Finally…Anyone else shooting dove today?
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September 1 marks what should be a mandated holiday in Texas….opening day of Dove season!
Is anyone else going to shoot birds this afternoon?
I’ll post some pics after our hunt 🙂
I really would like to go dove hunting but I am just not clear on how to get it done and I don’t know anyone who dove hunts here in Georgia.
SEPT 1 is pa doves season and nuisance goose season. You bet your behind me and my crew will be out this afternoon!
Ohio dove starts today also sunflowers are the big attraction throw in some loose gravel areas with a water sourse and your set. My gun of choice is a 20ga auto chocked ic or mod with 6’s or 7 1/2’s. We also use spinning wing or flapping wing decoys “Edge” has a nice selection. Looks like I will have to wait till Friday afternoon for my first outing but early goose starts today too could be a tough choice.
Grant,
I totally agree with you on the Sept. 1st high holy day holiday.
I went yesterday with my dad, best friend and 11yr old son. It was my son’s first opening day hunt and even with his mom’s blessing no school(you have to love those unofficial holidays). We hunt north of Dallas on my family’s farm in Prosper. Slow in the morning, but we had great shooting in the afternoon hunting a draw that was next to a milo field. Me, dad and my buddy limited out and my son shot nine birds. Also, I hunted with my new lab which was a little frustrating at times. But thankfully, my buddy reminded me that my old dog was not the greatest hunting dog when he first started out. I guess that kind of blocked out the “training years” and only rememberd him at his best.
Overall a great day in the field with friends and family.
Heartbreaker…it hasn’t rained here in over 3 months and a storm
rolled in at 5:15 yesterday. We had rain, hail, and two tornadoes sighted! I didn’t even take my shotgun out of the case. I went out after work this evening and it rained again! Just my luck. I’ll be back out over the weekend.I really would like to go dove hunting but I am just not clear on how to get it done and I don’t know anyone who dove hunts here in Georgia. Basically it looks like you just set up on the edge of a field and have three or four boxes of shells ready since you’re going to miss so many.
How do you identify where the doves will be crossing? What chokes are appropriate? Camo? I am assuming it’s illegal to hunt over bait but what about over a grain field with growing corn?
I’d certainly appreciate a primer. I like dove breast sauteed in butter and garlic and then finely sliced over pasta with a creamy dill sauce. (Try it).
Zach
Zach, I am hunting in Macon Monday afternoon, judging by the cooler temps this weekend, the birds should be flying well. We sold our land last year so I am forced to do pay hunts (kinda sucks after shooting birds whenever you want in previous years), If you are interested in joining shoot me a PM
In previous years we hunted over sunflower fields (central GA birds really like these) and plowed alternating rows.
Sunlight and rain will shut down birds flying as mentioned eariler. Bluebird days and cooler temperatures seem to make birds fly better.
As for equipment, all you really need is a gun, a few boxes of shells, a stool (bucket with padded lid) and a camo shirt.
The MoJo dove decoys are killer, as are decoy trees but if they are flying good, it may not matter. cloth blinds are good though if you are set up in a cut row.
I either shoot modified or improved modified chokes (depending on how the field is laid out and where people are around me).
I believe that in GA geese are open this weekend also, and can be fun to pop if you are near a pond.
I really want to get some good shots this year but it is hard to put down a gun to snap (hopefully I can limit out early and have some time!)
I will chase smallies tomorrow (despite the fact that it is opening day for doves in NC) and feathers on Monday.
We had a great afternoon on the field today. It was a safe hunt, not to hot and everyone got lots of birds. Here are a few highlights
IMG_4137 by TheMcDowell’s, on Flickr
IMG_4138 by TheMcDowell’s, on Flickr
IMG_4135 by TheMcDowell’s, on Flickr
IMG_4143 by TheMcDowell’s, on FlickrThanks Grant, sunflower fields are a south GA staple. We had a somewhat bearable day heat wise as well, probably unlike TX. The Field that I hunted had a large population of Ringnecks also which have no limit this season in GA
really haven’t seen or heard of any white wings, this year seemed to be 2/3 mourning dove & 1/3 ringnecks.
As far as quail, I do not do much quail hunting, but from what I understand, the natural populations of birds just aren’t there anymore. I am sure that you can come across them from time to time, but I don’t know of many commercial lodges that could sustain a large enough population of
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