Doves
 

I'm going to get to hunt doves for the first time in my life come September 1. It's something I always wanted to do but, just never got the chance. Mr. John Davis invited to take part in his family's traditional opening day. I think it will be a great setting for a Parker Chronicles story. I don't anticipate any trouble like that caught on video. Enjoy.
https://www.facebook.com/ShihanTaz/p...55372252716355

Mike, from a long time dove shooter, trust me you will have a blast and what a great introduction to dove shooting with none other than the esteemed John Davis. Have a safe trip.

I'm betting you'll have a terrific time with John and his family! I'm really looking forward to that installment to Parker Chronicles.

Dean





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Mike, I wish I was going with you, never been on a dove hunt with all the traditions that go with it, maybe someday .................. Have fun.

Eric, I haven't been on anything like that before either. For me this is one of those dream hunts I have wanted to do for years.

I've also been invited on my first dove hunt on opening day. I don't know how many times I've already packed and repacked my gear in anticipation. Good luck on your hunt!

The best time I ever had hunting dove was on a farm in Nokesville Virginia in a field of sun flower's. J.J.

I'm taking all Parker's of course. A 20 gauge, a 16 gauge hammer gun and a factory barreled 24" 12 gauge. What do you guys use?

Unless you're in full camo and sitting directly beneath the decoys, I'd leave the 24" 12 at home.





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I'll be using my Trojan 20 gauge with 26" barrels mainly because it's my only Parker. I'll probably have a Remington 1100 16 gauge in the truck as a back up though.

Parker's are the sportsman's dream,I'll be using my Trojan 16 gauge this season can't wait. J.J.

Jacob, congrats on that 20 ga Trojan. What a great bird gun. Dean, I want to see how that 12 ga handles.

So bring it and shoot it... exclusively. :D





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Opens September 1 here. Lots of Whitewings still around. If a storm does not come in and get them moving south to Mexico we should be able to put some in our bag. Lots of morning and Eurasian dove. Can't hardly wait. Mike you are in for a real treat.

Grew up going to dove shoots ( it is not a hunt ). Some of my most enjoyable times afield took place on the dove field, but the prairie section of Mississippi does not have the birds it used to. When I moved back home 44 years ago after school and living in Jackson a couple of years, I got invited to join what was simply called the dove club. A group of about 30 sportsman including a couple of large farmers. Our first dove season last the month of Sept.The club fixed 3 or 4 fields and we shot each Saturday, Sunday and Wedsday afternoon. When morning shooting was introduced the decline started. The club hung it up about 10 years ago. I still shoot but if I kill my 15 3 or 4 times. It is a good season.

mike you are going to have a time of your life....carry plenty of shells....charlie

With the three gauges on opening day, I would say choke is more important than gauge as 7/8oz in 20 and 1 oz in 16 and 1 or 1 1/8 in 12 will do the job. I like open (cyl or IC) and tight (IM) in a double gun for doves. The 16 is my favorite for doves. Just right. Opening day doves are often so small you feel sorry that you killed them. Pretty dumb too but they get smart quickly.

I'll have a 20 gauge VHE 28" with me and more then likely of all things an EH #2 frame with 30" barrels . I may even take a Grade 2 top lever #3 frame 32" 10 as well . That 19 grains of Red Dot and 1 1/8 ounces shot has me wound up to shoot them with the 10's again .

In the south a dove shoot is a social event as well as a shooting event. To be invited to John's opening day family shoot is quite an honor. I shoot a 30" 12ga lifter using #9 shot. You will be shooting local doves vs the migratory birds of late season and #9's do a great job. Be careful to be a gentleman and only shoot "your birds" not ones heading for someones else's stand. You will have a fantastic time!
David

I do feel honored to be invited on this shoot, as I do when any of our members invite me to tag along. I didn't have any 9 shot RST loads but I brought plenty of 8's. thanks for the advice David :-)

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.

I shoot lots of doves, all year 'round. Here are some easy tips and thoughts:

When looking for a shooting spot, stand next to something and in the shade, it blocks your outline and movement. It will make far more difference than camo or a face mask.

Doves are not big birds, you will kill them just as dead and just as far with 7/8oz of #8 at less than 1200 fps than you will with 1 1/8 oz of #6 at 1350 fps. If you are chasing them through the brush or they are sailing off it is because your shot was off not because you did not have powerful enough ammo. I have mostly been shooting ammo that is factory seconds or cosmetic rejects because I buy them for $3 a box and I just shoot whatever load comes along. I have used shot sized from #5 to #9 and gauges from 12 to 410. I can honestly tell you that my bird counts are not significantly different whether I am shooting a 1/2oz of #9 from a .410 or 1 1/4oz of #6 from a 12ga. Light loads shoot softer and most people will shoot better with a load that does not kick them.

The best piece of advise for killing more doves for the average shooter: lead them more.

I dunno about that when it comes to high birds. I was on a tall pass shoot last year on opening day and if I hadn't had some high brass 7 1/2 I wouldn't have gone home with many. I started with light load #8 and wasn't pulling them down, went to the truck for bigger bullets and killed my limit pretty quick.

Destry

IMHO when it comes to doves use plenty of choke and 7 1/2's.

At this point, it is only a question of which gun I take and that is a big enough decision for me. I will probably lean towards the 6s or 7s

6s? How big are your doves down there Mills?

I think so far in this thread we've read everything from 10 gauge to 410 is used. 6 shot up to 9 in the shells. Has anyone ever carried a SBT? I was going to bring one but st the last minute decided against it.

My cousin tried a single shot gun once and did not like it.

Man, being in Michigan I can only wish ...:envy: I love the tradition of a dove hunt, it reminds me of the old days of deer camp in Michigan. It was more about the stories and the people.

I don't know how many more years my opening day invite is going to last. Our friend Russell is talking about selling his farm, he's already retired and just leases out the ground.

But he's got flowers planted this year, and there's corn in the wetland for the ducks. So one more season anyway.....

Destry

Enjoy it while you can. Nothing stays the same forever.