Countdown to dove blasting

Status
Not open for further replies.
Grayrock

Grayrock

Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2003
Messages
1,828
Location
The great state of TEXAS
I can hardly contain my excitement. Less than 3 weeks til dove season starts. For the 1st time in mebbee 20 years I am NOT going to my regular hunting grounds. No birds and too hot the last several years. This year a change of scenery will bring me better luck opening day ( I hope). Then day 2,3 & 4 back to my regular haunts. Been hankerin' for this time for about 9 months now.

Who else lusts for this time of year? Smoke- we need some more windmill stories:D
 
even more so since i didn't get drawn for any big game this year. i will hunt dove, but i like hunting quail better, since i like eating quail better. the next few weekends will be spent busting clays in preparation.
 
Missing Opening Weekend - First time in many years

:( I'll miss the north & central zone opening weekend on Sept 1-3 due to a work thing...worst part is, I was involved in scheduling it:banghead: ! I was trying to remember the last time I did not fire a shot opening weekend, but my memory isn't that good. It has been at least 12 years.

I plan on making up for it on the Sept 14th - 18th with a vacation to Cordoba Argentina for a little dove hunting
http://www.jjcaceria.com.ar/ :neener:
 
I suppose we make more of a production of it than there needs to be. Took the day off work. 4am wake up, breakfast at the truckstop at 5, short drive to hunting field, first shot at 6:38am.
 
Opening day doves are are big deal here. Pig pickin' with all the sides first, shoot from noon, 12 bird limit. I'm ready;

Have about ten acres of this:

IMG_0033copy.gif

and about the same of this IMG_0053copy.gif across the road. :D
 
Just got clearance from the boss, I mean, my wife, to head to Houston for opening day. 8000 acres to choose the right spot. I just hope the birds are there. I KNOW they ain't where I've been going the past decade. WOO HOO- get that reloader cranking!
 
The Mec 600jr has been putting in overtime the last 2 days. On my second bag of shot as we speak.

Bad thing is, our hunt is usually over in 30 minutes. We have a water hole out in the middle of the desert that attract the doves like flies on crap.

Last year the 6 of us had 60 birds on the ground in less than 20 minutes. Took us another 10 to pick up hulls and birds. :D
 
Doves mean the start of a new hunting season to me. Lots of tradition involved with our dove hunts. Got a waterhole and big shelterbelt where the birds come to water and roost, 30-40 min. before dark. Shooting is fast and furious. My dogs love to retrieve the birds (I know, "upland" dogs supposedly HATE retrieving dove), which is great as surrounding land is pasture-calf deep. Too easy to lose birds without the dogs. Yes, I love dove shooting.
 
Perhaps TxP&W needs to re-evaluate their dove seasons. It is supposed to coincide with migration, or so I thought. But it seems like for the last 5-6 years that the doves coming thru my property have been at their most numerous 2 weeks ahead of Sept 1:( By the time opening day rolls along, all MY doves have gone. Perhaps they need to look at their dates a little more closely. Has anyone else noticed this? I can walk out in my backyard and flush 30-40 whitewings right now.
 
Arizona actually has 2 dove seasons.

Early season is from Sept 1-15th until noon each day. Bag limit is 10

Late season is Nov 24th to Jan 07. This part of the season seems to be the best out here. Not only are the doves still around but the temps aren't high enough to sweat to death.
 
Cleaning/ polishing/ making ready, packing a bit. My wife thinks I'm crazy for a day trip. I guess she just does not understand the importance of the ritual.
T minus 4 days and counting:D :D
 
Your hunting buddy thinks you are crazy, too. All ya need is a gun, shells, and something to sit on. I have visions of your truck looking like a hunter's rummage sale...

Oh yeah - bring some dove with you.
 
Friday is the season opener. Yesterday I shot 50 rounds of clay birds using the Win AA #7.5 in my Browning BSS . I had the guys fire birds over the edge of the valley into space simulating the conditions I will be hunting in Carmel Valley:D
 
I actually won't be able to down any dove until the following week. Heading up to the high country (White Mountains) to do some camping. Taking the bow with me since archery deer season opens 1 Sept.

You fellas enjoy. Give us a good field report afterwards and I'll be sure to do the same.
 
Shotgun cleaned and ready...check

shells...check

bird vest and license...check

dove lease...check

cooler full of drinks...check

Yep...looks like I'm ready. Hope everyone has a great opening weekend! :D
 
Ladies and kids I assisted and worked with this summer, well for most the first time they have ever hunted.:)
Just a private spot, and just us few folks, with some close folks like grandparents,or parent.

I am not planning on taking a gun...unless someone needs to borrow mine, I am going to have a ball!

These folks Excited...dear me.

LLBean rubber soled and leather upper boots, natural neutral colored clothing and no camo, hats, skeeter dope, got ammo reloaded, gray shop clothes for distance markers and dove decoy duty, ....

Some smaller kids not able to shoot a shotgun by themselves,these still at BBGun and / or .22 rifle stage- but I assure you they will fell a dove...

Now the part about cinammon twists, and do-nuts holes got eyes bright and lips to smacking, peppermint for the dawgs, and plenty of beef jerky, you do remember the part where jerky in one's pocket make 'em a better shooter- right? ;)

BBQ of course, got that tradition included too...

Kid runs into the kitchen, one new LLBean boot on one foot the other foot , with only a sock, and hand flying "Mom this is going to so cool. You can fart, talk, belch, scratch your butt and everything while dove hunting!!"

"That is real nice honey..." :D

Did you know a mom can shoot that look a mom has around the corner of a kitchen wall? Yep, sure can. They also bust out laughing when the kid runs down the hall to tell the dawg about this too...

I'll be the bigger kid with a mustache passing forward.
;)
 
Doves.... hmmm... love blasting them. I like to eat quail more, but dove blasting is just a ritual. I have a new place this year and can't wait. Private land with only the owner hunting it. Suspense is killing me! Normal for Oklahoma, we should be getting a nasty cold front very soon and pushing them south.
 
You ladies and gents with sons and daughters...

Don't forget your cameras... when we are in the happy hunting grounds, your kids can show the pictures to their grandchildren and have their memories refreshed of a better time .... they'll never forget those times... I sure didn't...
 
Last time I dove hunted was in 1968 while in the Army in El Paso. Lots of doves around here but no season in Michigan ------------ yet. :cuss: Anti-s are telling everyone to vote against dove hunting -- hunters will kill them all like the passenger pigeon, there is not enough meat on them to eat anyway, robins will be next, etc, etc. I just have to live vicariously through others description of the fun.
Even have to pay to hunt pheasant on a private preserve. After growing up in Iowa and able to walk to the edge of town and shoot a limit in 1 hour, it is the best I can do now.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Grayrock
  • Locked
Countdown to dove blasting II
Replies
19
Views
481
Grayrock
Grayrock
P
  • Locked
dove hunting question
Replies
2
Views
520
gunmn74
G
L
  • Locked
Dove Reports?
2 3 4
Replies
77
Views
5K
Sniper66
S
bearleft
  • Locked
2022 Dove Season
Replies
6
Views
352
tmd16556
T
P
  • Locked
Did your dove bag limit go up this year?
Replies
17
Views
1K
HB
HB
Back
Top