Stan, last year I hunted a farm nearby that had pigeons mixed in with the doves. So I pocketed a few #6. The doves were thick as flys at the dump.
Me and my Bud would pick long shots to break up the action.
Shooting over decoys usually with a combination of a few on a pole and some set up floaters and mojos along with a scattering of decoys spread out on the ground.
My friend is a Pigeon Shooter so he usually likes to show off on some long shots,
Winter doves here can be fairly bigger with more feathers so a heavy 7 1/2 with max load helps get the job done. Plus you don't have to worry about the occasional pigeon.
We had doves here late August before the season, damn hurricane run them off. So far only a few here and there and no big concentration.
Alot of farmers have cut their fields but very few doves.
Do doves like soybeans?
