Dove Hunting with the King

[SaturatedShadow]

Our annual Labor Day dove hunt took place this week. Despite intermittent rain Monday morning the birds were flying well. We had about a dozen hunters scattered around the wheat field and we ended up bagging over a hundred birds combined.

I was set up across from Grandpa's deer stand and the one big tree on the hilltop. They tend to fly between that tree and the woods behind me.

The warm season grass got hayed this year, so downed birds were easy to find.

The whole shooting area

I used my single shot again this year. Hunting dove with a single shot adds a whole new dimension of fun to the sport; shooting and getting your gun loaded again before the next bird gets into range, knowing you have to make your shot count because you won't have a second chance. (Actually, I did manage to knock feathers off one bird, reload, and take it down with a second shot. Never say it can't be done.)

Of course, I brought along my bottle kit and BK-9.

The BK-9 is a fine tool for chopping off wings and heads before breasting the birds.

 

[zakjak221]

Looks like ya'all did good.
We haven't seen a lotta doves here in Southern Illinois--weather changes?
Good times indeed--Didn't see a cooler tho?

 

[TBL]

mmmm birdies.

BBq at your place?

 

[trailbum]

Looks like a great time.

 

[22-rimfire]

I mostly see doves in my back yard. Have never hunted them, but I know it is a fast shooting sport. Sounds like you had a good day and a lot of fun.

 

[Ethan Becker]

Looks to have been a great day afield......... I like the single shot idea but, I may lack the confidence!.......when is dinner?......

Ethan

 

[Lawrence Helm]

Looks like it was fun, and I miss that. I had some good times dove-hunting in Arizona years ago -- just trying to remember which shotgun I used -- a S&W semiautomatic I think; which is the opposite of doing it with a single-shot. I have an over-under and must have used it a bit, but it was bone-jarring -- affects your aim after a while; so I suspect I preferred the S&W.

Lawrence

 

[shandrydan1]

Looks like fun! Is that a New England single?

 

[TMHunt]

I saw the title of this thread and expected to see you and Elvis out hunting together.

 

[SaturatedShadow]

Looks like ya'all did good.
We haven't seen a lotta doves here in Southern Illinois--weather changes?
Good times indeed--Didn't see a cooler tho?

We've had a good number of dove this year. In fact, even though it turned cold today, they're still flying.

mmmm birdies.

BBq at your place?

Looks like a great time.

I mostly see doves in my back yard. Have never hunted them, but I know it is a fast shooting sport. Sounds like you had a good day and a lot of fun.

It was indeed a great time.

 

[SaturatedShadow]

Looks to have been a great day afield......... I like the single shot idea but, I may lack the confidence!.......when is dinner?......

Ethan

Honestly, we never eat dove. We eat everything else we hunt, but no one in my family likes dove, and they end up giving them all away. I took one mess home this year that we'll eat. I've never cooked dove. I may have to get some tips from you at the gathering.

 

[SaturatedShadow]

Looks like it was fun, and I miss that. I had some good times dove-hunting in Arizona years ago -- just trying to remember which shotgun I used -- a S&W semiautomatic I think; which is the opposite of doing it with a single-shot. I have an over-under and must have used it a bit, but it was bone-jarring -- affects your aim after a while; so I suspect I preferred the S&W.

Lawrence

Yeah, with certain loads a single shot can be brutal. When I first got that gun, I immediately took it out back to pattern it with 3 inch turkey loads. I shot one round. I bought a recoil pad the next day.

Looks like fun! Is that a New England single?

Sure is.

 

[SaturatedShadow]

I saw the title of this thread and expected to see you and Elvis out hunting together.

. He couldn't make it this year.

 

[Guyon]

Honestly, we never eat dove. We eat everything else we hunt, but no one in my family likes dove, and they end up giving them all away. I took one mess home this year that we'll eat. I've never cooked dove. I may have to get some tips from you at the gathering.

I wrap them in bacon and then grill them. Sometimes I add a jalapeño slice. When the bacon get crisp all the way around, the dove is done.

 

[JGorman]

I wrap them in bacon and then grill them. Sometimes I add a jalapeño slice. When the bacon get crisp all the way around, the dove is done.

^^^ This, just add cream cheese. Great for ducks too.

 

[SaturatedShadow]

I wrap them in bacon and then grill them. Sometimes I add a jalapeño slice. When the bacon get crisp all the way around, the dove is done.

That's the method I've been told before. Seems pretty popular. I'll probably try it.

Do you remove the meat from the breastbone?