How are you Dove Hunters doing..??

[QuackR WhackR]

Was out at noon, got my limit and back in time for the FSU game.. Lots of birds..Great shooting... And only used 20 shells..:wav:

Dave

[David B]

First off, Thank you Pinman. I enjoyed the day very much.

I got off a couple of shots. The birds aren't there yet and the wind and rain was tough for the ones who were.

Again
Thanks
David B

[ShotGunED]

We didnt see much either, didnt even get a shot off.

[uncle D]

Got a season permit for Bennett Farm in N Fla.

Was told only 30 permits went out, was not told that an additional 30 were sold to day hunters.

Was told no entry before 12 noon, actually hunters were on field by 11 or so.

Out of three fields, one was the best which was next to a small private plot that hosted about 20 guns. All of S Georgias finest w/ cold beer in hand.

Well, the birds that were making it to the FWC field were intercepted by the Georgia boys.

to be cont.

Duke

[uncle D]

...so, in the beggining I met w/ a few friends that got on the season pass. We had thought of bringing some Bar-be Que for the pre hunt meeting which didn't occur. Well, we ate some Que and suited up. Every other hunter rushed to the field except two others who were debating to hunt at all. Rain was threatening. They (the other two) ended up leaving when it did start raining lightly, after much bemoaning about the crowd and the field conditions.

So, the ones that were in the field started shooting pretty good around 1:00.

The field that was getting the action was seperated by a swollen creek that had to be crossed which was about waist deep.

My friends stayed behind and I crossed. As I made to the field I saw that there were already about 25 people set up. I crossed the field and found a pushed up pile of dead trees from clearing. I set a couple of decoys on a leafless branch and settled down on a heavy log layed horizontal in the pile about 5 feet off the ground. That brings me to the beggining of the story. I was on the west side of the field facing east and the Georgia boy's field was North west of me. They would start wacking which was a cue to get ready for some of the dove would pass the gauntlet. Then as they made our field, the "public" bunch would open up. I managed 2 or 3 when an older, stout gentleman entered the field and made his was to a small oak just off my right side of the dead pile.

The next pair of birds came in and I popped the first and was trying for the second but missed. Watching the tail feathers spin down, I knew I connected on the first bird. I hopped down and rounded the tree pile only to see the older fella putting the bird in his bucket. I ask if he had seen the bird I shot, he said no. I asked are ya sure, because I was pretty sure I got the first from the pair. He said all he saw was one and he hit it.

I let it go.

After a couple more swings and misses, I connected w/ my second shot on a triple that came from my left to right and again the fella behind the wood pile claimed my bird.

A little frustrated, I scornfully said that we were gonna have to call our shots.

One more time a single was coming down the fence line behind me and I connected with my first round only to hear a delayed shot the followed the bird down. As I rounded the wood pile, the fella was making a move to the bird and I asked w/ some anger, "I supposed you shot that one too?"

He replied that he was just backing me up!

Jeeze!

Well I shifted my stand some to the North.

The father and son team just north of me hit a few, and the there was a lull. The father moved to the fenceline and took a set on his bucket. Junior, tweedeling around was pacing back and forth with lack of action carrying his gun with both hnds as he would a shovel. Turning, the gun would be pointed sometimes at me and sometimes at the ground. While scanning the sky, I looked away. Suddenly, junior's gun goes off. Thinking a bird or birds were near, I looked that way.

Junior stood amazed as the ground at his feet smoked. I shouted for him to put on his safety and for his father to pay more attention.

Such are public hunts.

to be continued...

Duke

[Ross R]

I had a good time and got to meet some members in Person. We went to Frog Pond in Homestead. It was pretty slow. I only had a couple birds fly by and of course I missed them.:icon_tong

[N. Cook]

Very pleasant afternoon at Dupuis with my son Corey.....only poor shooting kept us from filling out the limits before we ran out of shells.....several UW-F hats and members around the field.

[uncle D]

...and so it goes. I only write this for reflective laughs. So y'all see the lay of it.

There I was, watching the whole "hunt" go on. there was one group, two adult sons and their father. They had three dove spinners, a group of feeder decoys and four decoys perched on what appeared to be a tv antenna circa 1960. They we hitting a few birds.

Then there was the "Force of Four" at the south end of the field. They were bunched up with a case of shot, literally. A full case and brother let me tell ya, they, all four, would unload on any hapless dove that came within 75 yds from them. Call them the "Guns of Naverrone".

I did witness some of the finest gunning since watching Duck Bone in his swamp.

A fella and his son quietly set up in the middle of the field. Brave indeed, but could he shoot. And his son wasn't bad either. Modestly he sat and would caculate his shot. Politely, he would announce "dove(s) in the field" and allow those to miss, while he watched the bird make it's way. And with a single motion raise up and smoothly dispatch the bird. good shooting.

I also watched another fella along the treeline on the east side, who's mark wasn't as good make up with his second and third shot. The advantage he had was a Springer that was as eager to retrieve as the "Force of Four" were to unload their guns.

All in all, I survived to tell the tale. I'll be back next weekend, hopefully with more luck and patients.

until next time.

Duke

[Steve W]

My opening day was rained out and I had a wedding.

But honestly my spots have not panned out as in past year and we are looking for a place to hunt.

[jeepcj7]

We had a great shoot at a pay hunt. Dad, brother and kids arrived early and had no problem limiting out. I arrived around 3:30 due to kids' basketball games Saturday morning but limited out in 2 hours. Best opening day hunt we've had in several years. Definitely beats the last 2-3 opening day hunts at Frog Pond.

[Dead Ringer]

Pepi and I jumped onto some extra permits that Ross had for Frog Pond. Shot as bad as Anne Frank: 19 shells, hit 2 birds. Man, I suck at hitting dove. Left with a sunburn and a few new friends. Ross, maybe we need to shoot the birds of the clay variety more often!

[over/under]

John, Give me a call if you happen to be passing thru on your way to or from Melborne. I may have a extra permit.

[Pinman]

... I set a couple of decoys on a leafless branch and settled down on a heavy log layed horizontal in the pile about 5 feet off the ground. Duke

What, none on your hat!!??

[Pinman]

First off, Thank you Pinman. I enjoyed the day very much.

I got off a couple of shots. The birds aren't there yet and the wind and rain was tough for the ones who were.

Again
Thanks
David B

Glad you got out there. I hurt my back Friday then my son woke up sick Sat so my hunt was "off". Hope to get out next weekend.

Ron