OT- Did a little Dove hunting this morning.

[RKrodle]

86er and I went out this AM and did a little dove hunting. It's been a great year for dove around the house.

86er was testing some shotguns and brought them over to use. He was shooting the O/U 20 gauge and I tried my luck with the S/S 28 gauge. We both got a limit and had a great time. The dogs also had a great time and performed well.

[rjohns94]

We cant hunt dove till after noon in Pa. What type of dove are they and do they fall under the federal migratory game bird statues? Just confused here, thats all.

Nice picture and well done on the shooting.

[RKrodle]

We cant hunt dove till after noon in Pa. What type of dove are they and do they fall under the federal migratory game bird statues? Just confused here, thats all.

Nice picture and well done on the shooting.

Mike,

They are Mourning Dove and yes they fall under the federal migratory game bird statues. The fed sets times and limits for the states but, the states can limit it to a lesser amount but not more. In Texas we have 3 different zones, I'm on the edge of the north and central zone, the south zone is about San Antonio and south. The bag limit per day is lower in the central zone but we have an extra 10 days or so in December/January, where as the north zone has a higher bag limit per day but not the extra days. We also see a few White Wing Dove around here but not many, most are further south. Shooting hours are from one half hour before sunrise to sunset.

[O.S.O.K.]

I love dove hunting too. Very challenging, fast moving - I like a 20 guage for the job - an old Wingmaster to be specific. Light as a wand.

Did you get any white wings?

I've got a public dove lease only 20 mins away - should go see if there's any stupid birds left after the inital few weeks of season... if it's still active, its a rape seed field.

[rjohns94]

Thanks Ricky, again, a beautiful bag limit, pup, and shotguns. thanks for shaing

[jjames]

I am jealous. Dove season is only two weeks long (first half) in California. I had a great opener. I went down to the Imperial Valley with three friends. I was shooting my 28 ga Franchi Veloce, my buddy whom I have hunted with for a good forty years was shooting a 20 ga Browning O/U, the other two gentlemen had 12 ga semi-auto and pump shotguns. At 8:10 I dropped my tenth bird for a limit. At 9:00 AM my three campanions took counts at 7, 4, and 0. About 9:30 the game warden came by and said I was the first limit he check that morning.

Went back down the following day by myself with my youngest GSP. This time I took my 1901 Winchester. All the bird were gone. I only managed to jump shoot one.

Now the wait is on for quail season and deer season ( in Montana).

[Ysabel Kid]

Very cool! I'd love to see some close up pics of the 28 gauge!