Dove Hunting

[Santa CruZin]

I'm new to the South' I'll admit that up front. Seems like dove hunting is a big deal around here. Back in CA (where I moved from), doves were looked upon as pests, not something to hunt and eat. Years ago I hunted quail with a pellet gun when I was really, really hungry (yum, btw), but no one in my group of friends ever thought about hunting doves.

The fields behind my property in MS have been full of guys sitting cross-legged with shotguns shooting anything in the air for the last two weeks, presumably due to the current "dove season".

Wouldn't a Big Mac be easier and cheaper, or is this in line with "the worst day fishin' is better than the best day workin'" bit? (and it's Saturday)

An entire day spent on a couple McNuggets...?

[Squaw Man Wolfer]

I'm new to the South' I'll admit that up front. Seems like dove hunting is a big deal around here. Back in CA (where I moved from), doves were looked upon as pests, not something to hunt and eat. Years ago I hunted quail with a pellet gun when I was really, really hungry (yum, btw), but no one in my group of friends ever thought about hunting doves.

The fields behind my property in MS have been full of guys sitting cross-legged with shotguns shooting anything in the air for the last two weeks, presumably due to the current "dove season".

Wouldn't a Big Mac be easier and cheaper, or is this in line with "the worst day fishin' is better than the best day workin'" bit? (and it's Saturday)

An entire day spent on a couple McNuggets...?

The best thing about dove hunting is that you get a LOT of shots, and after they've been shot at, they do some AMAZING flying to avoid you. They can be VERY fast, and go VERY high and VERY low.

Take LOTS of ammo.

I admit it's not a lot of meat, but it's pretty lean.

[GotGlock1917]

The best thing about dove hunting is that you get a LOT of shots, and after they've been shot at, they do some AMAZING flying to avoid you. They can be VERY fast, and go VERY high and VERY low.

Take LOTS of ammo.

I admit it's not a lot of meat, but it's pretty lean.


Ditto.

Seriously fun and difficult.
Dove are very fast and zig zag like crazy when they are wary, which is almost all the time.

My brother and I did a lot of dove hunting over the years. Despite the fact that we both had good pump 12 gauges I always used a 20 gauge double barrel and he used a .410 double barrel. It was more of a competition than a hunt but we got to eat the results. Tastes better than clay pigeons.

Try it. You will like it.

[scwine]

I have been hunting dove for as long as I could lift a shotgun. My favorite type of hunting by far.

My favorite type of game to eat as well......Give me some dove breasts stuffed with cream cheese, fresh jalapeno, wrapped with peppered bacon, off the grill, along with a cold beer>>>and I will be quite contempt!:cool:

[Natty]

Anti hunting posts like yours would do better in www.peta.com than here.

[Razrbk444]

Dove hunting in the south is usually the kick-off to hunting season. There are a lot of us hunters that look forward to hunting season and enjoy getting together with a few good friends for the hunt. Shooting dove can be a blast (no pun intended), and the birds are quite tasty wrapped in bacon and cooked on a grill. They are sharp eyed and fast fliers (up to 60 mph) and you can see/make some great shots and hone your skill as a wing shooter. If you can get a limit of fifteen birds (Arkansas bag limit) in less than a box of 25 shells, you have done good.

[blueiron]

Anti hunting posts like yours would do better in www.peta.com than here.


I don't read his/her post as anti-hunting, but even if he/she doesn't like it, so? I quit hunting because it was more money and trouble that it was worth to me.

[bocephus549]

The national average of doves killed per box of shells is less than five. Now I'm sure most of the Glock Talk crew scores closer to 20 per box but doves are a pretty good adversary none the less. Oh yeah they taste really good too. I likes mine breaded and pan fried YMMV.

[Squaw Man Wolfer]

I have this weird theory that dove just keep getting smarter every year. When I started, you could do well in blue jeans, but now it seems like you have to totally camo up. They can catch ANY movement and the gleam from shotgun barrels. In some circumstances, they fly fairly predictable to and from water/feeding/roosting cover, but a lot of the time, they come from any direction. You need eyes in the back of your head.

[okie]

I have been hunting dove for as long as I could lift a shotgun. My favorite type of hunting by far.

My favorite type of game to eat as well......Give me some dove breasts stuffed with cream cheese, fresh jalapeno, wrapped with peppered bacon, off the grill, along with a cold beer>>>and I will be quite contempt!:cool:
Holy **** that sounds awesome:faint:

[uneasyrider]

If Dick Cheney asks you to go "Just say no".

[Santa CruZin]

Anti hunting posts like yours would do better in www.peta.com than here.


Blow me, "Natty" boy.

[Santa CruZin]

If Dick Cheney asks you to go "Just say no".

I would hunt with Cheney ANY day.

[Squaw Man Wolfer]

Dove hunting in the south is usually the kick-off to hunting season. There are a lot of us hunters that look forward to hunting season and enjoy getting together with a few good friends for the hunt. Shooting dove can be a blast (no pun intended), and the birds are quite tasty wrapped in bacon and cooked on a grill. They are sharp eyed and fast fliers (up to 60 mph) and you can see/make some great shots and hone your skill as a wing shooter. If you can get a limit of fifteen birds (Arkansas bag limit) in less than a box of 25 shells, you have done good.

While there are some great dove recipes out there, I am too lazy. I just rub a thick store bought barbeque sauce on them (all over) and bake them in the oven. The BBQ sauce carmelizes (learned that word watching PBS, heh, heh) holding the juices in.

I like to eat dove either right away or within a week or so. When I helped my brother move, he had two hunded dove stashed in his freezer, freezer-burned of course. Grrrr.....

[Santa CruZin]

Dove hunting in the south is usually the kick-off to hunting season. There are a lot of us hunters that look forward to hunting season and enjoy getting together with a few good friends for the hunt. Shooting dove can be a blast (no pun intended), and the birds are quite tasty wrapped in bacon and cooked on a grill. They are sharp eyed and fast fliers (up to 60 mph) and you can see/make some great shots and hone your skill as a wing shooter. If you can get a limit of fifteen birds (Arkansas bag limit) in less than a box of 25 shells, you have done good.

That does sound fun, and tasty. I've never looked at doves as something to hunt; again, quail is the only small bird I've hunted and cooked. That said, shooting a quail standing in the morning mist with a pellet pistol isn't exactly chasing something fleeting around the sky with a shotgun.

[Santa CruZin]

While there are some great dove recipes out there, I am too lazy. I just rub a thick store bought barbeque sauce on them (all over) and bake them in the oven. The BBQ sauce carmelizes (learned that word watching PBS, heh, heh) holding the juices in.

I like to eat dove either right away or within a week or so. When I helped my brother move, he had two hunded dove stashed in his freezer, freezer-burned of course. Grrrr.....

When I hunted quail, it was a 'few at a time' thing; no freezer available. I always thought it was cool that with a pocket knife and about one minute, a quail could be fully dressed out and the breast meat on a stick over an open fire. I suppose a dove would be just as easy.

[jtull7]

The best way to eat dove is to fillet the breasts of the bird, wrap both breasts with a slice of jalapeno between them, and wrap them in bacon. Fry, and when the bacon is done, you will have one of the tastiest tibits you have ever had. Your choice of beverage during and after.

[No Frills McGee]

wtfff

edit - oops wrong thread sry

[Santa CruZin]

The best way to eat dove is to fillet the breasts of the bird, wrap both breasts with a slice of jalapeno between them, and wrap them in bacon. Fry, and when the bacon is done, you will have one of the tastiest tibits you have ever had. Your choice of beverage during and after.

Nice. :beer:

[eisman]

I've always breasted the birds, wrapped the breast in bacon and fried the in a skillet with some butter, onions and a little white wine. Serve on thin sliced french bread.

But I'm going to try the other recipes! (Provided we shoot some birds.)

[Guns & Cockpits]

I've been in Cali all my life, and I don't think I've missed a dove opener in 15 years. They're pretty widely hunted here in CA too, you might just have missed it.

[Historian]

We're about three weeks out at this point. But I've not missed a season in over 8 years. It's by far my favorite type of hunting.

[Natty]

Blow me, "Natty" boy.

Yes you are new to the South.

We dont like homosexual advances.

We dont put up with personal attacks.

This forum considers that a violation of the terms of service.

[Santa CruZin]

Yes you are new to the South.

We dont like homosexual advances.

We dont put up with personal attacks.

This forum considers that a violation of the terms of service.


I don't put up with unsolicited and undeserved "Anti hunting posts like yours would do better in www.peta.com than here."

Have a nice day, Natty. :wavey:

[Bullwinkle J Moose]

The fields behind my property in MS have been full of guys sitting cross-legged with shotguns shooting anything in the air for the last two weeks, presumably due to the current "dove season".

Wouldn't a Big Mac be easier and cheaper, or is this in line with "the worst day fishin' is better than the best day workin'" bit? (and it's Saturday)

An entire day spent on a couple McNuggets...?

Hunting is as much if not more about sport as eating. IMO dove breasts are some of the tastiest meat there is. Hunting dove is certainly more fun and rewarding than eating fat pills at Micky Ds. Bagging doves requires excellent marksmanship and if you get your limit, it's more than a few "nuggets". If you are not a hunter you won't understand, so ask the boys if you can join them. Even if you can't hit squat, you'll help keep the birdies flying towards others who can and you will have fun doing it.

[Glock Bob]

Back in CA (where I moved from), doves were looked upon as pests, not something to hunt and eat.

It's the same if not more so in the South. My inlaws own a "farm" (just a big garden, really) and the doves will eat up a lot of their crops if you let them. We hunt them more out of pest control than dinner.

[Santa CruZin]

It's the same if not more so in the South. My inlaws own a "farm" (just a big garden, really) and the doves will eat up a lot of their crops if you let them. We hunt them more out of pest control than dinner.

I didn't know they were prolific enough to actually be a crop threat. That explains a lot, as the fields these guys are hunting in are recently harvested corn.

As Bullwinkle suggested, I think I'll go check it out...

[Tennessee Slim]

Dove hunting is also a social occasion. Getting invited to dove hunts on certain farms -- especially the opening day hunt -- is like getting invited to a day-long party. Some of 'em even end up with a cook-out put on by the host.

If Dick Cheney asks you to go "Just say no".
If you've never been peppered with birdshot, you ain't been bird hunting.
If you can count the number of times you've been peppered, you ain't done much bird hunting.

[python357]

The national average of doves killed per box of shells is less than five. Now I'm sure most of the Glock Talk crew scores closer to 20 per box but doves are a pretty good adversary none the less.

I'm lucky if I can get five birds with half a CASE of shells. :whistling:

[DWP21]

I shot 11 opening day. Took me 48 shots to do it. I use a cheap Mossberg Silver Reserve 20ga O/U and an ounce of 7 1/2 shot. I like it better than my Beretta 391 for dove hunting.

I like to put the breast in a bowl of 50/50 honey and Italian dressing over night then wrap in pepper bacon and put them on the grill.

[LanceOregon]

Back in CA (where I moved from), doves were looked upon as pests, not something to hunt and eat. Years ago I hunted quail with a pellet gun when I was really, really hungry (yum, btw), but no one in my group of friends ever thought about hunting doves.


Since you yourself readily admit to breaking the law in California and using a totally illegal method to harvest quail, you are hardly in an ethical position to criticize other hunters. California law only allows for shotguns and bow and arrow to be used for taking quail.

The fact that you so readily admit to such criminal behavior shows a clear lack of proper hunting ethics on your part. It is too bad that you did not have a better role model during your formative years when you learned how to hunt.

.

[noway]

The best way to eat dove is to fillet the breasts of the bird, wrap both breasts with a slice of jalapeno between them, and wrap them in bacon. Fry, and when the bacon is done, you will have one of the tastiest tibits you have ever had. Your choice of beverage during and after.

I like to add onions, alittle garlic and the 1st wrap is proscitutto ham between the bacon and bird. Very tasty.

a big nice cold Abita Golden or some other pale beer to wash it down ;)

[Natty]

Doves are not a pest. By federal law they are a migratory game bird.

[tous]

Geez, Natty and LanceOregon. :upeyes:

<--- has hunted dove, pheasant, quail and guinea hen
<--- used a Browning Auto 5 in 16-gauge
<--- got some, ate them, missed more
<--- no PETA members or California government officials present on any of the above occasions

Howdy, SantaCruzin :wavey:

[Guns & Cockpits]

Since you yourself readily admit to breaking the law in California and using a totally illegal method to harvest quail, you are hardly in an ethical position to criticize other hunters. California law only allows for shotguns and bow and arrow to be used for taking quail.

The fact that you so readily admit to such criminal behavior shows a clear lack of proper hunting ethics on your part. It is too bad that you did not have a better role model during your formative years when you learned how to hunt.

.

Ummm... is this a joke?

[tous]

I take it that that feller ain't from the South. And he sure as heck ain't from Texas. :cowboy:

[skeeter1959]

I don't read his/her post as anti-hunting, but even if he/she doesn't like it, so? I quit hunting because it was more money and trouble that it was worth to me.

I read his post to be just another Kalifornian shooting his mouth off about something he knows nothing about. :dunno:

Opening day of dove season is as much of a social event as it is the kickoff to hunting season. It's a lot of fun and there is nothing better than bacon wrapped dove breasts with japalenos and onion. :supergrin:

I get the impression the OP can't shoot a shotgun very well so he poo poos on the sport.

[tous]

How you getting along down there, skeeter1959? :wavey:

Best wishes, mi amigo.

NB: SantaCruZin is a fine fellow, well met. Don't believe he was engaging in poo poo .

[skeeter1959]

How you getting along down there, skeeter1959? :wavey:

Best wishes, mi amigo.

NB: SantaCruZin is a fine fellow, well met. Don't believe he was engaging in poo poo .

We made it through the storm ok here in Brazoria County. Parts of my neighborhood took a beating, but no loss of life. Galveston is basically ground zero. I thank God that my house and boat were spared some of the damage that I have seen.

Thank you for the kind words. :wavey:

[Santa CruZin]

Since you yourself readily admit to breaking the law in California and using a totally illegal method to harvest quail, you are hardly in an ethical position to criticize other hunters. California law only allows for shotguns and bow and arrow to be used for taking quail.

The fact that you so readily admit to such criminal behavior shows a clear lack of proper hunting ethics on your part. It is too bad that you did not have a better role model during your formative years when you learned how to hunt.

.

Where did I criticize other hunters?

Role models in my 'formative years'; you have no idea who I am. Obviously.

[Santa CruZin]

Doves are not a pest. By federal law they are a migratory game bird.

I posted my original question in a quest to understand based on personal observations and curiosity.

[Santa CruZin]

I read his post to be just another Kalifornian shooting his mouth off about something he knows nothing about. :dunno:

Opening day of dove season is as much of a social event as it is the kickoff to hunting season. It's a lot of fun and there is nothing better than bacon wrapped dove breasts with japalenos and onion. :supergrin:

I get the impression the OP can't shoot a shotgun very well so he poo poos on the sport.

I get the impression you presumptive types won't give an OP the benefit of the doubt for anything. Did you read my follow-up posts on the subject?

I've been shooting for over 25 years, shotguns included, professionally trained. I'm going to predict I can outshoot most GT members. There are folks here who've seen what I can do, so scoff all you want.

Where exactly did I "poo poo" on the sport?

GNG is ****ing surreal.

Hiya, Tous! :wavey:

[cmwhitt]

Role models in my 'formative years'; you have no idea who I am. Obviously.

If you turn out to be Dick Cheney, this thread is gonna be hugely ironic.

[blueiron]

I read his post to be just another Kalifornian shooting his mouth off about something he knows nothing about. :dunno:

Opening day of dove season is as much of a social event as it is the kickoff to hunting season. It's a lot of fun and there is nothing better than bacon wrapped dove breasts with japalenos and onion. :supergrin:

I get the impression the OP can't shoot a shotgun very well so he poo poos on the sport.

I shoot a handgun very well. I don't 'get' IPSC shooting, but if it is your 'rice bowl', enjoy it.

Assumptions can be pointless.

[Tennessee Slim]

I get the impression you presumptive types won't give an OP the benefit of the doubt for anything....
It's already been a rough election season. And GT has been inundated with leftist trolls who've come purely to harass the rank and file. This has clouded some of our members' ordinarily sunshiney dispositions.

Under other circumstances, we're really and truly a very longsuffering bunch. :whistling:

[gruntmedik]

Santa, you gotta try it. Rare Bear ain't got nuthin on those birds. :supergrin: It is one of my favorite hunts. When you try, don't buy your shells the same place I do, as they are obviously defective. I sometimes wonder if I don't have a donut choke in my shotgun. :rofl: