Late season doves

[Stan Hillis]

Decided to use the 1918 BE with 32" barrels exclusively for the late dove season this year. First week turned out pretty good, taking a total of 62 with it in the first 9 days. The season came back in on Thanksgiving Day, but we didn't shoot until Friday. Shot 71% with 1 oz. loads of 7 1/2s with it, and stretched the barrels on a few shots, making several long shots. Here is the results of that shoot. A limit of 15 plus a couple of bonus birds, Eurasian ringneck doves, on which there is no limit..



We use blinds in the late season, when birds are much more wary. I've found that, if you are shooting a center pivot irrigated field, you can't do better than to set up your blind next to a wheel on the system.



Here is the main actor in this drama.



Looking forward to the next four weeks of dove season with it. Thursday past I really pushed it. Took three crossing doves with it at an honest 60-70 yards. The lead on a stretched out dove at that distance is crazy, but if you get it right the left barrel will fold him cleanly.

SRH

[fox-admin]

Wow does that look like fun. What a great tune up for ducks. Stan what kind of crop field are you hunting over. Beautiful gun and you are one heck of a shot well done. How about a short write up for the newsletter. Thanks Craig
.

[Stan Hillis]

That is a peanut field, Craig. We shoot them a lot this time of year. Sometimes we find concentrations of birds in corn fields this time of year, too. I do plan to use it on ducks soon, with some hand loaded bismuth.

Would be happy to write a short piece for the newsletter. P.M. me with a little more about the requirements please.

Thanks for the comments. Downing a late season dove with a 10-15 mph tailwind makes shooting decoying mallards seem like a cake walk. I do love it.

SRH

[Jim Cloninger]

Stan, I don't remember, is your BE a 16? Jim

[Stan Hillis]

No, it's a 12, Jim. I occasionally use a L.C.Smith 32" 16 ga. for late season doves. You may have been thinking about it.

SRH

[MARSHFELLOW]

Nice work Stan........

tjw

[Mills]

Job well done Stan! Looks like the Super Foxes weren't the only long range guns Fox made