Destry, come on down to San Antonio, Texas, only 22 hr drive. Season starts Sept.1

Paul,

I appreciate the invite very much, but the Glorious 1st I'll be shooting with my father on our friend Mr. Russell's farm. Pigeons at the grain silo first thing in the morning then doves in the afternoon followed by a barbeque. Wild horses couldn't keep me away from this yearly event.



Destry

What's the address. I'm on the way!!!
My dove hunting partner and I killed 135 doves last year. I don't know who shot the most & I don't care. This year we will be shooting with his 2 grandsons. 8 &12 yrs. old. We shoot in his backyard leaning against the back deck. No walking through fields or nuthing. The kids are almost as good as bird dogs on retreving, it' a hoot to watch.
W will be shooting all month,when ever you decide to point your car toward heaven, give me a shout.

I'd love to have the run of that place and invite some of the boys from the forum to shoot with us. But Mr. Russell has his invite list set, Dad and I are just lucky enough to be on it every year. To have a running dove invite in Southern Illinois on a place that actually has doves is rare as a hen's tooth these days. When our friend in Ewing, IL passed away years ago we figured our dove shooting days were over unless we got lucky and just happened onto a field. Nobody in our family farms anymore or owns any amount of land.

Then, about 8 years ago, I was out in Pennsylvania for the Labor Day Pigeon Shoot and just happened to call Dad to tell him how I'd done. He said I've called you a half a dozen times! We've got an invite to shoot on my friend Russell's farm tomorrow if you can get here. I hung up the phone, got in my truck, and drove 10 hours to make it. We've been on the invite list every since. I didn't know Mr. Russell then, but he's become a close friend in the years after. Some years he doesn't shoot on the 1st, he waits till the 1st Saturday. This year it happens to actually fall on the actual 1st making it a special holiday.

We also have a standing invite on his place for the opening day of duck season and anytime thereafter if he's holding birds. To say he's a good friend to have and as generous as the day is long would put it mildly. He likes my old doubles and I think I've got him talked into going back to his vintage Browning A5 for the ducks. I got him a steel shot friendly barrel for it last year, hope he uses it opening day.



Destry

Your Mr. Russell sounds like my hunting partner Tom. The good Lord has blessed us with friends like these.

Destry, Labor Day. If we had our own field, you would be welcome.

My goal is to get a double and join the Doubles Club

We still have land in the family, but most of it is in pine trees. We rely on invitations as well and are fortunate to have good friends

anybodys welcome to come down and shoot at our place...but if things dont change you ll have to bring your own doves...but we will have a good dinner it may be chicken were eatin but thats a bird aint it...countin the days and gettin the old parker shined up and shells in the bag. this is really the best day of the year the start of a new hunting season. charlie

So am I... I'm like 45 minutes from Madison