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Joined: Jan 2002
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,149 Likes: 1147 |
I knew you were capable of a 15/15, Paul. That's why it was so easy for me to misunderstand it. But there's nothing shabby about a 88% average on doves! That's not but about six or seven times the national average which, they say is 7-8 shots per dove bagged. Can't go until Saturday, Paul. I'll be thinking about you.
Best .........
May God bless America and those who defend her.
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1 member likes this:
John Roberts |
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Joined: Nov 2015
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 598 Likes: 30 |
Not good here in SE ND. Lucky to find a field with more than 50 feeding. Few short tailed young seen and birds seem leery of decoys. Getting a bit late for new arrivals from the north?
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,149 Likes: 1147
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,149 Likes: 1147 |
Shot a little sunflower field this afternoon with about six friends. Three of us limited. Dove numbers were much lower, and the ones that came in were much warier and required shooting at longer distances than previously this season. I am trying a new tactic to improve my self control in refraining to shoot low percentage shots. I took only one box of shells with me today. I was shooting my FAIR Verona 30" barreled 28 ga. with 3/4 oz. WW AA loads of 7 1/2s. Knocked down a limit but it took 3 hours to do so. Not a lot of birds flying today, and I was being a bit "choosy".
Much more challenging shooting than the previous two outings. No pics today ............ sorry.
May God bless America and those who defend her.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 301 Likes: 76
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 301 Likes: 76 |
Well.... Stan, it was 3 hours..... but the alternative is ......? glad you stuck it out and got a limit..... Just to offer a "contrarian" line of thought..... when birds are scarce , I resort to a different tactic.....bigger gun/shell/choke combination, and reach down in my "shooting tool bag " and try any reasonable chance , calling on a confidence that it takes a bit to bring out...but I tell myself I have done this shot before, let's see if I can pull it off again.... Days like you experienced today make me recall so many shoots with my fine friend and mentor who disdained small bore guns for just that reason..... he wanted to feel he had the best tool for any opportunity that presented itself. It proved to be a theory well based in experience.....There is some real satisfaction in a bag limit taken when the conditions are Tough. Congrats on yours today.
Last edited by mel5141; 09/18/21 10:25 PM. Reason: spelling
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2 members like this:
John Roberts, Stanton Hillis |
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86 |
I think Paul meant he got his 15 bird limit without mentioning shells fired, Stan. But, I could be wrong. JR After rereading it I think you're right, John. My mind put an "s" on the end of "shot", and assumed he limited himself to 15 shells. Thanks for the correction. I'm glad you cleared your mind....
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,149 Likes: 1147
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,149 Likes: 1147 |
Agree completely on the "bigger gun/shell/choke combination" in times of scarce birds, Paul. But ......... (there's always that "but") I need to have some clue beforehand that will be the case. And, I didn't today. I was advised earlier of a scouting report by the owner that "the field was wrapped up with birds" a couple of days before, and equipped myself accordingly. Regardless, there is wisdom in your contrarian line of thinking, and I make full use of it in the late season when the birds are predictably scarcer here, and shots are longer. I guess you could say I got blindsided this afternoon. However, in the end, 15 doves did too.
I could kill a limit with a 12 ga. easier, faster, and usually with less shells. But, I just enjoy the challenge of the smallbores early in the season. Had I taken my Beretta 687 20 ga. today I could have been sitting in the shade guzzling a cold Lipton Citrus flavored Green Tea an hour earlier. The verdict is ....... I'm a hopeless dove nut, and a smallbore nut ............. but, I'm as happy as a man with good sense.
May God bless America and those who defend her.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 301 Likes: 76
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 301 Likes: 76 |
I understand your "affliction" (small bores) and "convictions" completely , Stan. I am out the door for a Morning shoot on a field scouted just last evening......I have in mind a stand that should , if they fly as I predict, be able to set up to shoot passing birds entering the field without the use of Mojo toys to slow or turn them.... Shots I really like to try....gun is a 20 bore 28" SxS IM/F. Time and experience in the field and on the pattern plate (pretty extensive testing) tell me I have a gun shell combo that is @95% reliable at 39 yards and 44 yards. Percentages naturally go way down when you push the limits of the combo, but making some memorable shots to fill a limit that might otherwise be unobtainable is a big part of the satisfaction I get from Dove shooting. Plus there is just the pure Joy I get from using that "little" gun. I really LIKE it.
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1 member likes this:
Stanton Hillis |
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,149 Likes: 1147
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,149 Likes: 1147 |
Go get 'em, Paul. I'll be with you "in spirit" .......
May God bless America and those who defend her.
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 390 Likes: 8
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 390 Likes: 8 |
Finally went out Sunday morning for a short 1.5hr hunt. Not a lot of birds, but came home with 8 birds, 2 pigeon. The RBL 20 gauge worked perfectly, however, I think a couple of those Remington gun club load had no shot in them. LOL!
Rich
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Stanton Hillis |
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Joined: Mar 2002
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,718 Likes: 479 |
I’d rather spend two or three hours with a nice small bore double or pump, getting a limit, than an hour getting an easier limit with a 12 bore. When you are in the zone with a .410 or 28, ranges which Dove can cleanly be killed, will make you feel great about your shooting ability. 30 yards seems like easy Skeet field shots and 35 yard shots are solid kills. Past that my skills with a .410 tend to Peter out like my patterns.
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1 member likes this:
Stanton Hillis |
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