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Joined: 21 Sep 2013 Posts: 136 Location: Fort Worth, TX

It is as exciting as Christmas in Texas. Opening day of dove season is just 5 days away. I got out the 62 vintage 870 16 and started gathering my equipment together. The ranch we are hunting on has hogs too so I will pack the 94 Winchester as well just in case. All I have left is batteries for the Mojos

gun - check
ammo - check
equipment - check
cigars - check

Looks like we are ready

Member Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 425 Location: Big D

I wish my check list were as abbreviated as yours. Hunting on Postoak's new land, and lots to do setting up a new hunting camp.

Have fun, and we'll be sweatin' and smilin' right along with ya.

Mike

Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 962 Location: Minnesota

I always love the dove opener, its the first hunt of fall and just a lot of fun.
I am hunting them in Ks and SODAK.
I take an arsenal. This year-
Model 37 16 ga (new manufactured)
Beretta Over Under 28 and 410
CSMC 20 Ga
Benelli 28 ga

You guys can expect more doves coming your way because about 700 of the critters left this morning. Sad

I should be used to it by now because they always leave before opening day.
Annie and I will hunt mountain grouse next week. Very Happy

Dove season opens September 1st in WI and it sounds like some of you folks can hunt them pretty close to home. Unfortunately the only places I can hunt them close by require steel shot and I have never bought a gun to handle it. Tungsten is just too expensive for me to shoot and at least for now lead is good for grouse, woodcock, pheasant and quail.

So I will have to settle with getting the pups ready for September 15th and the opening of grouse season in MI and a few days later for Woodcock, and grouse in WI.

Enjoy

Good Hunting,
Mike

P.S.
JSchultz:
Is Mountain Grouse a generic term for the several species of grouse you have out there. I know in Montana they have Ruffed, Dusky (Blue) and Franklins (Spruce), at least I think I have that right. In our neck of the woods we just have ruffed and a few Spruce.

The farmers have been combining corn for about a week here in the Northern Neck of VA. But it is always hit or miss where the doves willl locate. Some years I see lots of doves in one particular field, but the next time corn is planted in that field (usually every other year) you might see just a few. I'm sure that if I were a more astute dove hunter, I would understand why that's the case. There used to be a field I hunted 10-12 years ago that the farmer planted in corn every year and cut for silage early in August. And for everal years that was a hot spot. Then the doves just seemed to ignore that field and it became non-productive. But it's been a long several months since Spring turkey season, so it'll be nice to get out with the Stevens 16 and hopefully get off at least a few shots.

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3178 Location: NCWa

I'll consider it, if there is any of the state left unburnt by then.

I'm in northern Nevada about 65 nautical miles South Southeast of Reno and even though the temperature is up in the high 80's and low 90's we're not seeing too many dove. There are a few local birds but not many transients. There isn't any forecasted cold snaps in the offing but I'm a bit worried about the opener. The dogs are ready as are the shooters. Now, anybody got a really good shaman that can deliver? I'm just saying . . . .

Member Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 328

Plenty of dove here. Of course there always are.
I have been shooting collard dove now for about a month. Yesterday I could have limited on mourning dove in about 20 minutes. I did get 7 collards in that time.

It is why I live here!

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2126 Location: Hudson,Wy

I think those Cody doves came my way. I will be hunting them early Tuesday morning and blue grouse in the afternoon. I hope I can sleep Monday night...

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2126 Location: Hudson,Wy

Counting days has been replaced with counting doves...

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

I should have known what to expect. A week or two ago it seemed I was not going to have anyone to go out with as many of my partners don't do the dove thing. Well, yesterday that changed and on quick notice we scouted at the public land and the property was full of em. Setup this morning by 5 am. By 11 am we had 3 birds! Didn't see 10 all morning.

I guess days like today remind you to enjoy the days when you go through 60-90 shells taking a limit.

Member Joined: 02 Sep 2010 Posts: 829 Location: SW Ohio

Shot our normal field today. I got 8, 4 of us got 17 total. Seemed slow. They wanted to be in another part of the field. We would walk over and scare them up so we would not have to compete with live birds. Half of them would be back in that spot before you got back in your chair.

Man it was hot today, could be brutal for opening teal this weekend.

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2126 Location: Hudson,Wy

Done by 7am this morning, no crowds unlike yesterday. Guys south of Wyoming should expect a good migration when our birds get cold feet.

Member Joined: 02 Sep 2010 Posts: 829 Location: SW Ohio