First big dove hunt!

[berettafan]

Was invited to a large dove hunt this past weekend and had an absolute blast. Big operation that is apparently very hard to get into. Managed 8 (well 11 really but 3 were shot at the same time as someone else) so pretty happy. One of the other fields sounded like WWII and many there limited out pretty early.

Haven't done much dove hunting in recent years as local public land is pretty lacking. It really is a hoot when the birds are flying and everyone is getting at least a few.


Fields were 4hrs away so drove up the night before. Found a great dive bar for some wings and football! VT offense looked a bit weak but the beer was cold.



Parking area was packed pre-hunt. Hosts provided a nice lunch and safety talk before we hit the fields.



Our crew taking up stations. The people are what make it so fun and this was an awesome group. Post hunt beer conversation was awesome and we had guys from Guatemala, India, Scotland and the good ol' US of A. Hugely varied backgrounds too from electricians to dentists.


The view straight out from my spot under a large tree. Beautiful!


Winner of a day! No pics of the meal but these little fellas were flat out delicious. Fried a couple and the rest were grilled either plain or as poppers with pepper skins, bacon and cream cheese.

[Sooner or later]

Love dove hunting. I limited out last Friday. I hunt north of Tipton, OK on the North Fork of the Red River. I have a couple of places I can hunt. I have killed thousands over the years.

I see more white wing every year.

[911 Rod]

Very cool and beautiful gun!
Is this a dove farm were they release the birds so you can shoot?

[berettafan]

Thanks Rod. Dove are migratory and not a released bird. I don't believe anyone actually raises them as opposed to ducks which can be migratory but also can be raised and may never leave home.

This place does do released/planted birds (quail, chukar, pheasant) but i've not tried it with them.

[Seahawk]

Very nice.

The Dove here are at a point where we may hunt this Fall...they are everywhere.

When we moved to South Carolina one of the guys I played football with had a family farm outside of Perry, SC. This is in 1974.

It was the first time I had hunted Dove. We also did Quail hunts with bird dogs, which is on a whole other level. The local ladies would dress the birds for 25 cents each.

Just too cool. I had to get up to speed quickly.

[GH85Carrera]

They are thick here this year. I hear them outside all the time at home in the neighborhood and anytime I am out of the car at a store or restaurant.

[masraum]

Interesting. I don't think I've ever had dove. They seem like a tiny bird that wouldn't have much meat.

The closest that I've ever come is probably quail. I think I may have had quail before somewhere. As a kid, my parents used to have cornish hens from time to time, but I assume those are much bigger.

[flatbutt]

How much meat do you get off of a dove?

[GH85Carrera]

The breast is one bite size for each side. Assuming it does not have a shotgun pellet in it that had to be cut out. Not much meat. Most hunt them as a challenge and think of it as skeet shooting, on a skeet that will dodge and change directions. It is a challenge.

[matthewb0051]

Dang, making me jealous. I just missed out on a hunt over the weekend. Hoping to get out this season.

Filet mignon of the sky.

[berettafan]

They are incredibly humbling to shoot at. You have to be very still until the last second and then you must resist lifting your head from the stock when they juke and jive! And it gets tougher when you have an audience of guys who shoot tournaments with you! I shot 20ga. My buddies shot 410 and 28ga and had a higher hit % than me.

Not a lot of meat at all but the most agreeable of game birds for those who only know store bought stuff. half dozen makes for a worthwhile effort. Cleaning them is literally a matter of using thumbs to split skin on breast, sliding thumb under bottom of breast plate and pulling up. I use game shears to clip the breast plate off at the shoulders. Takes about 15 seconds per bird.

[Rikao4]

awesome..
Years ago I got invited to the W......Lodge..
took my crew and came back..
with a pick up bed filled with pheasants..
btw..only animal not present in the great room ..
Elephant..

Rika

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by berettafan

They are incredibly humbling to shoot at. You have to be very still until the last second and then you must resist lifting your head from the stock when they juke and jive! And it gets tougher when you have an audience of guys who shoot tournaments with you! I shot 20ga. My buddies shot 410 and 28ga and had a higher hit % than me.

So true. I shoot 410 only because I enjoy the challenge.

It is a cheap Stroger o/u and I swear the Doves fly patterns around me for sport.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

That landscape is way different than the Alfalfa fields of Arizona and a whole lot cooler.

[berettafan]

It was a pretty hot day but i'm sure an Az native wouldn't have thought so. Nevertheless the post hunt beer went down fast and easy.

[matthewb0051]

What model Beretta is that ??? Beautiful.

I have a 686 Onyx field, sort of matte finish. Not nearly as pretty but then again, I don't have any compunction about taking it out.

[berettafan]

Perazzi MX20, not Beretta.

I love the Beretta Onyx guns, especially the Onyx Pro as they got stunning wood. Just passed on one recently in fact as my wallet is tapped thanks to a kid in college. The black receivers look so nice with that little bit of gold.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

The breast is one bite size for each side. Assuming it does not have a shotgun pellet in it that had to be cut out. Not much meat. Most hunt them as a challenge and think of it as skeet shooting, on a skeet that will dodge and change directions. It is a challenge.

It's like getting 2 chicken wings as a package deal!

[Jeff Higgins]

Wow, what fun! I'm envious as can be. It's been years since I've shot doves. We have a pretty good early season in Eastern Washington, so we used to go over and hang with an orchardist friend for a long weekend and go to town on these little guys. Like you say, oh so humbling... Probably the most expensive meat we will ever eat, when we consider the number of shot shells required to make a meal. And, of course, the gas, food, beer... But worth every penny. Very, very tasty.

Beautiful Perazzi, by the way. That wood is just drop dead gorgeous.

[upsscott]

Marinade them in Dr.Pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Then do the popper method with jalapeņo, cream cheese, and bacon. Throw them on the grill. Yum