Took my DHE 20 out today
 

Took my 5 3/4# DHE 20 out today shooting 3/4oz #8, I decided to concentrate on the pigeons. 20 birds in 1 1/2 hours, a nice cap to the holiday weekend.

Dave,
That little 20 seems to agree with you!

Dean

Thumbs up, Dave.

Is the reason for so many doves and pigeons being concentrated near large urban areas of AZ because of the proximity of feedlots and dairies to those areas? I've heard for many years of the fantastic dove and pigeon shooting near Phoenix and it's surrounding towns, and recall seeing large feedlots or dairies on the outskirts, heading out towards Florence, when my son lived at Cactus Junction, and my brother in Mesa.

Also, do y'all decoy them, or pass shoot?

Yes, the good shooting is at dairies, just pass shooting.

Nice shoot Dave! Dale and I were out there yesterday in the fields just east of you. Kinda slow but they're starting to fly better each weekend.
Chris, AZ

Thanks, Dave. Does anyone shoot doves around stock tanks on the public lands, where they run a few cattle, anymore? I've hunted Gambel's on one of those in the edge of Tucson and there was a stock tank there "in service" that I thought might be an attraction for doves.

There is shooting around stock tanks on public ground for wild doves during the hunting season. The Eurasian doves live in the urban areas.

I have been spoiled since the Eurasian dove invaded us.
Stan I live in Tucson and shooting dove over stock tanks has been an annual tradition for morning and whitening dove as long as I can remember.
Some of my fondest memories of dove shooting has been that last 45 minutes of light crouching under a mesquite tree on the berm of a stock tank.
Hearing the whistling sound of morning doves as they poured in to get a drink before going to roost.
Fast and furious shooting from these darting targets coming in waves that at times make you laugh at ourselves. All due to the excitement and momentary indecision of which bird to pick, as they bank sharply and are then gone.

I understand, and share, the excitement of dove shooting with you, Phil. This coming season will be my 62nd, having started at age 8 with my grandad, with a .410 double J C Higgins. I have hunted them in other states than my home state of Georgia, and have been to Cordoba chasing them on two occasions. Planning another trip down there for August 2022.

Since you live in Tucson you will likely know where I hunted Gambel's, at Rail X. I distinctly remember a big steel stock tank there, full of water that January, surrounded by mesquite and brush, and thinking what a grand place it would be to ambush some doves. I'll get back out there one of these winters to visit with our oldest son. Maybe we can get together for some dove shooting.

Best to you!

Stan if you make it down there his way I would look forward to meeting.

Stan, from here on, it only gets better. Most nesting is finishing up and the Eurasions are starting to fly again. Phil, I was talking to friend yesterday. He's invited me to shoot at a dairy in Casa Grande. I'll let you know how it is. It would be an easier trip than the west valley spot. Our spot out east is disappearing, so I'm scouting now.

Sounds great Chris. We just lost the option to shoot the dairy my friend owns. The property on two sides was bought and they have started building homes within 200 yards of his place. Why the hell anyone would pay $400,000 for a house that buts up to a dairy is beyond me, but that’s the nature of the housing market right now.
I look forward to your report.