61st Year at This Dove hunt

[tom tutwiler]

Took the new (to me) CH 16 out today for the opener in Winchester Va. Wish I had a better kill to shot ratio, but after hitting my first bird with RST's I followed that up with 5 straight misses. Full and Full chokes with birds over a waterhole don't seem to make a good combination (at least for me). After scratching down three more birds, made the switch to an open choked Fox Sterlingworth 16 and my shot to hit ratio improved by a good amount and 12 birds are now cleaned and in fridge waiting for marinade and bbq tomorrow.

Hopefully on Monday we will get out again. I've determined this full choked CH may be better suited to pass shooting doves or even better suited to hunting out west where distances are greater. Certainly not a 25 to 30 yard waterhole gun IMO.

[Bill Murphy]

Tom, I solved that problem years ago by sharing my dove hide with a black and white or liver and white pointer or setter and wearing a Hawaiian shirt and white straw hat. Now I have an excuse to shoot my ten gauges at doves.