Sweet Caroline

Stan Hillis · 09-24-2022, 08:07 PM

............ good times never felt so good. Apologies to Neil Diamond.

Last minute shoot this afternoon. I received a text at 12 noon that I was invited, and to be there at 2:30 pm. Okay. I arrived late, everyone else was on the field and already shooting, but I chose a spot in a corner, by a hay bale. Tough choice. Bad location until about 5:00 pm, when the birds started moving my way. I did the best I could with the DHE Parker 32" 20 ga. and RST no. 8 Lites. Ended the day shooting down a limit.

Caroline and I are really "bonding". Much better kill ratio today.

Dean Romig · 09-24-2022, 10:20 PM

Awesome Stan!!!!
Color me jealous!!

.

Stan Hillis · 09-25-2022, 05:54 AM

Thanks, Dean. I am blessed to live where I do, as far as dove shooting goes. Lots of intensive row cropping around here, the primary ones that are good for dove populations being corn and peanuts. There's a little sesame (benne) being grown commercially now, too. I hope to make some useful connections with those landowners in the late season, as benne is "crack" to a dove. Once they find it they won't leave for some time.

I feel jealous of y'all when you start showing the pics of those beautiful mountains and ruffed grouse, however!

mobirdhunter · 09-25-2022, 07:40 AM

Dang! I can't get that song out of my head now. And all our dove have headed for Arkansas.

However, I'm sure I could find something to shoot with that nice little, long-legged beauty.

Double Lab · 09-25-2022, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stan Hillis

I feel jealous of y'all when you start showing the pics of those beautiful mountains and ruffed grouse, however!

Don't fell jealous Stan, I hunt both and if the good lord gave me just one bird to hunt it would be, hands down, the dove. For a second choice it would be Mr. Bob. I'm jealous of those boys who get to shoot the Eurasians and Collared doves in the Southwest with Mourning Doves thrown in as a bonus.

Stan Hillis · 09-25-2022, 06:50 PM

If you haven't already, you need to go to Cordoba, Argentina, Daryl. At least once. It is mesmerizing.

I'm of the opinion that, for an avid wing shooter, it's worth borrowing money to go if necessary. No words can describe the numbers of doves. I've been told many times, by those who've never been, that all you would have to do would be "shoot up in there amongst 'em" to kill doves. I promise you, that is not the case. You must pick out a bird to shoot. You just never have to wait over a few seconds for more to come by. How those "poor" farmers can make a crop with such numbers of doves eating it is beyond me.

Larry Welch · 10-07-2022, 07:46 PM

Glad you guys are bonding a little better, thanks for the pics