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Get ready, dove season opens Sept. 4 at noon
Blam. Blam. KaPow! The
roar of many shotguns
echoed across the recently
harvested cornfield. Barely
visible against the horizon, i
could set* a pair of doves
darting and diving through a
barrage of lead being thrown
skyward by what appeared
to be an army of hunters.
It sounded as if there were
a war going on. I mentally
prepared myself for the com
ing action as the birds
moved mv way.
Hallway across the field,
one of the doves disap
peared. obviously “one in
the bag' for a lucky shooter,
but the other one continued
my way. Trying not to reveal
my location in the low bush
es, I slid off my stool and got
down as low as possible,
confident that I was now
invisible to the "unsuspect
ing and helpless" dove.
As the bird approached at
a slight angle, he used the
tailwind to his full advan
tage and seemed to gain
speed. As 1 eased up just a
few inches above the bushes
to get a shot, the dove spot
ted me and the duel was on.
The first sight of my Rem
ington 1100 12-gauge wob
bled around the bird as 1
unloaded my first round
with no visible effect. I
thought to myself surely the
dove was mortally wounded
and would fall any second
now.
Just for insurance. 1
decided to unleash the arse
nal at my disposal and tired
my second and third rounds
as the dove dipped down
toward the ground.
Instead of dropping as lie
was supposed to, the dove
cupped his wings and sailed
right over my head and to
the freedom beyond.
Needless to say. the
robust manner in which
that bird flew off into the
sunset shook my confi
dence. I mumbled derogato
ry comments under my
breath. My less-than
thoughtful hunting rompaiv
ion (read former friend)
couldn't pass up the oppor
tunity to kind me.
"Missed another one.
huh? Maybe you need a
cannon!" he said.
Thinking quickly under
duress, I responded, “Well
that bird’s flying dead and
he just doesn’t know it." try
ing to salvage what little was
left of my ego.
Before I could Worry
about it any more, another
bird appeared from nowhere
right over my head. I instinc
tively raised my gun and
fired. The dove collapsed
and fell to the ground nearly
at my feet. I thankfully
placed the bird in my game
bag and savored the
moment.
Scenes like this one will
be repeated many times this
fall as dove hunters take to
the fields beginhing Sept. 4
at noon.
Although the weather will
likely be hot and the sun
bright, many hunters will be
in the field at noon that day.
knowing the birds won't
show up until 3:30 p.m. or
so.
They aren’t there early to
get a tan. They are watching
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Acro*« from Stanley Furniture
988-0942
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987-2190
the few dove which straggle
in during the midday to see
if they can establish a flight
pattern lor the birds. With
this, they can place their
stands in the most produc
tive area before the crowd
arrives.
Whethci the shooting field
is large or small, the birds
will quickly established a
preferred route to come and
go from their feeding area.
This (lyway can be at the
edge of the woods, a fence
line, a gully or even a single
tree.
The doves will fly along
these objects. I guess
because they offer cover, and
possibly a sense ol security.
They'll often land in a tree,
especially a dead one, to
check out a field before they
decide to fly in. A lone tree
on the edge of a field is usu
ally a good bet for a stand.
If the feeding field is near
a small watering hole so
much the belter because the
dove can meet most ol their
needs in a small area.
Even if the watering hole
is in the middle ol nowhere,
it’ll s>till attract birds as long
as the dove can land on a
clean bank and walk to the
edge of the water.
Watering holes are my
favorite places to shoot
because they’re often scat
tered far and wide. When
you locate one. chances are
you'll have it all to yourself
because these spots are
usually overlooked by tin
average hunter.
Since the watering hole is
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Home
Journal
Outdoors
usually small, the birds
"home" right to you and if
you've placed your stand
correctly, your shots will be
of the incoming, high-per
eentage variety which are
easier to connect on. A
watering spot is also a very
good location to use your
dove decoys.
At one time, I was skepti
cal of dove decoys, but I've
learned that they can be
deadly when used properly.
Around a water hole, place
them in a bare tree as high
oil the ground as possible. If
a dead tree is not located
close by. go find a dead
sapling and stick it in the
ground a few feet away from
the water. Alter you place
your decoys in the tree,
you'll find the dove will be
drawn to it like magnets.
In a shexiting field, the
decoys can be placed on a
fence line or placed in a
group out on the ground
within gun range. The dove
have a gregarious nature
and when they see the
decoys, they assume every
thing is all right for them to
drop in.
You. of course, have other
Savings
up to
1/2
Off
(si| f
■ • 'jf'
plans and attempt to bag a
few as they approach.
What equipment will you
need to take part in a dove
shot? You can be as simple
or as complicated as you
want, but there are some
things you should consider.
A shotgun is essential, of
course, and the gauge is the
shooter’s choice.
Most hunters opt for a 12-
gauge because it is the
largest practical size you can
buy and is the most versatile
when it comes to shooting a
wide range of game.
You don't see many 16-
gauge guns anymore
because it has been over
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his shooting style after collecting a limit good one.
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shadowed by the 12- and
20-gauge guns. The 20-
gauge is useful because it
doesn't kick quite as much
as the 12-gauge. It is often
preferred by women and
young shcxjters, or hunters
with small body frames.
The .4 10 gauge shotgun
is fine s a first gun for a
youngster because it is usu
ally equipped with a safety
swatch. The light weight of
the gun makes it conducive
for young shooters to learn
the basics of safe gun han
dling.
The .410 is a small bore
and at full choke, this gun is
rough on results. Move your
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Wed., Aug. 2S, 1999, Houston Home Journal
young shooter to a 20 gauge
pump as soon as possible.
Get one wnth a youth style
stock which is short ei and
will fit better.
Additional equipment you
might need includes a dove
stool with a built in < noln a
wade brim hat, sunglasses,
camo clothes and plentv of
non-alcoholic drink-- and
snacks.
There's nothing like
snacking on some boiled
peanuts, sipping a Coke and
listening to your laconic
football game while you're
relaxing at a dove shoot
Good hunting.
Home Journal Photo by Jo tin Itusscll
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