Doves?

[NASA]

No one's mentioned dove shooting.  Was the opener that poor in the upper latitudes?  It was so-so at best where I shot.  The numbers just weren't there this year.   

[Silencer]

We havent been out, concentrating on the geese cuz there's plenty of them around here that just dont know how to fly north or south.

[HaMeR]

Haven't had time to look hard for em but they are quite scarce around my stompin grounds.

[bushmaster]

I been layin into em on the weekends,  but i think i'm doin somethin wrong.  i shot skeet at the same range as the doves and did fine.  but when the birds started flyin, i was only able to hit the close ones.   i got seventeen my first day.

[NASA]

Seventeen?  What's the daily limit there?  Ours is only fifteen.

[FinsnFur]

never took the time up here Tom 

[bigben]

three shots at three birds.  no birds came home.  but ran into another predator hunter and exchanged numbers.  now it looks like I might have a partner for this season.   

[bushmaster]

our is fifteen too

[TookyRiverCalls]

We don't have a season here in NH.  The tree huggers had them put the "song bird" list back in 1983!  It doesn't look like they'll ever be taken off of it either  

I'm heading back home to PA on the 12th for some bow hunting.  I'm planning on taking "Big Ben" (my SBE II) with me and drop a few on my Dads farm.

[frshwtr]

only hitting close ones hhu? well try to pattern the gun with the same loads at the distance you are missing them. its a small body you are shooting at and they can pass thru a pattern real easy. most people i know use light loads of #8 shot and when a bird isnt right on top of you it loses a lot of energy. myself its usually 1 1/4 oz of either size 6 or 7 1/2 shot, mod. choke in a 12 ga.

[Silencer]

Tooky, where in PA you headed ???

[Bob D]

Bushmaster,
I've hunted doves all my life and the best advise I ever heard about shooting doves was from an old farm manager . He said " if you shoot where they are, you'll be hitting where they ain't ".
Bob