Dove Hunt - Need your Advice

[Bob J]

I've been invited to go dove hunting by a friend who is a cattleman. Its going to be one of those all day "shoot skeet in the AM - high noon BBQ - afternoon shoot birds" events on a ranch with cattlemen, cowboys and who knows, maybe some dignataries. I haven't dove hunted in years and....you know what I'm thinking :winking:
Do I take the trusty old 12 ga. dbl breechloader? OR do I take the 10 ga.Pedersoli? The only loads I've developed for the muzzleloader is a full-power turkey load, and you know I'd be the ONLY one there shooting blackpowder :shocked2: :hmm:

 

[Rebel]

And the only one there having a Really good time of it. Try 1 1/8 oz of # 7 1/2 or 8 shot over 75-80 grs of 2f powder. I found that i did a lot better on doves with my Navy Arms double barrel .12 than i did with my Mossberg pump with chokes.

 

[jethro224]

Whatever you decide, it's gonna be fun! :thumbsup:

 

[shmrck1]

Dixie Flinter,
My thinking is since you are an
invited guest, what is everyone else using.
If no one else is using B/P leave your Pedersoli
in the trunk and go with the 12ga sxs. Pay
particular attention to what your host is
hunting with. To me this is like hunting
etiquete(sp). :hmm:
snake-eyes :v

 

[Bob J]

snake-eyes- I'm kind of a "guest-of-a-guest". He's doesn't shoot or hunt and the owner said he could bring someone who does. I'll probably get less birds than those shooting modern, but thought it be fun to try it anyway. Don't see how it would upset anyone shooting a blackpowder shotgun... but if you think there's a downside

 

[jethro224]

I don't know about a down-side but there is a down-wind-side that might bother a few people. :grin:

Bring 'em both and talk it over with the host before the shoot. He might even be interested in giving it a try himself. Might get a convert...

 

[paulvallandigham]

The only downside would be if you all have to stand very close together, and there is little or no wind. Then, the smoke from the BP shotgun will irritate the other shooters. On a windy day, the only thing that will bother them is the roar of the gun, and that 3 foot flame coming out the muzzle. Ignore them. They are just jealous because your gun sound louder than theirs does!

I would make sure I moved away from the other shooters by at least 50 yds, so I would not have to compete with their repeaters, and would not have to deal with game hogs. Dove don't seem to stay very gunshy if they have been shot at and missed. They seem to fly around in a big circle and come right back at you along the same path they chose the first time. If you miss, reload, and get ready for another shot opportunity.

Dove will follow the slightest dip in the ground when they enter a field, so look for a small depression in the field and set up there. This can be merely a run-off swale in the field, and if you are sitting on the upper end of it, you will have birds fly within range.

 

[Bob J]

Rebel - Thanks for the load info.
Snake-eyes and jethro224 - you're right, I'm going to bring both shotguns and hunt with the ML if the owner is cool with it.
Paul - thanks for the good dove huntin' tips

Will let you all know how it goes :hatsoff: