Dove Advice for Newbies

[Jaybo31]

If the girl in your avatar is going too then you won't kill a single bird so all this advice is moot! Least I wouldn't!

Uuum she IS the girl in her avatar

[justincorbell]

Safety first, plug your gun, be an ethical hunter amd only shoot at flying birds(don't shoot them on the ground/out of trees/fence pine). Just a little time to figure out the lead abd you're good.
B

Don't listen to this guy, you can do what you want........ It is 100% LEGAL to shoot them on the ground, out of tree's and on fence lines.....some people just like to push their "morals" on everyone else......

[justincorbell]

Uuum she IS the girl in her avatar

DOHHH!!!!

[Coach W]

Don't go hunting with this guy

THats what I've learned!!!

I wouldnt shoot em off the perch either... but I'd laugh my *** off at you while you did it!!!

[d1rich1]

Don't listen to this guy, you can do what you want........ It is 100% LEGAL to shoot them on the ground, out of tree's and on fence lines.....some people just like to push their "morals" on everyone else......

My advice is to not read the other dove thread.

[metalmangeorge]

Just hit them like this and you will be good to go.....

[mlmtx01]

Safety first, plug your gun, be an ethical hunter amd only shoot at flying birds(don't shoot them on the ground/out of trees/fence pine). Just a little time to figure out the lead abd you're good.
B

Do you wait for deer to take off running before you shoot at them?

[cosmiccowboy]

Dove hunting is simple. Just point the gun where they are going to be and pull the trigger.

[cosmiccowboy]

If you see birds coming towards you from a ways off, be as still as possible until the instant you shoulder your gun to shoot. I see a lot of guys who when they see doves coming start moving around to get in position, then wonder why so many birds flare before they get into range. They might be dumb early but once the lead starts flying they catch on pretty quick that movement means death!

This

Seriously, doves aren't as hard as everyone makes them out to be. If I don't get a limit with a box of .410 shells it was a poor shooting day.

[Coach W]

Dove hunting is simple. Just point the gun where they are going to be and pull the trigger.

But how do you know which branch they are going to land on?

[big10]

Forget your lead in skeet shooting. To me its a different ballgame than shooting dove. I am a pretty decent shot when it comes to shooting dove. When it comes to skeet, the few times iv done it I couldn't hit anything.

[ZZ Pops]

Plenty advice already about safety and where to sit. You can review the game laws in the TPWD annual -- I suggest you do that to avoid unintentionally breaking the law.

As to the shooting part...If you can shoot skeet, you already know how to hit most birds. The exceptions being those going directly away or coming head on. Just keep your cheek on the stock, focus on the bird, insert the barrel in front of the bird, and pull the trigger as you swing through. Don't worry about missing, the idea is to have fun! Enjoy!!!

[ZZ Pops]

Federal regulation state a fully feathered wing must stay attached to migratory game birds until you reach final destination/home. Dove are a migratory game bird. State GW's rarely if ever check for full feathered wing attached, but federal GW's just might.

Are you sure this is still in effect? I thought it was changed some time ago. I've looked at the regs and don't see where a wing or head must remain attached unless importing the birds.

"§ 20.43 Species identification requirement.
No person shall transport within the United States any migratory game birds, except doves and
band-tailed pigeons (Columba fasciata), unless the head or one fully feathered wing remains
attached to each such bird at all times while being transported from the place where taken until
they have arrived at the personal abode of the possessor or a migratory bird preservation facility." (Italics and bold are mine.)

[ren087]

Enjoy being outside!!!

[Thumper]

I stand corrected.

Does not say except doves in our state hunting booklet. I called on it early this week and was told it still applied by federal regulations per their migratory regulations(she was reading out of our hunting booklet). But I was advised the state on longer enforces this rule.