doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Opening Day Dove Gun

Soon, and very soon, 1 Sept and opening day for Doves

What will y'all be using?

I and my Buds start with 410s
Then I use a different gun each outing

A few years back

410 Tristar Brittany, 410 Fausti , 410 Crescent

Mike

I also start with a .410. In this case Winchester 42 Pigeon grade. Next day Winchester 42 High Grade. Third day Crescent .410 which was my late uncles quail gun. After that it will be which ever gun seems to need getting out. A 37/28ga, any of a dozen 20 side by sides or four or five 20 & 12 hammer guns. Shells all loaded for everything.

My uncle killed more quail with it, than I have Doves in my lifetime and I have killed a decent number. By the end, a case of Polio as a child and arthritis made it hard for him to even walk. Never heard him complain about anything. He refused to even get a handicapped sticker for his car. Shamed a lot of family members into not getting one as well. Worked until he died at 80. Happy to be working, as an accountant. Mind was sharp as a tack, trapped in a body that could not....

Either my Dickinson 30" barreled .410 or the FAIR Iside 30" .410. Haven't decided yet. Dang! ...... the Verona 30" O/U .410 just whispered "Pleeeze". Oh well, it will be a last minute decision, likely. But, one thing for certain ......... it will be one of those three.

11.2 days and life begins again.

SRH

My20 gauge Remington Model 17 30" NO BS full!
We have a s*** load of Eurasian Collared dove at the farm--easy to shoot AND they thud when they hit the ground!

We only are allotted so many opening days--make the most of them with buds and family!!

28 gauge or .410 Silver Pigeon, 28 ga RBL, 20 ga Mod 12 or 20 ga Mod 37 that belonged to my wife's grandfather. Haven't shot that last one at doves for many years. Might be time.

If I have the opportunity to go I won't be shooting a small bore but will instead choose one of the old Damascus guns I've yet to shoot; probably an old Three Barrel Gun Co 12x12x32/40. Who knows when it was last fired, so I think it'd be fun to take it afield.

Ky Jon: "My uncle killed more quail with it, than I have Doves in my lifetime and I have killed a decent number. By the end, a case of Polio as a child and arthritis made it hard for him to even walk. Never heard him complain about anything. He refused to even get a handicapped sticker for his car. Shamed a lot of family members into not getting one as well. Worked until he died at 80. Happy to be working, as an accountant. Mind was sharp as a tack, trapped in a body that could not...."

Many thanks for your comment about your deceased uncle as my spirit is also housed in a body dealing with the impact of Polio from the age of 18 months. He was obviously an inspiration as he struggled to overcome his limitations and present himself as a "normal" man to the rest of the world. At 70 plus now it is becoming more and more difficult to get around (walk); a fact that has made enjoying shooting and hunting a challenge. But like your uncle I've never felt cheated; I've been blessed with a good life, a loving wife, two fine sons, career success; and always managed to find a way (sometimes unorthodox) to do the things I enjoyed most. In reading the various posts to this forum it's clear that there are a fair number of us "old timers" who are also experiencing difficulties from the inevitable impacts of aging and disability; so until that time when we are all called to the great beyond may our minds stay young and active, and may we be a positive example and an encourager to all we know and meet.
Thanks again, Tom

Although it is a 12ga, this is what I will use on opening day.
I am still putting this O/U through its paces and attempting to notch kills among various species. I slayed some wild roosters last fall and am now going to turn my attention toward doves. Doves are not consistently plentiful in large numbers in my area but we always see a few on opening day. The XF rear trigger facilitates connection with the long shots typically encountered.

Be careful not to get any dove blood on that beautiful gun. It�s pretty easy to inadvertently have happen. JMHO.....inspect it closely when done with your hunt

Owen,
I love that forend iron!
Karl

Not going out for the opener for a variety of reasons, but maybe out for the last couple days of the season. If it�s not windy, I�ll use my Browning XS Feather Sporting .410, 30� barrels, M/F, 2-1/2� sporting loads, either AA or Estates. Always satisfying to limit on closing day with a .410. Backup gun will be an 1880s Brit 12ga hammer gun, laminated steel barrels, with old Gamebore 20ga black powder shells in ChamberMates.

Either my Grandfather�s Franchi Eldorado 12 (about the only time it ever gets out is non tox dove day) or my 16 ga Manufrance BLE.

Recoil sensitivity has driven me to a 20ga gas operated Beretta AL2 model 391. Once my shoulder toughens up I'll go to one of the old 12ga sxs guns...Geo

old colonel
Fun gun, had to look that one up
https://www.gunsamerica.com/926260495/Franchi-Eldorado-12-Ga-AAAA-Wood.htm

Dickinson 28 gauge with 30 inch barrels with IC and Mod choke tubes in.

I think the decision is made. Took the Verona and the FAIR Iside to the range yesterday afternoon for 100 sporting clays. Started out with the FAIR, but the barrels got so hot after two stations that I switched to the Verona. Things clicked with it and I ended with a 84 X 100. Same course that I shot 95 X 100 about a week ago with the 12 ga. MX8. Looks like it will be the Verona .410.

I'll be hunting sharptails and partridge, not doves, but will enjoy using a Burrow 12 bore pinfire.

Unfortunately no dove season here in Michigan since 2006. When I start chasing birds, it will be with my Churchill 12 ga. BLE.
20 days until "Grousemas"!
Karl

I�ll run the AYA #2 in 410 opening day, the second day I�ll take out the AYA #1 in 28 gauge . Saturday I�ll run either the RBL 20 or the Rizzini 28.
I need to get in the field work is driving me crazy and today was just a really bad day!

Browning 425 "Miller Special".
28 gauge, 30 inch, Steel shot compatible. Stupid California!

They'll be flying out of almond orchards and vineyards in front of me towards the California Aqua Duct at my back.

What is a Miller Special, Bob?

SRH

Hello Stan.
I hope your family's well.

John Miller of Millers Guns in New Castle Delaware was the 1st to offer long barreled small bore Browning 425�s.
He designed his own engraving pattern and was ordering them several hundred at a time in both right and left hand versions with upgraded wood.
After his second order Browning started producing them and he lost his exclusive.

Long un-ported barrels, flat wide rib (I think 11 mm) and interesting wood.

Arrieta 24 ga

John Boyd

I like that, Bob. Never been a big Superposed fan, but that .410 is super-sweet. I especially like those wide ribs. Truth is, I never met a 30" barreled .410 I didn't like.

My Verona 30" .410 O/U has a very narrow rib, and I shoot it well, but I still favor wider ribs. I have to admit though, it's mostly cosmetic I think, for me. If I do the mechanics of shooting right I hit the bird.

Family is all healthy and well. Thanks for asking.

Best to you, SRH

I covet the Browning 725 Sporting 28 gauge with 32" barrels. I handled a couple at the Grand last year and they were really well balanced.

I will be using my sweet little G2 Bobwhite 28ga for doves and some early prairie chickens here in Kansas. Maybe even a few teal if the opportunity is there.

16 gauge Austrian hammer sxs from the 1920s. A really nice gun I purchased just for dove hunting.

I'm stacking up my gear in the Dining room for this weekend. I'll be there until Monday night, or probably Tuesday morning. It's a bit of a trip for me so appropriate gear for hunting and a restaurant or two are required. I'm stuck on what guns to bring though. I have time to decide. If my 2 1/2" RST 28's come in before Friday my mind will be made up on 1 gun at least.

I had assumed I would shoot my 20 bore Fabbri on the opener, just because I like the gun quite a bit......

But, changing weather forecast look like we have a pretty good chance at thunderstorms tonight, which usually plays ol' Billy Hell with our native bird population. This dried out ranch certainly needs the rain, but even small storms tend to move birds out.....frequent occurrence in my lifetime of Opening Days....We have a pretty regular pattern of early September rainfall in this area over my lifetime, and even longer according to some "older" timers than even me.

I will dig around and get a 20 ga. 30" Browning O/U choked F&F, out to use on the scattered remnants if that scenario comes to pass tomorrow.

Very similar model to Mr. Cash's fine choice. Mine are European versions with nice FIXED choke barrels and very effective 10mm ribs. I have several , and have used them extensively for 28 years now.

Here is hoping for a Great Opening for all of you gentlemen.

This will be my son's first time shooting doves. He and I are planning to use two Parker 16's, but that could change.

Mills
Good shooting to you both, and have a great time. I know I sure enjoyed the outings with my sons before they grew up an moved away; great memories! Tom

A good hunt this afternoon.
Tristar Brittany 410
Only 8 doves because we were RAINED OUT
What joy, what joy
Mike

Ended up using my Model 21 as it turned out a very rainy Day.

Cannot claim much success as I had to cut off while it was still pouring at 0930 to go do some work stuff.

Maybe tomorrow will be an improvement.

Dryer day
A limit of 15 doves
Remington 3200 in 16 gauge

What fun

Mike

Started opening day with a 'Text Alert' at 7:01 a.m. from the NWS - "FLASH FLOOD WARNING is in effect for this area" and boy howdy was it! In and out of the field in the morning between downpours and thunder. I deer hunted once in thunder-snow but never purposely stayed in a cut corn field as the tallest thing in the field while holding a long metal object as lightning tore around. I had supposed that given the lunacy of 2020 something just HAD to be different about opening day, so I ordered this Old Husky 310 from Simpson's as a rainy day gun. As you can see it did the trick, at 7:14 p.m., after everyone else had skedaddled, dove #15 came to hand. One long and memorable Dove Opener. [img:left]http://Dove Opener 2020 - Rain by Doug Fore, on Flickr[/img]

Today
WINDY, LOTS of dust in the air !
15 doves

Browning Superposed RKLT 20 gauge IC/Mod

98 degrees here, YUK

Mike

Doug Fore I can definitely relate to your rain delays since I am only 90 miles northeast of you and dealt with the same weather this week. Finally got out this morning after my bus route was finished to state managed area and found no other hunters there but also over a couple hours only saw a few doves and wasted shots at two of them even though they were out farther than I like to try with my 28ga.
Will try again tomorrow, maybe a different field next time.

Thanks Mike! When I started on this forum I was in my 30's and my 386/15 desk top with an UPGRADED 12 meg of memory was smokin' I could follow direction on image posting back then better as well, unfortunately it's one of those things (no comments please) that appears to be depreciable as I turn toward 60.:/

Mike...that old Photobucket account is maddening with it's watermark.
So, old dog learns new trick and I've updated with Flickr above.
Thanks again!

Byron,

The shots were extra long all day I probably fired the right barrel only half dozen times. I think the guy next to me thought I was using a 'single shot'. Good luck this weekend!

Doug

Showers off and on for the first 3 days here, no meaningful much needed rain,just aggravation.
Town birds, Eurasians and Whitewings in WAVES at my partner's farm near town.
Mourners here at the ranch have been very cooperative..... Good numbers and Easy limits for the whole family.
First 2 days Piotti 28 ga. 20 bore Fabbri yesterday when sky cleared off.
Looks favorable for the weekend......probably hear a bit more shooting then. Really surprised at how few shooters I have encountered since the opener on Tuesday.

They were flying HIGH and FAST today !

If you hit them dead they hit the ground many yards away. AND you better go right then and retrieve it.

15 doves

Browning RKLT Superposed 12 gauge Mod/Full

HOT today, 96+ degrees, YUK, cold front due in next
Tuesday afternoon and maybe all the doves will head south?

Mike

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

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.

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.

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.

That paints a vision of hell!!!

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.

America. Agree with your vision, but in reality it works pretty well over here (usually)...Geo

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 .

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.

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

I'm like GLS on this one; owner marks the stands in advance and a "fairly" honest draw occurs prior to entering the field. I say fairly honest, because it is understood that Mr. Newbern always gets the shade tree. As it should be...Geo

I've never shot doves over a field like those described here. We hunted them in the late afternoons and sometimes dawn over tanks and ponds. I haven't hunted them in decades since, but do any of you dove diehards shoot them at water?

Yes and that is usually a very sporty shoot with late evening birds close but in a hurry. Even sportier is a roost shoot along a thick fence-line grown up in privet. Fast and furious...Geo

It was definitely sporty. Best ponds in KS were between bottomland milo along the Kaw and upland timber where they would roost. Tasty little buggers for sure.

I don't hunt them anymore. Iowa doves just don't do it for me. I saw some last night at a drying waterhole where I was hoping for teal (obviously extinct). I decided not to waste any bismuth 5s on them however, but I thought about it.

I'm glad a couple or a few of the folks admit to a roost shoot now and then. Getting tarred and feathered online by 'sportsmen' is tiny trade off for that true fast and furious wingshooting experience.

Waterhole shooting is part and parcel to West Texas Dove shooting.....it can be as easy or challenging as you choose to make it. Since the water holes are mine , I make the conditions..... I much prefer to ascertain the flight pattern into the water source and set myself up on the flight path into the tank (pond). Much sportier flight shooting, and the doves do not associate the shooting with the waterhole...Birds that are missed or not shot at proceed on to the water and drink unmolested..Therefore you do not run them off for several days with a prolonged shoreline barrage.
.410 dove shooting reputations are easily established on hovering 20 yard doves setting their wings to drink.....
I really prefer the challenge of bird in full flight headed to the waterhole. Averages are lower, but the results much more satisfying.

I frequently shoot windmill holes that could well be the setting for a John Cowan painting.....

Dove shooting is day and night from the days of my youth. When I first became an dove shooting addict, there were a number of soybean and wheat farmers attending the church I attended; and these guys would plant a few acres of millet every year for hay. Dove season was a social event then; men of the church and their sons would be invited. We'd gather about 1:PM for fellowship, then take the field about a hour later; old timers were always given their "spots" and the young folks like me would take whatever was left, but there were always plenty of birds. By the 90's most of these older farmers had retired or died; and since there seemed to be little profit for small time N. GA farmers, most just quit. The guys still farming saw dove fields as another cash drop; some charged for the season, and others by the day. Can't blame them for that as dove fields are an expensive and uncertain proposition; but dove shooting as a community social event died, and what few fields that remained were always too crowded. With so little farming now in the area I grew up, dove numbers are nothing like they once were. In my opinion the Clemson WMA shoot was dangerous; and since so many WMA deer hunts are limited, why not put people limitations on the dove hunt? Shooters were restricted to 50 rounds each by the rules, but I saw several folks sending kids back to the truck for more shells; so clearly that restriction was not being enforced. All of my dove shooting has been limited to N. GA (mostly) and SC; and unless I found doves feeding in ragweed or poke berries, was always around a grain field. My only other "foreign" dove shooting foray was while visiting in Oklahoma where the host handed me a shotgun and we headed out to his water tank. It was a slow afternoon; we saw two doves and I killed them both. Always wanted to try TX and AZ; and if I ever hit the lottery, take a foray to South America. Those trips will likely never happen, but man oh man was I ever privileged to enjoy some great dove shooting as a younger man!

Topgun, I am glad to see you use the phrase "dove shooting" because in 99.9% of the time, there's no hunting for them. Before the perfection of herbicides tailored to eliminate it, some of my most memorable shooting was in cotton fields where goat weed (croton) was rampant. Gil

40+ MPH wind day and DIRT in the air
14 doves
Remington 3200 Mod/Full
Tough day because of the dust and dirt

Mike

skeettx, a gentleman at the range today offered a Remington 3200 o/u for sale. Not a bad price. I'm not an o/u guy; son is. What do you think of that now 50 year old gun?

Mike, We have not yet got that wind system here 4 hours south of you....Birds plentiful , and shooting is easy, but " the winds of change are a' comin'" I fear. thankful for what we have, hopeful for the rest of the season.

Argo44
I like Rem 3200 for target shooting.
They are heavy but reliable.
I made a 16 gauge set of barrels to go with
the 12,20,28, & 410 sets that I have with
one of my 3200s.
Mike

Skeetx; I thought you would wonder what I was up to: The Grandson and I went to The Nebraska Sandhills: We spent the first morning, just "going North" from his uncle's ranch. We saw three Mule Deer Does (Uncle says there are a couple "Nice Bucks" with them, but we didn't see any bucks) We ran across a couple of coyote pups, and one, which my Grandson said we must have woke up, was real close, and looked at us like "Who are THOSE guys?" Anyway, after he looked us over, he trotted off, but not at a high lope. Grandson whistled (how the hell do you spell "Whistle?")at him, and he stopped.
Then, in the afternoon, we hunted Doves. I used a side by side
"Purdey" and it still had it's magic, as once I figured out the lead, just killed every dove on every shot. I had an old box of handloaded 7's (yeah, 7's, not 7 1/2's) they really worked. Anyway, maybe next year .410's...we will see.
Sam Ogle, Lincoln, NE.

Sam, Great news and am pleased all is well with you and yours

No hunt for me today, was 38 degrees and raining, BRRRR

Just got back from Pearsall Tx
Good hunting, great lodge
Highly recommended

Opening day guns

Perazzi Mx8 chokes. Ic/I�m
Beretta S 57e. Ic/mod

John Boyd

What gauge(s) do you use for dove?? RWTF I like the imp.cyl. imp.mod. combo. A fortunate friend has a Churchill XXV bored cyl. right barrel and 1/8th choke left (assume that is Skeet choking? He uses RST 2&1/2" shot shells- lucky guy indeed. RWTF

The Perazzi was a 12 ga. The Beretta was a 20 ga. The woman who I was shooting with had a 28 ga. I was going to take my 24 ga but could not locate it.

John

08 Sept 20 NO HUNT 46 degrees, raining and windy
09 Sept 20 NO HUNT Rain
10 Sept 20 NO HUNT 38 degrees and rain
11 Sept 20 15 doves American Arms Brittany 20 gauge

Shot in front of the ranch Headquarters this afternoon. Late returning from town, saw lots of Mourners trading over the Hdq. to a standing wheat field behind the house.
Shot a limit , but paid the price in shells expended.... had one gun , an open choked Piotti 28 ga. in the house... short of daylight.... I was a bit undergunned, but put a limit down .... the average suffered...
these look like new migrants.....
Up in the morning to try the Teal opener, spotted 30+ on one duck hole driving in this afternoon.

Today an L.C. Smith Quality 3 made in 1893, fitted with Briley 20 gauge tubes. The doves were fast but the Smith was faster

Mike

Glad to hear you still have Birds up in the Panhandle.

Waves of new migrants are here on the Southern Rolling Plains. I had rapid shooting yesterday afternoon. I shot a 30" FN D5G 20 bore O/U with fine success on passing birds. 7/8 oz. 8's
Sun is breaking on the Eastern sky....Heading out the door to shoot a field of wheat and native sunflowers I scouted after finishing yesterday.

Sounds like you guys in the South and Southwest have it good on the dove shooting!

I headed to South Idaho for the first time ever to hunt doves with a friend and we hunted mainly Russian Olive windrows that bordered cut wheat stubble. Day one was decent (best day ever for me), but not nearly the volume you guys see, with the second day a bit sketchy, where we scratched down 14 birds.

Over the two days, I shot a 20 ga Fox Sterlingworth, a Remington 1900 in 16 ga and a 16 ga Belgian O/U.

More often than not, here in N ID, the temperatures have dropped by opening day to where there aren't many, if any, doves that haven't migrated out.

14 Sept 20 15 doves Liegeous D�Arms A Fue 16 O/U, (1927) Herter�s #6

15 Sept 20 15 doves Belgian GECO (1945) 16 ga SXS 2 1/2" ammo

My afternoon on "seasoned" Mourners was my first foray into the field with a F&F 12 Bore..... I am reminded to "USE Enough Gun"
(NO Dangerous Game Involved) but it was the right tool for a limit on wind blown Mourners ....more outside 40 yards than inside ......

16 Sept 20 15 doves Krieghoff Drilling 16 ga 2 1/2" ammo

Under barrel is 8x57R .318 Sure is HARD to get used to side safety and not barrel selector

17 Sept 20 15 doves, Helice French 12ga SXS 2 1/2" ammo

Two weeks plus into the season, and still have good numbers of mourning doves across the ranch....
Bought a new (to me) 16 bore gun from a member here this week. Got it in yesterday and put it to work on birds trading across the ranch headquarters leaving the fields below. Took a limit in good order, nice gun.
I may try to get a pic posted that I took with birds and gun to send to the seller.

skeettx,
If you mix up the selector and safety, the 8x57IR will kill a dove, and you won't have to lead it as far. All joking aside, it won't take long until the safety feels natural to you.
Mike

Mike

Thanks

Krieghoff Semper Drilling

This is the only side safety gun that I have and it is a fun gun to shoot.
I load 2 1/2 hulls with 7/9 ounce of shot and
use S&B rifle ammo as it is cheaper than buying bullets (go figure)

Mike

p.s. 18 Sept 20 15 doves, Zamacola Sidelock 12 Ga. SXS