Dove Hunting

[sniper7]

went up to banner lakes SWA. seems like there was a hunter about ever 50 yards in the trees, some in the fields, some walking.

me and my buddy had our dogs, we walked a bit, then sat in the trees. got a few but it didn't seem like that many were flying.

Watched a guy catch a 20+" pike which was cool.

we heard plenty of shooting but talking to everyone people were only getting a couple birds. we watched several people unload their guns and the bird keep flying. made me laugh a bit.

I haven't done much dove hunting, but I was pretty annoyed that in a SWA there isn't some kind of requirement for at least a orange cap. I just think with that amount of people in such a small area all blasting at every winged creature there should at least be a bit or orange on each hunter. I talked to 2 different guys who got peppered (not by us). I could have easily peppered a couple people but let the bird fly instead.
I also watched one guy shoot at a swallow (not even a dove), and shot directly at the guy who was in bright blue fishing. saw a small spray of dust just beyond and behind the guy. we left after that.

[02ducky]

I had a limit by 930, I have access to private property and the intenational bird of peace (Doves) where fly into our area very steady until about 1100am. I was hunting with 4 other guys and 3 out the 4 had limits by 1030. It was a really good day, going again on Sunday, hopefully this cold snap doesnt push them out of our area.

Pics to come!

[Larry Ashcraft]

About a dozen of us got somewhere around 50 doves. They weren't flying well at all. Maybe it was the heat.

Of course we took the hot middle part of the day off and shot some toys others had brought. A friend of my son's brought about five submachine guns, and H&H brought his .470NE again. So we visited in the shade, then played in the back yard, then had a nice light lunch and then visited some more.

About 4:00 we went back out and hunted until 7:30, then came up to the house and had an excellent dinner of BBQed doves (from the morning) wrapped in Pueblo chiles and bacon , smoked Alaskan Salmon, Gazpacho, and fresh tomatoes from my garden, followed by lemon pie and blueberry cream cheese pie.

A memorable day indeed.

[JohnTRourke]

Larry, you're still alive?????????

I thought of your place as being EXCELLENT for doves.

only 50??????

[Larry Ashcraft]

Larry, you're still alive?????????

Yeah, and I'll PM you next summer for the dove hunt. If I forget, remind me.

I thought of your place as being EXCELLENT for doves.

Yeah Brian, that's what I thought when we bought the place. But up until the Asian Collareds starting showing up, it was pretty crappy hunting.

Two years ago we had 119 on opening day.

[JohnTRourke]

wow
I would have never guessed
I would have thought the perfect place

shows you what I know about hunting.

[Geology Rocks]

well I went out today and shot 25 shells into the air missing everything that flew by. lol. It was a great day with about 20+ birds flying by. Where I went the corn was still very high so it was tough to see them coming in.

oh well...next time!

Joe

[Hoser]

A memorable day indeed.

Sounds like a nice day was had by all.

[Geology Rocks]

anyone wanna take me out and show me some pointers? this is my first dove season and can kill clays easily but cant a freaking dove to save my life!

joe

[Larry Ashcraft]

this is my first dove season and can kill clays easily but cant a freaking dove to save my life!

You're probably over-thinking it. I do the same thing almost every opening morning.

Once I relax and just shoot the durn things, I start hitting.