Mike: Why not shoot a few with #6 and then a few with #9 and keep the birds separate. You may see a difference when you shoot them and when you clean them. I often have found only one #6 against the breast bone. I just recently cooked the last bag from last year and did not find a shot while eating birds this year. I kind of like not ingesting lead.Let us know what you think when you return home. Enjoy.

i will be shooting 7 1/2 mostly just because i have several boxes of them...only 7 days till opening day here in mississippi..if doves stay we will have a fair shoot nothing like 10 years ago though..enjoy this day as i watch kids begin there hunting carreer..look forward to a good dinner that day..doves with bacon around them and bolonia with special blend of sauce over it..how many shells to carry that i dont know but i m gona no run out...if every one shoots like me the birds want have much to worry about......charlie

Charlie, it's great that you are involving the kids in the Shoot. Hopefully some of them will become lifelong hunters and shooters and maybe even carry a Parker gun. Good job!

heh mike hope you have a really good first shoot...you gona love this hunt ....charlie

Thanks for the sentiments Charlie. I know I'm going to love it. Hanging out with John is worth the trip.

Well tell us what you think. Did it go well?

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...psdurwsfd2.jpg
Photobucket at its best!!

Finally got out for a short hunt this evening. Doves were pretty good. Got these in 45 minutes and quit a half hour early .
Gun is my 16 GA VH on an O frame with 28" barrels factory choked cyl/mod.
Texas Ranch between Abilene and Midland.

I hunted a cornfield solo last weekend. Dove hunting a good size field solo isn't the best setup but I enjoyed a sunrise, a flock of about 60 Canadian geese and a few doves too! On Saturday I carried my 20 GHE, but forgot my camera. Monday I took my little Grade 4 Ithaca 20 and my camera! Here is a shot of the 1st bird of the morning.

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

No Parkers....but recent efforts!
 

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Looks like a great dove shoot. Doves are so much fun !