Dove hunting gun and shells

[lovestohunt]

Never dove hunted before and thinking about going out Sept 1 for Wisconsin opener. Wondering if you guys could give me a few tips. I have a Rem. 870 12 gauge and a 20 gauge single shot with fixed modified choke. Which gun would be the best? Also, what loads and chokes do you prefer? These are public lands with no limit on the number of hunters. The land is separate plots of sunflowers, each 10 acres. Is this mostly a pass shooting situation or do hunters actually drive these sunflower beds? Wisconsin has only been doing this for 3 years now. Thanks.

[Mark]

Usually you hunker down near a roost or feeding area and shoot at birds coming and going. These little ghosts dart and fly really fast. My first time out, first few flying over, had me saying, "you've got to be kiddin' me".
Suddenly I understood the joke, "Why don't dove hunters commit suicide"?

"They're out of shells".

Have fun with this, and don't take it too seriously.
Mark


P.S. Use whatever gun you feel you can shoot the best. Three or four #7 1/2 pellets will pluck these out of the air.

[CHAVEZ CHAVEZ]

I shoot a rem 12 semi fullchoke with 7 1/2 shot , i'd go with your 870 sence it's your first time i'd use
a modified choke or improved cylinder .
as for shot as u know the birds are small , so i shoot 7 1/2 u don't want to go smaller than 6 shot.
i would say. as for hunt'n them it's all pass shootn for me , find a water hole ,or a ol tree they like to
stop at and rest n . u can push them but i think u will be better off the other way. i also use decoy's
set them on a fence line ,low branch off a tree just somethn to attract them a lil .
u should really go out and try it ! lot's of fun espiecaly when u hit the right part of the day.
for me it's from about 2 pm til dusk pretty much sit n a chair all day. take at least 3 to 4 boxes of shells
at least thats what i take and then some .

[yottee]

Use the 870[more shots],we hunt a little waterditch with a bunch of evergreen trees about 1/2 mile away.they love to roost in them trees and stop by the ditch on there way to the trees in the evening. we can shoot up acouple of boxes each time we go out.Practice with some clay birds so when you go hunting you wont be swearing that there is something wrong with your gun because it wont shoot straight probly more shot guns are bought this time of year then any other time.Have fun, learn some new swear words.

[lovestohunt]

Thanks Mark, Chavez, and Yottee

One more question: Because this is a public place and there will be a lot of hunters, what type of clothing do you guys wear? I mean is blaze worn for dove hunts or is it mostly camo. I plan on just sitting on a swivel bucket or stool but I am worried that guys are going to shoot before the doves take off into a safe height from the sunflower beds. These sunflowers are full of doves. I went out this afternoon. However, the sunflowers are only 5-5 1/2 feet tall at the MAX. These aren't your giant 9 foot tall sunflowers. I want to be concealed but I also don't want to get shot.

[rem 700]

'Nother vote for the 12ga. 870. Cheap 7 1/2 shot works well, Mod choke. I'd go for being seen in dove shooting and wear blaze orange.

[CHAVEZ CHAVEZ]

i useally just wear blue j. camo t shirt topped off with a netted b.o. vest . theres nothn wrong with get'n
camoed out either , it really just depends on me just to lazy to put it on.
but do wear blaze orange .

[yottee]

Hunting public land on opening day for any season is an adventure in its self,definitly wear orange.

[dovehuntergreenbay#1]

Use the 870 with improved cyl if you are going to get camoed out and the birds will be closer, but if wearing the orange I would use modified choke birds will be out further from you.

[iowaclayshooter]

Another item that will help your dove hunting is a MOJO dove decoy. Last year I used them in Illinois and literly had doves trying to land on them.

[lovestohunt]

Iowaclayshooter,

Did you use the electric or the wind operated one?

[Upland_Hunter]

Definetely go with the 870. 2 3/4 1oz 7 1/2 is your best bet with IMP cylinder or Modified. Be careful, some guys are idiots on opening day. Good luck!