Dove Hunting Advice.....

[road kill]

Tomorrow, for the first time in my life (at 58+) I am going dove hunting.

Any advice??
Ammo??
(using 2-3/4 #6 steels as we have to here on state land)
Camo?
ETC.

BTW--I posted this here because you guys will be straight with me......maybe??

The RTF thread gets a little testy for me sometimes!



RK

[troy schwab]

# 6 's are pretty big for dove..... I normally use 8 or 9 sometime 7 1/2........ with sixes the long shots could get interesting because you will have plenty of holes in your pattern for a dove to sneak through..... I would use a light mod choke with sixes.....JMO. (BTW, if your looking for table fare, sixes might hurt those chances) If you can get the smaller shot, you can prolly go to skeet or imp cyl. choke. Have fun, a field full of those fast flyin critters is a BLAST!!!!!

[road kill]

# 6 's are pretty big for dove..... I normally use 8 or 9 sometime 7 1/2........ with sixes the long shots could get interesting because you will have plenty of holes in your pattern for a dove to sneak through..... I would use a light mod choke with sixes.....JMO. (BTW, if your looking for table fare, sixes might hurt those chances) If you can get the smaller shot, you can prolly go to skeet or imp cyl. choke. Have fun, a field full of those fast flyin critters is a BLAST!!!!!

I wanted 7-1/2, Gander Mntn was all out.
6's was as small as I could get.
My buddy says he has some 7-1/2's and 8's.
I am looking for a couple of retrieves for Elvis and it will be a great day!

Dove hunting has only been legal here for a few years or so.
I was out of bird hunting for a while, but we are back.

Anxious for duck season as well.



RK

[M&K's Retrievers]

Camo is pretty important but we have worn Hawaiian shirts at times
Mojo Dove is great they do work
7 1/2 or 8 bring more shells than you think you need
plenty of h2o
hunt water holes in the PM
this may sound stupid but move to where the birds are flying. a lot of guys stay put
stool
zip lock bags
thick skin for misses
Elvis will have a blast except for the feathers
bacon, Italian dressing, jalapeno peppers, onions, charcoal, grill

[JDogger]

Don't go with Dick Cheney

[Franco]

Biggest problem I see with most dove shooters is that they are over-gunned. Down here we can only shoot 15 with Eurasian doves as bonus birds. Other problem I see down here is folks bring a dog in 90 degree plus heat. Pesonally, I rather be shooting dove than constantly hydrating my dog.

Do what works for you but my preference;

410ga #9 shot in a 2.5 inch load, 26 inch barrel
camo umbrella with stand
iced water in cooler
energy bars

[Hew]

Shooting glasses or sun glasses are a biggie....it's not uncommon to get peppered by others.

A radio to listen to college football games.

A jug of sweet tea.

A bag of boiled peanuts.

You may have to come South if you want good examples of the last 3 items on that list.

[kjrice]

I use #7 steel when on WMA's (law). I have used #6 low brass steel when I ran out of 7's but I make sure to let them get out there a little bit or open up the choke more. With lead, it is 8-9's.

[TN_LAB]

Don't go with Dick Cheney

I know where you're coming from. Why is this in the POTUS section?

Cheney doesn't hunt doves, he hunted Quayles

[M&K's Retrievers]

410ga #9 shot in a 2.5 inch load, 26 inch barrel

I get enough humiliation with a 12ga.