This'll be my second year (last year and three years prior to that).

Been looking for 6, 7.5, 8, an 9 shot for the last six months and finally found some Federal 8 shot game load. I figure a case of that plus some 7.5 target load and both the 930 SPX (with a barrel someone gifted me here (thank you BTW) and the 870 for the target loads, I should be GTG.

Yuma on opening day mid-week, I should be alone, or close to it. As long as I don't try to kill myself with the heat - again

Long story - second morning out I sat there facing the sun when it was 90 degrees at sunrise and only had water - nothing else that morning. About 45 minutes late, decided it was time to sit in the truck for a few and cool down(temp gauge showed 100 by then). Twenty minutes in the AC and I tried again. Lasted 15 minutes before deciding to sit in the truck again. Realized at that point my morning was over and after 20 minutes in the AC, packed everything up and headed back to the room.

Got a good recipe?

I used too. I loved it, it was my favorite type of hunting. 15 shells, you better bring home 12 doves.
Then I got to feeling sorry for them. I walked away and have never hunted again.

Sure am!

And yes…as far as recipes are involved if you haven’t had Dove Poppers you haven’t lived.

quote:

Originally posted by RichardC:
Got a good recipe?

After a few tries last year (trust me, we know overcooked Dove breasts is akin to liver), my wife did a Japanese rice flour batter and we did a (350 degree as I recall and; hopefully my thermometer wasn't too far off) 3-4 minute deep fry in a Dutch oven AND;

I did - vegetable, vegetable, thins sliced bacon, breast, bacon, vegetable,vegetable - skewers over very close (Smokey Joe in this case), high heat for 2 - 4 minutes per side (depends on how many sides )

Both versions were AWESOME!!!

Hmmm. I never knew people hunted and ate dove. We have a couple (not as in two but as in a pair) that comes to our house several times a day to drink water from the bath. They are cute how they look out for each other.

I’ve seen pigeon, squab, quail and such on menus. Never dove.

You never hunt something you're not willing to eat - unless you're hunting a killer.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Hmmm. I never knew people hunted and ate dove. We have a couple (not as in two but as in a pair) that comes to our house several times a day to drink water from the bath. They are cute how they look out for each other.

I’ve seen pigeon, squab, quail and such on menus. Never dove.

I doubt you'll see them on many restaurant menus, as you won't squirrel, chucker, bear or any number of game animals that are legally hunted and eaten by many. Dove has a pretty wild taste and it's only the breast that people even attempt to cook. Done right, with proper marinating and sauces they can be quite tasty. A lot has to do how they are handled in the field after harvesting. I always field cleaned them immediately after harvesting. Easy, hold the wings back with one hand, insert a knife under the breast plate, insert your finger and pull it apart. The innards, back bone, legs etc are pulled away, and you're left with the breast and wings which are needed in most states to legally transport them.

I've missed the last two dove seasons, and I'm hopping to join the action this year.

My favorite hunting season but I haven't found a good spot here in Virginia. Cleaning them is easy and no knife is necessary.

My hat is off to the guy who only needed 15 shells to collect 12 doves.
If you are hunting in South Texas, don’t try too hard to lead those crazy flying doves. You’ll tie a knot in your gun barrel and your shells will all evaporate.

Exactly how I clean ‘em.

I seem to recall you posting that you came to the Woodward area to hunt with your buddy? Are you still doing that?

Just curious.
.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
I seem to recall you posting that you came to the Woodward area to hunt with your buddy? Are you still doing that?

Just curious.
.

I wish!!

My buddy may have rubbed some winter wheat the wrong way and; contacts have begun to slip away.

Sharon

Looking forward to it. Counting down the days.

quote:

Originally posted by mutedblade:
My favorite hunting season but I haven't found a good spot here in Virginia. Cleaning them is easy and no knife is necessary.

[FLASH_VIDEO]<iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NzUZzUMWDFk" width="560"></iframe>[/FLASH_VIDEO]

Yes, I've used that method, but in many states you need to have at least one wing attached during transit.

Excellent point! I don’t fully pull the breast, again great follow up.

Hoping to get in on a trip, need to see if anyone from our group is going (6hour drive to our place).
Think I still have a few boxes of 12ga from the last time I went.

I go every year, bird hunting is my favorite kind of hunting. I usually hunt in North Texas and its never been that great for dove, there are far more down south. I've always dreamed of going to Argentina, just to see what non stop shooting would be like.