Mike: Congratulations on being invited to dove hunt. But watch out, it can be addictive!

Actually, doves aren't that tough, and aren't that particular about what they're shot with. Your 12 gauge is fine, and the 26 inch barrel is plenty long with a long-receivered automatic. Assuming it uses interchangeable choke tubes, use the one that gives you an IMP to MOD pattern (which won't necessarily be the one that is so marked, try them on paper first). If you need a full choke, you're standing in the wrong place.

I prefer a 28 gauge with 8 or 9 shot, with which I seem to down them just as well and at just as long a range as when I shoot a larger gun with larger shot. I really believe that the differences in shot size and charge are mostly psycological when it comes to doves; if you point the gun in the right place and pull the trigger at the right time, they're going to fall. Of course, that's a big "if".

Begging to differ with some learned others, I think that going larger than about 7 1/2 shot reaches the point of diminishing returns, since a pattern of #6's gets to have a lot of dove-sized holes out at the ranges where a #6 is more effective than a #7 1/2. Most doves downed beyond 40-45 yards with large shot are the result of just a hit or two with a stray pellet, and are rarely kills, but just broken wingers that have to be run down (provided you can find them) after they flutter a hundred or so yards to the ground, making you look like the Keystone Kops chasing Charlie Chaplin. Another problem is that large shot has the disadvantage of chewing up a lot of meat.

High velocity is NOT important. Your actual lead (that's how far in front to aim -- not a soft, heavy metal used in projectiles) requirements are insignigicantly different with an 1150 fps skeet load and a 1350 fps "high brass" load. Do your shoulder and your wallet a favor and buy the plain-jane standard velocity loads. Good target shells like AA's will more than pay the difference in the cost if you reload or know someone who does. Otherwise, even the WallyWorld promo shells are about 99% as effective as the best when it comes to dropping a dove in the dirt.

I know my advice seems at odds with some others, and I harbor no ill will toward someone who thinks differently, but I'm in my sixth decade and have been hunting doves passionately since early in my second. I've been all though the cycle of blaming poor shooting on "sissy loads" and have crammed ever more shot and ever more powder into shells trying to compensate for days that the birds just didn't fall. About 20 years ago it finally dawned on me (after going to progressively smaller and lighter shotguns) that it's "where" you shoot and not "what" you shoot that makes all of the difference. As my good friend who is also a sporting goods retailer observed a long time ago, so long as you're halfway reasonable about the distance, "if you shoot where the dove is, it's gonna fall".

As to drinking beer while dove hunting, I have to agree with Gato that it's a matter of personal responsibilty, not Puritanism, image projection, or legalities. Do as he says and save your beer until the hunt is near the end. Do this primarily because drinking earlier is dehydrating, and if you're foolish enough to drink enough to impair your performance or judgement, shame on you. I not only don't like to hunt with excessive drinkers, I don't even like to drink with execessive drinkers! Now, what Gato has failed to point out is that while doves can (and should) be shot with a limited and judicious consumption of brew, post-hunt CLEANING of doves requires a substantial supply of beverage, so don't go undersupplied!

Go for it Mike! there's not much more fun to be had with a gun outside of Iraq.

Just to split a bunch of hairs Stonecreek, I find the number of pin feathers in thawed birds to be directly proportional to the amount of beverage consumed so you might want to slow down 'till after the birds are clean

Second, I agree everthing you said about guage and shot as long as we're talikng mourning dove. Mike, carry some 1-1/4 oz #7 or #6 heavy dove loads just in case you get into a bunch of indigenous Whitewing dove. (These fly differently than the migrating Whitewing people shoot in Mexico) They fly faster, higher and are bigger and tougher to knock down than the little mourning doves and the extra punch helps me a lot. Like Stonecreek, I would use the cheapy promotional 1 oz loads otherwise. Personnaly I've come to like the Estate brand but they all work more or less the same.

Fine, Gato; to each his own. Got no critcism of "hundred yard" shotgunning, but it does sound a lot like those guys who sit on top of a mountain with a .50 BMG bench gun and snipe at elk in the thousand yard range. Besides, who wants to trudge a hundred yards in Texas heat to pick up your birds?



Shooting doves with goose loads at 80 yards seems kinda like using 20 lb test to fish for 10 ounce rainbows: It can be done and you certainly won't break your line if you hook one, but in most instances it's a handicap and limits your enjoyment and total take. If there are birds around, I'll get my limit with my "tea cup" shotgun, as opposed to your "beer stein" blunderbuss.



Tiger: If you'll save enough of that beer for when you go to eat the doves, then the amount of pin feathers won't matter.

Assuming you can safely operate a stove at that point

I once took my big box of leftover 12 ga shells to South Tex just to burn 'em up and make room in the bullet closet. It was the proverbial 25 years of emptying pockets of onezies-twozies after trips for everything from quail to hogs; about 45 lbs of 7-1/2, 6, 4, BB, 00 Buck; you name it. (I did try to pick most of the slugs out).

My friends (safely away from my location) said it sounded pretty odd... boom, boom, BANG, pop, pop, BOOM.

Only lost one bird to meat damage and I think it was with a single 00 ball. The moral (eventually)is big shot works fine but don't expect to want anything against your shoulder for about a week!

John:

The ONLY advantage to smaller shot, like I tried to get 323 to use, is for birds at close or very close ranges which allows the use of more open chokes giving the shooter more room for pointing error. Day in, day out, take what comes at whatever range you can take it at, there is NO DOUBT that larger shot sizes are superior. I know that you, as I have, have seen it proven day in, day out on earred doves and pigeons. It is a fact.

I'm not going to argue the point further, those of us who've been there and done that KNOW that big or bigger shot, depending on the species being hunted gets the job done better and farther. 'Sta.

The guys I'm hunting with including me use Improved Cylinder so you might want to take that with you. I gurantee you that you will be going to buy more ammo after tommorrow cause you will be hooked

Well at least you are honest.....

Ok, now repeat after me, MORE OPEN CHOKE (skeet, or Improved Cylinder) and 9s. It'll at least double your kill ratio, not that that will give you bragging rights.

Hey guys I appreciate all the reply's and as far as the beer thing I don't drink but once or twice a year on a good year and it sure wouldn't be when I have a gun in my hands. I went ahead after talking to my wifes uncle about this also and screwed in the modified choke and I got 2 boxes of 7 1/2's and 2 boxes of 6's he recommended the 7.5's and my buddy recommended the 6's. Tomorrow's the big day so I'm hoping to hit at least one so we'll see.... lol

I think the biggest thing that might help me is actually trying to aim. I noticed alot of the time when I first started I wasn't aiming. I was just pointing and shooting. Its just hard for me to get used to using the long gun. I've been on a handgun kick for the last couple of years for all of my squirrel and deer hunting and bringing the stock up to my shoulder aiming and such realy was difficult as my bruised shoulder can atest. But it was a good time. My buddies son used my fullchoked 20 gauge with 8's man can that boy shoot he did really well. All in all a good time was had by all.

Yeah well I'm hooked I think that was about the most fun I've ever had. Of course I can honestly say that out of alomst two boxes of shells I shot I only had 2 confirmed kills. Didn't realize those little buggers flew so fast... lol I don't feel bad about it either cause for my first time out compaired to some of the experienced guys I did pretty good or so they tell me... lol Lets just say I'm not the only one with a whole lot of misses...