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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,522 Likes: 167
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,522 Likes: 167 |
They were flying different direction today as the winds have shifted.
Not as hot only 93 degrees.
15 doves
Browning Citori 16 gauge with Skeet and Skeet choke tubes in
Mike
Last edited by skeettx; 09/05/20 08:53 PM.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 301 Likes: 76
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 301 Likes: 76 |
Boy, did I get surprised , field that I rode by yesterday morning ( horseback, we are shipping yearlings) was full of birds.... My young family companion and I were in place at 4:00 pm today.We sat inactive for 30 minutes and then had sporadic shooting at scattered , indifferent birds, mostly passing over, not intent on feeding. I scratched down a limit, ( very mediocre shooting, and that may be a generous description). Hard to explain.....I took my young man to a water hole where he finished out a limit....Browning/FN D5G 30" 20 bore. Fine gun, poor operator today.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 301 Likes: 76
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 301 Likes: 76 |
Shot on my driveway (literally) this morning.....Frequent spot I hunt when I want to expend minimal effort....Birds trade over the headquarters from a large mesquite roost area to a wheat field behind the house....No companions today, everyone slept in. First time I felt like I could shoot really well all season (coming off a cataract surgery that has proved to be a lot less beneficial than I was promised by the Optical Clinic.)
Killed the first 11 straight with two true doubles in the mix... Missed the 12th then ran them out including a fine second barrel kill. 3 shells more than a limit......way the best shooting of the season for me. Browning 325 20 bore , fixed choke Euro version IC (.10) and IM (.20) I have several other 28" and 30" 20's.For 27 years these guns have proved to be far and away my highest averaging tools, fool that I am, I still romance some more exotic or expensive version...... Slow learner I am.
Last edited by mel5141; 09/06/20 11:49 AM. Reason: spelling
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,190 Likes: 15
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,190 Likes: 15 |
Hadn't been to an opening day dove shoot since moving from GA to SC in 2012, so decided to try a WMA management hunt near Clemson, SC. When I found the location vehicles were lining the roadway and the parking area was full. The fields were sunflower and millet, and there were check stations at the entry points to both fields. Thought the sunflower field with the power line near the wood line might be a good spot; but noticing 75-80 hunters already waiting at the gate figured it'd best to take a wait and see approach as I knew I couldn't outrun the mob. When the horn sounded at noon it was literally a 100 yard dash to the power lines, so I waited to see where everyone settled and took what appeared to be a safe spot near the road. Birds weren't flying in my patch of sunflowers; but with maybe 200 shooters scattered about, whenever a bird dared enter the field it sounded like a fire-fight and it wasn't uncommon to hear 30-45 shots at a single bird. Didn't see many escape the gauntlet; but it was clear a firearms forensic expert would be required to determine which shooter actually got the bird. Finally got tired of the heat and boredom of no birds about 4:PM and returned home with clean bores. The best thing about this experience was that no one had been shot when I left; and the second best thing is that this will be my first and last WMA shoot. One interesting aspect of the hunt was that biology students from Clemson University were there collecting wings for study; and also looking to find birds they'd trapped and banded this past spring. I do know of one banded bird shot near by.
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Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 269 Likes: 56
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 269 Likes: 56 |
That paints a vision of hell!!!
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,190 Likes: 15
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,190 Likes: 15 |
It was a REAL interesting experience. You'd think game and fish would limit hunter numbers, but it was open to all comers with a shotgun and a license (I was actually told attendance this year was down from last!). Wardens were there checking licenses and sent a few folks home with citations for failing to purchase a WMA permit. When they checked me I was asked if my gun was plugged? I said yes sir; both barrels! When I pulled out my license he said; don't bother, I can tell you're old enough.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,698 Likes: 99
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,698 Likes: 99 |
That paints a vision of hell!!! America. Agree with your vision, but in reality it works pretty well over here (usually)...Geo
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Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 269 Likes: 56
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 269 Likes: 56 |
To be fair it reminds me of a morning wildfowling on the Solway in the late 70`s during the Christmas holidays .People jumping out of cars on the public road ,shooting at out of range geese in thick fog !!! Idiocy occurs everywhere .
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,693 Likes: 450
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,693 Likes: 450 |
That is why I grow my own. Even with the headaches. One nearby state dove field is known by the name of the Zoo. And for good reason. Think about 40 acres of food surrounded by 200 plus hunters who can setup where they like. Last year one fellow was injured by low shot. Few years ago game warden caught multiple hunter who jumped the gun by two plus hours. Idiots buy a hundred pack and shoot them all.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,076 Likes: 441
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,076 Likes: 441 |
I can't imagine going to a public dove hunt as you described near Clemson. I appreciate a landowner who will either by his choice or through lottery assign stands that are numbered at a specific location. I used to hate showing up for a private shoot and it be every man for himself as to locations. Nothing worse than a LeMans start for positions or some setting out their dove stool the night before and claiming the spot because "that's where my stool is." Gil
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