Opening Day
 

We didn’t take our limits, but me and my son Shane a memorable Opening Day. Bird activity at our hunting location for opening day shooting spot can really be dependent on if the corn fields are opened. Gary, yesterday was the first day I heard about the Game Commission having specific fields planted and groomed for dove hunting. The person I heard from said the field was full of doves and hunters likewise. I may have to go check it out after there’s less hunters hopefully.

Harry

Your making me miss Lexington bad. Once upon a time, I was in town for the 3 sales each year at Tattersalls and also the Junior League Horse Show each July at The Red Mile. The Springs or Campbell House were like home away from home. Country ham and red eye gravy every morning and a Hot Brown for supper. I know The Springs is gone but I still have a few Red Mile caps I wear often.

Brett,

My bride was chairman of The Junior League and our daughters presented trophies. This was 30 or so years ago and now she is a sustaining member. William Shatner was quite a competitor and his farm was in the same neck of the woods as ours.We are two miles from Keeneland near the castle.

Harry

We were rained out of the opening day, but day 2 dawned foggy and with little competition at the local WMA dove fields. Elaine goes on the opening day, so I always quit by 8:30 am so as not to "wear out my welcome" with her. We managed 9 birds by then. Had I shot better, I'd have certainly had a limit, but I wanted to use the old PH...and it has a 3 1/8 inch drop (that's my excuse, and I'm stickin' to it!).

Beautiful PH Gary! I know shots much better than I and they, like me, only took about half a limit.

Went back this afternoon and had the entire WMA to myself. It was about 83 degrees with a strong WNW wind and lots of sun. I decided to take this GH (with much higher drops than the PH) and try to walk up some doves. I missed the first three shots and thought I'd counted my doves before they were in hand, and then got 5 straight. The chokes on this 30 inch, one frame, 7 lb. gun are both .040, so I had spreaders in the right barrel. That left barrel was perfect for far-in-front flushers and long crossers. Pretty satisfying to see the puff of feathers after a long summer of, well...you know. I quit after the 5th bird and on the way back to the car flushed a covey of quail. A good omen.

I love to see these old Parkers in the field. Great shooting Gary. I have a 30" Damascus with .022 & .040 constriction. I had two doubles in one afternoon with it on dove.