Mike I hope you have a great shoot and I like #71/2 shot the best. I will probably try my 20 28 inch VH or 20 Elsie ejector with 32 inch bbls or 16 gauge ???? Bobby

Mike take a lot of cold water. Georgia can be very hot and dry. One good dove shoot can ruin a fellow for life. I get worked up something terrible this time of the year. A great sport for old people.

I'm ready to be ruined lol. It's probably going to be about 200 degrees. What about camo? Full ghillie or simple face net?

Mike I doubt you will be able to stand a face net I shoot barefaced! Take plenty of water as I would rather run out of shells than water. Bobby

That sounds good.

The number one rule of dove hunting is to not move a muscle until it is within range and cannot escape. I see so many people starting to aim when the dove is fifty yards or more away, even some standing up, and it is going to be safely travelling in a different direction out of range in a second. Wear camo and a boonie type camo hat to block the sun, and wait until they are in range. For a double gun, the other hard lesson on an incoming bird is to shoot the left or tighter choke first and then after you miss and the bird is closer use the open barrel. Lesson three is different shot in each barrel. Nines or eights right, and 7.5 left for longer shots.

Just my experience after shooting them for over fifty years. My favorite bird to shoot.

Jerry thats some good advise. I have stood still many times with little cover just wearing jeans and a dark tee shirt and they keep on their flight path until you move to take a shot. Move too soon and they veer off before they are in range.
We shoot desert water holes a lot. Standing below the berm for concealment makes for some fast shooting. An evening on a tank can be amazing. Multiple fast darting birds coming into water all quicly changing directions when you shoulder your shotgun.
Bang Bang. Then Dang can't believe I missed.

Mike you might want to consider a way to keep your birds cold also. I'm sure Mr Davis will give good advise also. Through the years I have came to the conclusion that #6 shot kills deader and farther. I have never liked chasing cripple birds through snake infested weeds and briar patches. I shoot Winchester super speed 1 oz from Walmart in a 26in. VH 12ga. I am going to try them in a GH 30in this season. 1350 ft per second and easy on the shoulder. If you all need some help let me know.

When I was a kid I mostly shot 7 1/2's , later in life when I was shooting the shotgun games alot I went to 9's . In the past I've used 8 1/2's and now if I get my preference I like 8's . But anything from 6's down to 9's will get the job done or atleast thats been my experience .

As the opening day gets closer I get more excited. However, the thought of chasing cripples through snake infested weeds, running out of water and suffocating inside a face net does spice up what Gerald termed a great sport for old people, lol. I do appreciate all the advice and input. I can tell you guys love it.