Dove Season Begins

[Stan Hoover]

Just a quick photo of the start of a new season for me and Shane.

[Jeff S]

Stan, I can’t see the picture. Did you use your 10 ga. or your 8 ga.?

[Stan Hoover]

Good one Jeff,
we actually started the season with the 12 & 20 gauges, although I did seriously think about taking the 8 gauge out for a try.
Stan

PS. I had taken the photo off for a bit to edit it and get it to stay upright.

[Jeff S]

Stan, very nice picture and it looks like you did quite well. I've never been dove hunting, but I'm under the impression that they are fast and hard to hit. Are those Ithaca's? I hope Shane hit a few of them (I've seen him nail the clay targets).

[Stan Hoover]

Jeff,
Dove can be fast, for sure after they’ve been educated some. We started with Ithaca’s, Shane’s is the Ithaca/Lefever A Grade, his first gun. I will have to take the XE out for a spin and maybe the 8 gauge

Shane almost beat me, he seems to be getting used to outdoing me, if I’m having an off day, he tops me no problem.

Stan

[Mike of the Mountain]

Well done Stan! You guys have the hotbed for dove down in your area.

[DarylC]

If there is a better way to spend an afternoon with your son I don't know it. Nice going Stan.

[Stan Hillis]

I'm jealous, Stan. But, happy for you. I'm getting my strength back slowly but surely and may try to shoot a round of clays with a very lightweight double in the next week or two. I think I'll be ready for the last season here.

Thanks for posting the pic.

JeffS, I have clocked doves many times in sustained flight, in calm air parallel to my truck, at 55-60 mph. They don't fly like that all the time. Early season they may float in like a butterfly. But, those big, mature, purple-necked late season migratory birds will streak into a field to feed using the prevailing wind behind them, which may be 20-30 mph. In those conditions they appear to be using all the speed they can garner. You can try to imagine the lead necessary on a dove jetting overhead at 75 mph. It's safe to say that they are missed behind much more than ahead. In all my wing shooting over 60 years there is nothing more satisfying than decking one of those late season speedsters. It's not uncommon to have to walk 120 yards to retrieve it, given the speed at which it is moving when the shot hits.

SRH

[Stan Hoover]

SRH,

It is very good to see you posting again, thankfully the Lord heard our prayers and kept you here on earth for a little while longer. When I started following the various forums, I noticed your countdown to dove opener over on the doublegun forum, I don't know anyone that serious about dove hunting.
My grand father hunted but my father didn't, so I grew up not hunting but after working with some fellows who did hunt, my first gun purchase was a Model 37 20 gauge. The first game hunted was dove with Grandpa, I will always remember that.
They can be very fast as you have said, although I wouldn't have guessed them to be that fast.

Keep up the good fight there Stan, I'm sure you'll be in the field chasing dove soon,
Stan Hoover

[Stan Hillis]

Thanks, Stan, for the best wishes. Life is good.

SRH