View Full Version : birds birds birds birds birds birds birds
JohnTRourke
07-29-2013, 14:17
woohooo, bird season is coming.
Planning an early season hunt up in Wyoming for grouse and sharptail, very excited.
Of course this requires all new gear since I'm 2/3 of the man I used to be, which is also exciting (although expensive)
is it September yet???
Colorado Osprey
07-29-2013, 19:13
Yeah! And keep an eye out for shotgun ammo. My local sources have been out of 12ga for about a year. If you see any stock up now. It won't be around on Sept 1st.
JohnTRourke
07-29-2013, 19:20
Yeah! And keep an eye out for shotgun ammo. My local sources have been out of 12ga for about a year. If you see any stock up now. It won't be around on Sept 1st.
uhhhh, I'm pretty sure I got enough ammo for more than 1 year. Well I did anyway before the boat accident.
hunterhawk
07-30-2013, 00:26
Yeah I am definitely hunting more birds this year! Ever since I took my dog to South Dakota pheasant hunting she has been depressed which is making me depressed! I'm thinking some grouse and dove hunting is in order!
I'd love to get out hunting some time. I have a decent shotty too. Oh well, time and money. One day. Would love to see pics of the birds and dogs at work!!
Based on the title of this thread I would have to guess that the bird is the word...
I am so ready for bird season. Loaded up some ammo this winter...
Couple buckets of 28 and 410 not pictured.
Every color is a different bird/critter or shot size.
Red = Dove and cottontail.
Green = Early season Pheasant.
Gold = late Season Pheasant and Jackrabbit.
Grey = Quail.
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac105/puebloshooter/Reloading%20Stuff/DSC02770.jpg (http://s890.photobucket.com/user/puebloshooter/media/Reloading%20Stuff/DSC02770.jpg.html)
OK, upland hunter noob question: why different ammo for early pheasant and late pheasant? Did not know there was a difference.
Is that all 20 gauge?
Marine24
07-31-2013, 16:06
I'm not an expert either but usually the dumb ones are the ones you take during early season. Cover is usually better and typically won't flush until you are closer. I've seen them try to hide in the middle of a dirt road hunkered down in a tire track (one of the dumb ones). I'll typically use 7 1/2 shot with a modified/IC choke during the early season. Late season, you have the survivors left and they are smart. Winter weather has reduced the amount of foliage and cover. The birds tend to run, but when they do flush, longer shots seem to be the norm. I use 3" 6 shot with a full choke in one or both of my O/U.
You gotta reach out and touch the late season pheasants. Well for those of us who hunt wild birds at least. The pen raised might as well get shot in the pen.
Dang hoser! Looking awesome!
Marine24
07-31-2013, 17:11
You gotta reach out and touch the late season pheasants. Well for those of us who hunt wild birds at least. The pen raised might as well get shot in the pen.
Ouch. Shot across the bow for us RMR hunters.
Hoser, now that I saw that I will have to get a shotgun press. I was happy to have my ammo cans full of rifle/pistol stuff. The move to buckets has me intimidated.
Sniper, I'm with you. Except when I drive three hours, walk nine miles and scare up two hens. Then I think shooting chickens sounds like fun.
SamuraiCO
07-31-2013, 17:55
I use the same ammo all year. Top tube 2 3/4 number 5's of copper plated. Bottom is 3" Prairie Storm number 5's. Toward end of year may just run the PS. If we get into quail cover then drop to 7's. I like 5's because they hit hard. I know the Prairie Storm are spendy but the birds I hit fall dead. Less runners. Donation to Pheasants Forever. Close in I will go for more head shots.
I will change tactics late season with maybe having hunters on the edge moving farther forward to block escape routes. If smaller party start on an edge and hunt the perimeter then continue to make smaller and smaller circles around the field to push the birds into the center.
If snow then the birds will just hold again and back to regular tactics.
JohnTRourke
07-31-2013, 18:13
I am so ready for bird season. Loaded up some ammo this winter...
Couple buckets of 28 and 410 not pictured.
Every color is a different bird/critter or shot size.
Red = Dove and cottontail.
Green = Early season Pheasant.
Gold = late Season Pheasant and Jackrabbit.
Grey = Quail.
are you sure you have enough??????
are you sure you have enough??????
You can never have enough ammo. Unless you are downing or on fire.
OK, upland hunter noob question: why different ammo for early pheasant and late pheasant? Did not know there was a difference.
Is that all 20 gauge?
Heavier shot cause the birds scare up further away later in the season.
All the above is 12 gauge.
That weekend I loaded just over 11,000 rounds.
Ouch. Shot across the bow for us RMR hunters.
Ive done the canned shoots. Just no challenge to it for me. Its a good tool to get the dogs back in shape, but I grew up hunting wild birds, not paying $25 each to shoot pen raised
SamuraiCO
08-02-2013, 11:13
Heavier shot cause the birds scare up further away later in the season.
All the above is 12 gauge.
That weekend I loaded just over 11,000 rounds.
If you ever want to get together give me a pm. I have a great english better and will be training a new puppy this year.
SamuraiCO
08-02-2013, 11:18
Ive done the canned shoots. Just no challenge to it for me. Its a good tool to get the dogs back in shape, but I grew up hunting wild birds, not paying $25 each to shoot pen raised
Agreed. For me it is all about the dog work. I have already proven I can hit what I am aiming at. It is my knowledge and putting my dogs in the best position to succeed makes it for me. We (my setter Luke) and I have been learning from each other over the years. Now he is working running birds much better and I am trying to be patient enough to let him work and stay alert.
Best of luck to everyone here. Sounds like we need a COAR 15 hunt party this year even if it was a RMR. Would be a hoot.
Marine24
08-02-2013, 11:34
Have to agree that developing the strategy and working the field yourself is a lot more gratifying that following the guide and his dogs around, but the shooting and having birds in the cooler is good even though it isn't as much of a challenge with a 12 or 20 gauge. Going to give my single shot 410 H&R Model 1915 a run this season to help balance the odds a little. Maybe I'll get another crack at that black pheasant that has been taunting me the last two years.
Agreed. For me it is all about the dog work. I have already proven I can hit what I am aiming at. It is my knowledge and putting my dogs in the best position to succeed makes it for me. We (my setter Luke) and I have been learning from each other over the years. Now he is working running birds much better and I am trying to be patient enough to let him work and stay alert.
Best of luck to everyone here. Sounds like we need a COAR 15 hunt party this year even if it was a RMR. Would be a hoot.
that would be fun at the end of the year if they do a big discount for group rate and when they need to get the birds gone.
patrick0685
08-02-2013, 22:34
i got a new blaster today, officially its the wifes but she knows the drill a Beretta A400 Xtreme!
Yeah I am definitely hunting more birds this year! Ever since I took my dog to South Dakota pheasant hunting she has been depressed which is making me depressed! I'm thinking some grouse and dove hunting is in order!
Hey, do the world a favor and target as many Eurasian Collared Doves as you can! They are substantially larger than the native Mourning Doves, so more meat. The Eurasian Collared Doves have the distinctive black stripe around the back of the head, and a broad band of white feathers at the end of the tail. There's no limit on these non-native birds because they are impacting populations of our native Band-tailed Pigeons which nest in the mountain Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir forests. There's also evidence Collared Doves rob nests of native Mourning Doves.
There is a good article on hunting the Eurasian Collared Dove in the recent Colorado Outdoors. Rack 'em and stack 'em!
Colorado Osprey
08-09-2013, 16:50
Hey, do the world a favor and target as many Eurasian Collared Doves as you can! They are substantially larger than the native Mourning Doves, so more meat. The Eurasian Collared Doves have the distinctive black stripe around the back of the head, and a broad band of white feathers at the end of the tail. There's no limit on these non-native birds because they are impacting populations of our native Band-tailed Pigeons which nest in the mountain Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir forests. There's also evidence Collared Doves rob nests of native Mourning Doves.
There is a good article on hunting the Eurasian Collared Dove in the recent Colorado Outdoors. Rack 'em and stack 'em!
Interestingly enough I see the collared doves every day. They don't migrate like mourning dove so they are here all winter.
I never however have seen a collared dove while hunting mourning dove in my hunting areas.
If I saw them I would shoot them though.
Have any of you hunted other areas? In Texas for example there are 5 hunt-able native species of dove. In Hawaii there are over 30.
coldaudio
08-20-2013, 22:17
How difficult would it be to go bird hunting without a dog? I've only ever gone hunting for turkey and deer.
Marine24
08-21-2013, 06:14
Not hard at all but you'll need some buddies to act as beaters, pushing the birds toward the shooters.
hunterhawk
08-21-2013, 09:52
I have a dog will travel :-) as long as I get to pull the trigger a few times... If it falls out of the sky she will find it!
Ill volunteer too. Moose will flush, retrieve, run down wounded. Might run out if we miss, but not too bad for a home trained dog. Lets put a hunt together. I've got an awesome spot for youth mentor hunts. Otherwise, if there were a bunch of us, there is some big grass we could work near Yuma.
I would definitely come out for a hunt and bring the boy. I would be happy to provide a ride for anyone out to Yuma or where ever.
coldaudio
08-21-2013, 20:36
Count me in if a get together happens!
ssgenuine
08-29-2013, 18:12
That youth mentor area out there North of Holyoke is by far the best hunting spot in the state. My wife has been pushing our game warden to change the rules and allow husband and wife combo's there also... prob not going to happen. We have even seen turkeys in there.
Can't wait for dove, sure wish I had more places to go. 10 years or so ago I could hunt the tree ridge West of South Parker road down by Franktown. One day we had thousands of doves land in the wheat stubble field we hunting. Only time I ever limited out on doves. Less than 3 days away....
September 1 just can't get here fast enough!! Tick-tock
Agreed, i am starting to get antsy.
ssgenuine
08-31-2013, 09:31
I picked up one of those mojo dove decoys with the spinning wings, I am tempted to try it out today and see if any Eurasian's come in. I could call it pre-hunting [UZI]...
Anybody use the cheap little decoys? Or the mojo's? Can't decide if it will work or if its just stupid.
Geology Rocks
08-31-2013, 09:43
Leave tonight for tomorrows opener.:D Private land....and lots of ammo
I picked up one of those mojo dove decoys with the spinning wings, I am tempted to try it out today and see if any Eurasian's come in. I could call it pre-hunting [UZI]...
Anybody use the cheap little decoys? Or the mojo's? Can't decide if it will work or if its just stupid.
Doves like to roost and field with other doves. Never used a mojo one but put it in a food source or some cheapies in a tree and it may attract some doves.
Leave tonight for tomorrows opener.:D Private land....and lots of ammo
Lucky you. I miss hunting on private land.
JohnTRourke
08-31-2013, 11:52
I picked up one of those mojo dove decoys with the spinning wings, I am tempted to try it out today and see if any Eurasian's come in. I could call it pre-hunting [UZI]...
Anybody use the cheap little decoys? Or the mojo's? Can't decide if it will work or if its just stupid.
the mojo's work really well, throw a couple regular dove decoys out and you can watch the birds move in relation to the spinning wing decoy.
seems dumb, but they work.
wish i had a place to go, did a bunch of spotting on public land and saw a grand total of ONE dove in like 4 hours of spotting.
of course there are like 10 sitting right behind my house right now.
I have a mojo dove and they work great.
Leave tomorrow with my two best hunting buddies (nephews) and we hope to be done my 1200. I am kinda lucky because I have access to private property.
Best of luck to you guys, be safe and enjoy!
I have a mojo dove and they work great.
Leave tomorrow with my two best hunting buddies (nephews) and we hope to be done my 1200. I am kinda lucky because I have access to private property.
Best of luck to you guys, be safe and enjoy!
We'll be out there in 12 hours... CANT WAIT !!!!
hunterhawk
08-31-2013, 20:30
My buddy said he would call me if he got a spot. He hasn't called :-( my poor dog!
ssgenuine
09-02-2013, 09:05
Apparently no one told the doves that this was opening day. Didn't see many at all and only ended up with 3. My son even knocked one down and when he went to pick it up it got up and flew off, never seen a dove do that before. I don't think they have started to migrate from up North yet. Hopefully later this week or next weekend.
We didnt.do as good as I wanted. But I got 11 my buddy got 12 everyone else got 3 and 5
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l176/landondesautels/20130901_135627.jpg
Colorado Osprey
09-02-2013, 12:14
Interesting year for sure so far.
Opening morning and there was low level clouds bordering on fog... drizzle most of the day. Only got 13 by 10am and then the switch turned off.
Interestingly enough I had never shot a Eurasian Dove before this year after hunting the same spot for over 20 years. This year only one was a Mourning Dove, the rest were collared Eurasians.
Went out again this morning and the switch was still turned off.... no birds to be found. Maybe last nights rain has them still bedded.
hghclsswhitetrsh
09-02-2013, 13:46
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/03/e2e3u5y4.jpg
Yesterday evening.
hghclsswhitetrsh
09-02-2013, 13:47
Lots of those were taken by my saiga no choke.
Went out opening morning with my nephews, had a great time, one of my nephews shot his first dove, he ended with 4, I shot 4 and my other nephew, lucky bastard shot 10. Had a great time, but man where the heck did all the doves go this year? Gonna try again next weekend, hopefully they start migrating a little more. I will have to post some pics.
Apparently no one told the doves that this was opening day. Didn't see many at all and only ended up with 3. My son even knocked one down and when he went to pick it up it got up and flew off, never seen a dove do that before. I don't think they have started to migrate from up North yet. Hopefully later this week or next weekend.
Happened a few times to me opening morning. I had a couple kick around enough to fly between trees. I had to shoot and chase one 3 times.
nontactical
09-03-2013, 20:37
While all of us limited out on opening morning in the spot that we have been hunting for about 15 years, it took a lot more work than usual and we came home with a total of 4 Eurasians (as opposed to 22 last year). I think the weather had something to with it, but....
I heard through the grapevine that we had a near-record low level of hunters this year. If this is true, I think that my experience and some of those mentioned above might have been because they were not getting pushed around like they usually are.
A couple other strange things: we saw several infant Mourning Doves (my dog brought me a couple; both sad and gross), and one of the doves I cleaned had an egg in it. I contacted the DOW to see if they wanted to investigate. Not even my grandfather had ever heard of such a thing.
SamuraiCO
09-03-2013, 22:10
Well done gentlemen and kudos for getting youth involved.
Lots of those were taken by my saiga no choke.
Where did you go?
JohnTRourke
09-05-2013, 18:48
went blue grouse hunting today. (for the first time, never done that before). Pretty much didn't find Shit. The dogs found 2 little tiny ones. One didn't get off the ground fast enough, the dog got that one, the other one, we left alone. (little baby)
pretty country though.
lot of hiking.
hghclsswhitetrsh
09-05-2013, 19:02
Where did you go?
Yates center kansas.
Got two mournings and a Eurasian tonight. My daughter got to shoot, but no kill. Very promising spot thanks to a landowner finally saying yes.
went blue grouse hunting today. (for the first time, never done that before). Pretty much didn't find Shit. The dogs found 2 little tiny ones. One didn't get off the ground fast enough, the dog got that one, the other one, we left alone. (little baby)
pretty country though.
lot of hiking.
I have had the best luck where forests that butts up against grass lands and they use the forest service roads to travel on so stay with in 100yds of the roads. Good luck.
Yates center kansas.
That is one heck of a drive but worth it i am sure.
I managed to bag 10 the morning of opening day, not too bad on public land, but i got peppered with shot all day long. Many of the the retards knew i was there but kept shooting at me. I heard two clowns saying over and over again say "I got them, i know i got them" referring to me and my friend. If this is hunting now a days i am disgusted, WTF is wrong with these people.
DangerLee_Industries
09-06-2013, 01:26
We had a good day as well.... Could have done better but it was hot as heck by 9 a.m. and we are fair weather hunters......[UZI]
We had a good day as well.... Could have done better but it was hot as heck by 9 a.m. and we are fair weather hunters......[UZI]
Your dog looks happier in that pic than you do.
SamuraiCO
09-07-2013, 12:45
That's because the dogs job is done and the person with thumbs has to clean all those birds.
Going out again tomorrow morning, hope they are migrating down
DangerLee_Industries
09-08-2013, 01:39
That's because the dogs job is done and the person with thumbs has to clean all those birds. And because Bode can lick his own balls with ease and without judgement!!!!!
coldaudio
09-08-2013, 14:53
Went out for the morning/early afternoon today and got skunked. Saw one dove and missed it [facepalm]Tried out a few of the walk-in-access program locations, I wonder how pressured they are? I didn't see anyone else out there.
I have not scouted them in a few years but i only found one walk in property that was good for dove hunting and it is no longer in the program.
JohnTRourke
09-08-2013, 16:27
spent most of the morning wandering around the woods at 10,000 feet looking for grouse
I didn't see one, the dog didn't see one, my buddy didn't see on, no tracks, no grouse poop, no nada
it was pretty out though, nice expensive hike.
DangerLee_Industries
09-08-2013, 17:02
If anybody has access towards Brush they are everywhere out there. Heck I even had one fly into the grill of my dodge on the way back this morning.......
And we ended with one dove, wonder if they hit the rode for Texas
coldaudio
09-08-2013, 21:27
If anybody has access towards Brush they are everywhere out there. Heck I even had one fly into the grill of my dodge on the way back this morning.......
I was not too far south of there and saw more while driving than when I was out in the field!
Anyone go teal hunting today? I was going to go but decided not to with the flooding on the Platte.
ssgenuine
09-16-2013, 12:22
The doves have definitely started migrating finally. Friday night we probably saw 200. Sat evening in the rain we saw at least 100. Going again tonight to see if they are still around.
JohnTRourke
09-29-2013, 06:49
fucking floods. Had a whole big week in wyoming planned. Sage grouse, sharptails, blue, move around in the motorhome and then move closer with the jeep. but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, now i'm living in the motorhome and it's been a busy damn two weeks as you can imagine. Tomorrow (monday) is the last day of sage grouse season and although i'm still living in the MH, i'm caught up cleaning and waiting on contractors thought maybe i could get a one day hunt in. But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO it's supposed to be 50mph winds across most of wyoming tomorrow. the dog is good, but he needs at least a chance.
so, no sage grouse for this season. Thinking maybe going up to wyoming on tuesday for sharptails. ideas?????
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