Scooter

This morning 5 birds 9 shots. All birds recovered. The funny thing is I'm freakishly hitting all of the high crossers and fast incoming birds, but missing most of the low straightaways. I keep telling myself "barrel covers bird...pull" but I think I'm shooting over the top of them. I'll try shooting the bead dead on and see if that works...

I've been trying to get back home during one of those special goose-whacking seasons but I never end up being able to go. I've eaten quite a few pounds of goose jerky... it is delicious and easy to make!

I'm doing fairly well... Opening day 39rds from the "new" 20ga, shot a limit plus one Eurasian. it was the first time I'd ever shot that gun. Monday night, 19 rounds for 10 birds. Did a little better as i got used to the gun. Wednesday morning I shot 8 times and killed 5 birds... In twenty minutes. One of those birds took a second shot so only two clean misses.

I bought an older Ithaca SKB 20ga O/U 1960's era shotgun this summer. It weighs about 5lbs, recoil is minimum, points/swings and balances well and has been absolutely lethal so far. I will probably never shoot anything else for doves. Light, fast, and vintage- that's my style! Plus, it's easier to find cheap 20ga ammo!

Interesting, I have learned and used the European method for cottontails. They start at the back of the neck and basically pull the whole thing out of the skin from there.

Oh and I wear camo... But if I get rained on with lead I switch to a blaze cap and vest.

It's always good to estimate that it will take a box of shells to knock down a limit... Then add another box. I take my Mojo dove, Dove-n-air, and a few tree clip decoys. I find that it's much easier to get the birds flying where you want them with some strategically placed decoys. Need ice and a cooler, some good sharp game shears, a Thermacell for the bugs, ziplock gallon size bags for cooling the meat, license, water, trail mix and jerky, my bird vest and my favorite folding dove chair...

I like the idea, but only in the places where there are limited areas in which to park trailers and/or access the public lands... So, if there are lots of other accessible and safe areas, there's no reason to tow anybody's trailer. But if there are trailers in every darn spot and they've been left there for weeks or more AND it causes folks to have to turn back or go pretty far out of their way- tow the stupid things.

having a FANTASTIC first week of the 2013 dove season??? My gosh- things are just absolutely perfect (so far) and we've had consistent action sitting at water holes, posting up on shelter belts/roosts, and out walking in the scrub brush. The birds have been decoying well, and we have been able to recover every bird despite some spots with very thick grass! I haven't had a first week like this in a long time...

Scary... Prayers for a speedy recovery!

I got "peppered" with a 3" load of #2 BlackCloud when I was out in the decoys retrieving a duck one time in Texas. The idiot was 75 yards away blasting coots off of the water in between us and apparently didn't see me wading out to grab the duck I just killed. Found the guy's empty BlackCloud #2 shell hull floating in the water but the guy pretty much ran off after I loudly verbally notified him that he'd made a mistake... It shouldn't come with the territory, people should be more aware how far their shot pattern travels and how fast it is traveling when it gets there. I don't mind getting "rained on" by shot, but "peppered" means there was still some oomph behind it.

Been seeing some "peppered by an idiot" stories... that always baffles me why people don't check the area they are hunting for other hunters, trucks, atv's, houses, etc... I think if I was hunting a very small and popular area I'd probably wear at least a Blaze Orange hat. Heck, if I was walking some cover and kicking birds up I'd be absolutely covered in Blaze orange. Doves really don't mind as long as you sit still.

we were hunting the same place... It was awesome!

My buddy and I shot 21 doves on Sunday sitting on a water tank... 20 Mourners and one huge bonus eurasian collared dove. we hunted first light until about 3:30pm when we got the last mourning dove to finish up. Monday night I hunted with two other guys at the end of a shelter belt at a roosting tree and we all shot our 10 mourners. Bacon wrapped dove bites anyone??? mmmmmmm!

Good tips guys, thanks! looks like I have some decisions to make soon- gotta clear out the freezer for my elk hunt!

just keep looking... but probably higher, in thicker cover, and further from the roads. Keep the faith- they are out there

sorry they're based at benning/ft stewart in GA and they're the best... rangerjoes.com

Thanks guys! Now I just have to decide on a taxidermist.

I brought it with me last night but I chickened out and used the 20 gauge...

I'm on a quest for a dove with my 40lb Bear longbow... Need to make me some brightly colored spiral flu flus... Anybody know where to get supplies? I already grabbed a bunch of those $3.50 carbon arrows from Wally world and stripped the plastic fletch off- just need to spiral fletch them now

Doink!!! Nice job! I have to try some of those V-max's... Are you pushing them with a .223 or 22-250?

I'll check MCSS down here on Tuesday, but yeah I haven't seen anything high speed like those here... Did you try Ranger Joe's online? They're based out of Fayettville, NC (Bragg).

"You don't need an AR, buy a shotgun" - Joe Biden You just never know when 30 cats are going to advance on your position with ill-intent.

Water, water everywhere and tons of birds to shoot! Good scouting trip today. No white wings spotted this morning, but who cares!

I still think they're awesome... Vanilla or chocolate chip makes no difference to me, they're cool either way!