Loaded for doves

[Hogtamer]

12 flats 12 ga 1 1/8 oz #8 for sons and grandsons;
2 flat 20 ga 7/8 oz #8 for DIL
5 flats 28ga 3/4 and 7/8 oz #7 1/2, #8 and 9 for me for both seasons.

Hers a pic of the 3/4 oz #9 load at 35 yds shooting 12” disc. Modified Carlson on Tristar g2 viper.
No excuses!
316835

[35 Rem]

Yep, I'd say you are ready as far the guns and ammo is concerned. Now all you need is a good dove field! I have 125 acres of corn but doubt it will have been combined by opening day of dove season.

[DDriller]

What are you going to shoot on the second day? :razz:

[poppy42]

Ok I have a question. I’m just getting back to small game, shotshell reloading etc. I’ve never hunted dove. Is it like quail? As far as what ya do with them? You just save the breast right? And what do the tast like ? Please don’t say chicken LOL. Just wondering
Thanks

[Texas by God]

Dove are a dark meat bird, like duck. Very easy to dry out by overcooking.
They are the opposite of quail and pheasant.
We’ve always just used the breast and they are small.
Traditionally wrapped in bacon and grilled; but a better way is to sear the meat, cut into bite size pieces, and simmer them in a dipping sauce- whatever flavor you like.
I mix ranch dressing with plum jelly and Cajun seasoning in the skillet, then mix in the dove meat.
Good stuff.
I miss dove hunting!
We just don’t have the birds any more around here.


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[45workhorse]

"Traditionally wrapped in bacon and grilled"


Don't forget the jalapenos.

Mighty fine eating!

[Hogtamer]

My family’s favorite meal. I marinate them overnight in mixture of Dr Pepper or Coke, garlic and onion powder, worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper and a little hot sauce. Smoke at 225* for about 1 1/2 - 2 hrs to medium rare, brushing occasionally with garlic butter. They are dark meat but taste nothing like duck. All this but marinade not necessary. Just smoke ‘em.

[Reg]

Take a jalapeño pepper, cut off the top and core. Stuff in half a dove breast and wrap with half a piece of bacon and hold in place with a tooth pick. Talk about good!!

[Electrod47]

Take a jalapeño pepper, cut off the top and core. Stuff in half a dove breast and wrap with half a piece of bacon and hold in place with a tooth pick. Talk about good!!

That is the ONLY way to cook em' and the best.... We tailgate doing that in San Angelo TX after the hunt. Don't forget the Lone Star beer to wash it down.

[W.R.Buchanan]

OK,,, you guys are making me hungry!

I haven't gotten to go Dove Hunting in many years. CA went stupid with the steel shot loads and I only got a gun that could shoot them last year and it is too heavy to carry around in the field. All my hunting was done in an Avocado Grove where they baited the fields heavily. There was no shortage of birds, and all 12 of us had our limits by 7:30AM on Opening Day, barbequed them all for lunch, then went back out and limited again in the evening. Our season here in CA starts on Saturday of Labor Day weekend. However that place is gone now, and I haven't found a new place to hunt yet.

Probably ought to start looking a little harder? We just bought a new BBQ!

Randy

[Jungle Dave]

I just coat them in flower and deep fry. Then dip them in any kind of good sauce I have around, or my homemade sauce. They melt in your mouth almost. They sure are expensive though, from a lead and powder standpoint. Really not worth it at all from that standpoint, unless one is starving, but they taste good and they give you good practice.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Jungle Dave: How many shots are you needing to get 10 birds? 10-12 is the correct answer! The guy that owned that Avocado Grove we shot in got his limit that first day with 10 rounds from a .410 SXS! It took me 12 with my A5. So 12 rounds at .25 each is $3.00 so $3.00 for lunch and some really great fun seems reasonable? I even did the Cooking for the group and they provided the beer!

Randy

[Jungle Dave]

Jungle Dave: How many shots are you needing to get 10 birds? 10-12 is the correct answer! The guy that owned that Avocado Grove we shot in got his limit that first day with 10 rounds from a .410 SXS! It took me 12 with my A5. So 12 rounds at .25 each is $3.00 so $3.00 for lunch and some really great fun seems reasonable? I even did the Cooking for the group and they provided the beer!

Randy

That's some good shooting! For 10 birds, takes a few more shells for me...not sure off the top of my head, but I'd be safe saying a full box, so my lunch is a little more expensive :D ...these are some tough ones in East Texas...sometimes have to put two shells into them...but mostly it's my missing on a first shot and connecting on the second...haha :D

[Texas by God]

I didn’t say they tasted like duck- just that the meat is dark[emoji846]
Ah the old days. In high school, word would get out about a dove heavy field and ten boys with shotguns would swarm it! The next day it would be a different field.
The little speed demons give a challenge for sure! I love to sit at a water hole with my .410 and take the slowing down birds.
This season is my 50th but it seems like yesterday that I used a whole box of 20 gauge from my new H&R Topper to get 6 birds on my first dove hunt!


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[DDriller]

We always bought AA shells for dove hunting so we would have plenty of empties to load for quail hunting. My dad hardly every used more than ten to get his limit but my brothers and I used a box or two each.