Dove... It's what's for dinner!

[Yooper]

So today is the opening day for many Dove seasons...

HOW'D YOU ALL DO?

[Brent]

Me and my roommate shot 17 combined, yeah not the best numbers but heck I'm not the most accurate shot at those little devils :)

[Yooper]

So it looks like there are no dove hunters out there other than myself, Brent and his roommate...

My story goes like this:
I shot round after round through my trusty scatterblaster, swinging wildly on bird after bird after bird. I had literally hundreds of birds to shoot at and in the end, I picked up my lone dove. It was delicious too. Kind of hard to feed the family on one dove, though. Thankfully the other guys could hit them and we ended up with a feast.

[Brent]

Finished with 22 on Monday afternoon. Oh man did those birds taste good wrapped in bacon on the grill......... ummmmmmmmmmm

[norseman_hunter]

I got one. Yep just one. Shot almost a box of shells and downed only one. I just a bit rusty. Yooper, that gives us two between both of us.

[Yooper]

Well I made up for my opener with a good showing on Saturday. Switched to an old double barrel 20 gauge and had a blast... literally. Ended up with 24 between all of us. Hunted a water hole. No birds for a while then all of a sudden... It was like flicking a switch.

[jonhearn]

Well, I live in California, and as you can imagine, down here in Southern Cal, the only resident hunting is dove and quail... Hunting is sort of unique in this area, and it was just last year that I started. I always wanted to but we just never got around to it. (typical So. Cal. attitude) I loved it. We went out to a cattle ranch, *california sized (10 acres or so)* and even though we only got one, I was enthralled. I got some freinds into it, so I'm crazy about hunting now. Pray that hunting won't drown in California!!!
Have fun all.

-Jay

[Buckbuster]

According to the reports I've read in the past, the national average is seven shots per bird in the bag. Some days I'm average, some days I'm exceptional, just depends on the way the wind and my fortune's blowing.

A few seasons back, I started out on opening day with a run of four straight; one shell, one shot, one bird. At that point I got a little cocky and mouthed off to my hunting partner who was nearby, blazing away beneath a tree. Normally a pretty good shot, he was having a little difficulty and it was eating him alive. I often heaken back to the philosophy of Brother Dave Gardner, who said, "When a man is down, kick him. It will give him the incentive to rise up and become something." After enjoying a few minutes of inspirational footwork, the birds returned and the tables turned. A dozen shots later I slipped another bird in the bag.

Sometimes I think it's more about what's happening between the ears than anything. Once I realized what I was doing, I got back on track. I'm much more effective when I shoot instinctively and don't over think a shot.

This year I took my kids out and let them shoot. It's much easier to teach technique than it is to actually put it into practice. Besides, when you let the kids have fun, they get to clean the birds and the guns. I get as much peasure out of watching them shooting and having a good time, and I don't miss a single shot. Taking kids hunting is always a great shot.

Buckbuster

[hunter1992]

Our dove season started the September 1 and ended the 15th. I never had a chance to go out because of archery hunting.

[BULLSEYE]

I think doves are the worst tasting little devells ever go shoot a turkey or ducks and eat them.

But dove hunting is a blast good luck next year.

[Brent]

I disagree, if you wrap a dove in bacon and throw it on the grill they are very good. You should try it sometime, assuming you like bacon.

[Flatcoat1]

Doves are good for dinner. I like them wrapped in bacon too. Try this one, take enough doves for a meal and place in a caserole dish. Place some Stove Top Dressing - or the dressing of your choice - over the top. Cover with a lid. Cook for about 20 minutes on 350F. Then remove lid for 5 - 10 minutes to give the dressing a little crunch. Keeps the little critters very moist with lower cholesterol. Flatcoat1

[BushyTailSniper]

Well Me And My Freind Didnt Get To Go This Year But He Has Like 20acres Of Oak Hammocks Right Next To there Neighbors Corn Field And We Got Like 11 With Pellet Rifles , We Would Wake up at 6 And And Go By his Big Oak About 30 yads From The Corn Field And Wait for There Neighbor To Start Collecting Some Of The Corn And When He Pulled Out The Tractor Theyd All Come Flying Into The Woods And Wed Pick The Out . I think The Farthest Shot Was 50 yrds With My Bam XS-B30. So I Guess We Did Okay. But We Did Get 16 squirrels That Same Day.