some memories of past hunts. . . .

[CraigThompson]

Very nice I've decided I'm going to make a concerted effort to do the first day with a Parker VH 0 frame 28 gauge most likely with #9 handloads pushed with Unique .

[Mills Morrison]

I might use a 28 myself, now that you mention it. This will be Harry's first dove hunt where he gets to shoot himself. He could use one Parker 28 and I could use the other.

[Bill Murphy]

Mills, you have discovered the "dove hunt system" of gun selection. Shoot the same gauge as your son so that you can borrow shells when you run out and he still has some. Harry might not think much of this system if he finds out that you are using it. Murphy

[Mills Morrison]

Right, and to prevent the hazard of mismatched shells in the wrong gun

[Dean Romig]

Very nice I've decided I'm going to make a concerted effort to do the first day with a Parker VH 0 frame 28 gauge most likely with #9 handloads pushed with Unique .


Okay Craig, please tell us about your little 28 with the (early) 0-frame, the early butt plate with the spur and no visible Parker Bros. engraved on the frame sides a la Remington??





,

[CraigThompson]

Okay Craig, please tell us about your little 28 with the (early) 0-frame, the early butt plate with the spur and no visible Parker Bros. engraved on the frame sides a la Remington??
,

It has Parker Bros engraved on the sides just the quality of that picture doesn't make it readily visible . The gun letters to 1904 I believe . Most likely the only one I'll ever own although I'd like a 1920's 00 frame with 28 or 26 inch barrels choked a bit more open . That 0 frame is full and full but I seem to shoot it pretty well .

[CraigThompson]

Mills, you have discovered the "dove hunt system" of gun selection. Shoot the same gauge as your son so that you can borrow shells when you run out and he still has some. Harry might not think much of this system if he finds out that you are using it. Murphy

This will probably come back to bite me , but I'm of the opinion if I can't get my 15 birds with two boxes of shells I don't deserve anymore .

Now with that being said I may go out the next time and not cut a feather with fifty shots :crying:

[Mills Morrison]

That is a good system.

[Mills Morrison]

If Harry is anything like his other parent, he will shoot the better part of a flat on his first hunt

[Stan Hillis]

23 days and a wake-up, Mills.

SRH

[Mills Morrison]

Definitely in count down mode now. Big decision is which gun

[charlie cleveland]

just close your eyes and get a armful of guns and ammo....don't get a pretty gun yull just set and admire it and miss a lot of chances to shoot a dove...charlie

[charlie cleveland]

several birds on the power line but still lots of room for more birds...crows are a problem right now I may have to go scare them off for good...charlie

[CraigThompson]

The dove club we do deer damage control on has flocks coming in as one would expect in Colombia or Argentina !

[Mills Morrison]

Numbers seem to be up around here. That could change, though.

[Steven Groh]

This will probably come back to bite me , but I'm of the opinion if I can't get my 15 birds with two boxes of shells I don't deserve anymore .

Now with that being said I may go out the next time and not cut a feather with fifty shots :crying:

The way it is looking out here, I would be tickled just to see 15 birds:(

[Mills Morrison]

Snagged a GH 16 in the Morphy auction. With luck, maybe it will get here in time for opening day

[Steven Groh]

Snagged a GH 16 in the Morphy auction. With luck, maybe it will get here in time for opening day
This one?
87217

[Mills Morrison]

No but I wish. Will post more about it when it comes

[CraigThompson]

I’d have to say a 16 gauge is in my top three as most favorite gauges . I think first is a toss up between the 28 and 10 . I think I have about a dozen 16’s but only six are Parker’s . Had a very nice AH Fox A grade 16 I let go about three years ago . Kinda wish I had it back !

[CraigThompson]

I suppose this Sunday I’ll get all the dove decoys out and make sure the VooDoo decoys have the batteries back in the battery packs .

[Harry Collins]

It's Papa's 20 Trojan for opening day and most of the season. I may step up to Uncle Bill's 16 VH in October.

[Garry L Gordon]

All of the posts and pictures got me excited to check the local dove fields. Checked a WMA just west of us and it appears the sunflowers will be ready. We saw a few dove, but did not venture into the fields. The Conservation Dept. will mow down a portion of the field next week. The ragweed is just as good for drawing the birds as the sunflowers. Have your Alegra-D handy...and your extra shells.

[Garry L Gordon]

Some photos from this morning.

[Jeff Kuss]

With only a week away from Dove season, I was surprised to find a Dove still sitting on a nest.

[Garry L Gordon]

That's one of the more elaborate dove nests I've ever seen. Dove are like the energizer bunny -- they keep going, and going...

Neat photo.

[Stefan Grow]

Some photos from this morning.

Every year in Georgia we get to the field early morning (for an afternoon hunt) and set up a tent and a huge smoker. Put the ribs on and relax until lunchtime. Then shoot till dusk! I always bring my Remington 1100 just because I’m so antsy to shoot. Shells are cheap and that third shot can be a real life saver for someone as bad as me. 2 weeks away now...

[Mills Morrison]

Harry and I are debating which guns to use. Actually, which gauge. Since it is his first season, I am really looking forward to it.

[Garry L Gordon]

Harry and I are debating which guns to use. Actually, which gauge. Since it is his first season, I am really looking forward to it.

Now there's a debate worth having -- no politics(!)

[Garry L Gordon]

Every year in Georgia we get to the field early morning (for an afternoon hunt) and set up a tent and a huge smoker. Put the ribs on and relax until lunchtime. Then shoot till dusk! I always bring my Remington 1100 just because I’m so antsy to shoot. Shells are cheap and that third shot can be a real life saver for someone as bad as me. 2 weeks away now...

I wish we had that tradition here in Missouri, but for us it's rise up as early as possible and hope to find a good spot in one of the State planted fields. No lunch, just a bottle of water, bug spray and extra shotgun shells.

Save me a rib or two, Stefan.

[Harry Collins]

Most all my friends that host dove hunts start at 2 and the field closes at 4:30. Doves start to feed in flocks around 5 PM. This way the field can be shot once a week for the season. Most of us are out with our limit in an hour or so leaving little pressure on the field. Bourbon thirty comes early on those days with a spread of food not found in the movie Tom Jones.

[Garry L Gordon]

Most all my friends that host dove hunts start at 2 and the field closes at 4:30. Doves start to feed in flocks around 5 PM. This way the field can be shot once a week for the season. Most of us are out with our limit in an hour or so leaving little pressure on the field. Bourbon thirty comes early on those days with a spread of food not found in the movie Tom Jones.

I’m not a bourbon drinker, but under those conditions, I believe I could give it a try.

[CraigThompson]

I’m not a bourbon drinker, but under those conditions, I believe I could give it a try.

When in Rome do as the Romans and when in Kentucky do as the Kentuckians :rotf:

[Harry Collins]

The truth is most host have bourbon, single malt, gin, vodka, wine, beer and God Forbid water.

[CraigThompson]

The truth is most host have bourbon, single malt, gin, vodka, wine, beer and God Forbid water.

My drinking days are pretty much past so more than likely I’d avail myself to the water ! But a Tom Collins would be right on time after a hot couple hours in the dove field :whistle:

[Mills Morrison]

The guys passed their hunter safety course this past weekend. Mills is more interested in tractors, but Harry is locked and loaded for his first real hunting season where he gets to shoot

[Gerald McPherson]

I know of a fellow who started his hunting career with a BB gun in his neighborhood shooting birds around bird feeders until folks got tired of it. He he he.

[Wes Stueber]

Gentlemen,

I have my 1911 Parker DH in 20 gauge w/ 28" bbls. for our dove opener here in IL tomorrow. A pad to lengthen the pull an inch and a cheek piece to raise the comb a bit and we're ready to go..!

A private farm pond tomorrow and then our IL State sunflower fields the next several. Then, the Bismuth shot will have to come out, I'm afraid? (No steel shot for the old gal..!)

We used to have great success on private sunflower fields in the past, but many think WNV has affected our dove populations here? It's still great to finally be outdoors.

Best of luck to you all this dove season - be safe - and have FUN...!

Wes

[Garry L Gordon]

Sitting in the house (5:30 am) here in North Missouri listening to the storm outside. No dove opener this morning...but we really need the rain.

[Shane Jennings]

We found a nice sunflower field to hunt this morning. Mostly mourning dove, as we were a several miles outside of town, but we did see a few whitewing showing up about the time we were finishing our limits. Whitewings like to roost in town, so it takes them a while to get out to the fields to feed.

[Mills Morrison]

Not much luck on the birds but fish were biting.

[Scott Gentry]

Tried out new retriever picked up a limit of birds and pup got first bird too!

[Mills Morrison]

My sister used to do the same thing for my Dad