Dove Hunting in the US

[Hunt anything]

Interesting.

As #9 shot and hybrids for a while were a "rage". Then not so much. Seems #7, #7
Several hunters that I know that reload shotgun shells, along with a few muzzleloading shotgunners have tried #9, and #9 + #7, 7-1/2, and/or #8 shot (Combination Hybrid loads). They all seem to have a concensus that #9 shot does too much damage, destroys, and] allows too many wounded birds to fly off and die, not being recovered. They have since gone back to their respective favorite load of #7, #7-1/2, or #8.

I keep my shots between 20 and 35 yds. Late in the year I’ll switch to 1 oz 7 1/2 high brass or if a lot of WW or EC doves are using the field. I generally kill between 150 - 200 doves a year and maybe 1 or 2 are shot up too much to eat and mostly my fault for taking a shot that’s too close. All are shot with my Savage 20 O/U. This what works best for me.
Many of the birds I see dusted are shot with light dove and quail loads. As someone else said the ammunition manufacturers best friend.

 

[Zinz]

Absolutely going out on Opening Day; probably somewhere here in Central Texas

Just got this Belgian Guild 16ga hammergun to add some spice to the hunt

Ed Z

 

[Ridge Runner]

I keep my shots between 20 and 35 yds. Late in the year I’ll switch to 1 oz 7 1/2 high brass or if a lot of WW or EC doves are using the field. I generally kill between 150 - 200 doves a year and maybe 1 or 2 are shot up too much to eat and mostly my fault for taking a shot that’s too close. All are shot with my Savage 20 O/U. This what works best for me.
Many of the birds I see dusted are shot with light dove and quail loads. As someone else said the ammunition manufacturers best friend.

Your choice of using a 20 gauge and choke could also be a factor limiting the amount of damage, number of wounded, and lost birds.

Most of us use 12 gauges with modified chokes and BP 10 gauges with open barrels and respectively light moderate and medium moderate powder charges. Those using BP 20 gauges, or equivalent, have long 30+" to 40", "swamp" barrels.
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About 3 or 4 years ago invited deer hunting buddy's 7 or 8 year old grandson on a dove hunt. The grandson had a single shot 410 he shot his first dove, and later that season his first squirrels with it. The next season and since when he is with me he gets to use a 28 gauge semi auto.

Yes....I will admit that that little 28 gauge is fun to use and I do use it occasionally for dove and small game.

I nor anyone that I dove hunt with has ever tried #9 shot in either of those two forementioned gauges.

Sudden thought....

Considering: closer shot ranges, less powerful, less number of pellets, the 410 and 28 gauges might work better using #9 shot.

Has any member used or know anyone that uses a 28 gauge for dove hunting?

What size shot is used?

At what distances?

 

[Doubleplay]

Your choice of using a 20 gauge and choke could also be a factor limiting the amount of damage, number of wounded, and lost birds.

Most of us use 12 gauges with modified chokes and BP 10 gauges with open barrels and respectively light moderate and medium moderate powder charges. Those using BP 20 gauges, or equivalent, have long 30+" to 40", "swamp" barrels.
_____________________________________________

About 3 or 4 years ago invited deer hunting buddy's 7 or 8 year old grandson on a dove hunt. The grandson had a single shot 410 he shot his first dove, and later that season his first squirrels with it. The next season and since when he is with me he gets to use a 28 gauge semi auto.

Yes....I will admit that that little 28 gauge is fun to use and I do use it occasionally for dove and small game.

I nor anyone that I dove hunt with has ever tried #9 shot in either of those two forementioned gauges.

Sudden thought....

Considering: closer shot ranges, less powerful, less number of pellets, the 410 and 28 gauges might work better using #9 shot.

Has any member used or know anyone that uses a 28 gauge for dove hunting?

What size shot is used?

At what distances?

I shot doves with a 28 gauge and pick my shots carefully and don’t sky bust. It’s more than enough gun for doves.

 

[Doubleplay]

For me and my son season started early in Bloemfontein South Africa two days ago. We shot close to 40 doves in an hour and quit.
We could have shot a lot more.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I shot doves with a 28 gauge and pick my shots carefully and don’t sky bust. It’s more than enough gun for doves.

What size shot do you use?

 

[HankBuck]

Interesting.

As #9 shot and hybrids for a while were a "rage". Then not so much. Seems #7, #7-1/2, and #8 are back on top for dove and quail.

Several hunters that I know that reload shotgun shells, along with a few muzzleloading shotgunners have tried #9, and #9 + #7, 7-1/2, and/or #8 shot (Combination Hybrid loads). They all seem to have a concensus that #9 shot does too much damage, destroys, and] allows too many wounded birds to fly off and die, not being recovered. They have since gone back to their respective favorite load of #7, #7-1/2, or #8.

@Ridge Runner - is it just Me or does anyone else think that we (AfricaHunting.com) might tend to “Over analyize” just a bit TOO MUCH. Maybe it’s that Safari Season is Not yet in full swing? So Now, we’ve got to develop the Perfect Dove load? Because a bird that weighs 5 ozs and is protected by a “puff” of Downey Feathers must be approached with caution. [[ I‘m actually quilty of doing the same thing !!]]

 

[BB416]

Here in central NC, we have had a social opening day hunt at a friends farm for about 20 y. Usually hunt opening day with a 28 ga W. Richards loaded with 3/4 oz #8. This year will be trying my new Stephen Grant 12 ga sidelever with 1 oz # 8. A typical setup for me on opening day:

 

[Altitude sickness]

Hank, what else are we going to blame it on when it takes so many shells to

 

[Philip Glass]

In about a month, I’ll be back in Seymour, Texas hunting doves with my buddy @Jeff505 and several more friends. The early dove season is the start of our high social season. This year, I’ll take my tried and true Winchester Model 101 12 gauge, and a newly acquired Rizzini BR 550 side by side 20 guage that I bought at the Tulsa gun show in April. As I get older, the joy of hunting with real friends becomes more important than the bag. However, I’m expecting a fantastic shoot this year. Seymour has already exceeded its annual rainfall average! There’s plenty of grain and seeds.

Anyone else planning to shoot “at” doves in a few weeks?

Y'all with slaughter them up there!
We have a family tradition of hunting dove at least on Labor Day weekend. I am not in a great dove hunting area with little cultivation nearby. We do have a partially grazed out wheat field that will hold a few birds. You have to work for it to get a limit here but I can usually get 'er done!

 

[7mmFan]

My favorite holiday of the year is labor day. Dove season kicks off the fall hunting here in Texas and labor day weekend is three glorious days of hunting as long as it doesn't get rained out. My lease over maize is 5 minutes from my house. In a good year I can limit in 30 minutes. I can already smell the burnt powder....

 

[Ridge Runner]

@Ridge Runner - is it just Me or does anyone else think that we (AfricaHunting.com) might tend to “Over analyize” just a bit TOO MUCH. Maybe it’s that Safari Season is Not yet in full swing? So Now, we’ve got to develop the Perfect Dove load? Because a bird that weighs 5 ozs and is protected by a “puff” of Downey Feathers must be approached with caution. [[ I‘m actually quilty of doing the same thing !!]]

Fair question.

Personally there is no such thing as the perfect firearm, caliber, or ammunition. There are however: bad choices and better choices when selecting a firearm, caliber, or ammunition.

Not sure about the over analyzing and wanting the perfect caliber, the perfect load for said caliber, for a specific animal or all around various species of same size specific animal.

I'm not really looking for a perfect firearm or load for dove or quail for personal use as I do reload for 12 gauge and do like to take out my BP 10 gauge out for various hunting opportunities, each of these have their pet loads for various game.

What I would like is a load/reload recipe for firearms I'm just getting to know. In this instance a 28 gauge, with a load and reload recipe primarily for youngsters. Currently two youngsters, one still new to hunting and the other one will soon be of size to join in hunting trips.

As I'm sure all of us hunters/ huntresses, fishermen/ fisherwomen, etc. willing to teach the next generations to hunt, fish, etc. and want youngsters to enjoy their time outdoors. We also want the youngsters we train to be able to overcome failures and to be successful in the field.

 

[Altitude sickness]

You guys are so lucky to have Dove hunting. Michigan won’t allow us to hunt them. I need to plan a trip to South Carolina

 

[mdwest]

You guys are so lucky to have Dove hunting. Michigan won’t allow us to hunt them. I need to plan a trip to South Carolina

Wow.. I’ve never heard of a state that doesn’t allow dove… I’m sure there are others.. but they are so plentiful across the south east and even most of the south west that I’m actually surprised at the limits imposed in some places down this way…

 

[Altitude sickness]

Michigan has been taken over by liberals. It came up on a ballot years ago. The TV ads portrayals of two song birds on grannies bird feeder bonding and living for decades tugged on liberal heart strings and it was voted down.

The reality of short lived birds never got through

 

[poco]

I got the ol Winchester 101 20ga ready, hopefully the birds are thicker this year as compared to last year, this 7 year drought and the 2021 super storm wiped out the local birds here near San Angelo

 

[Fenstar]

We have a little ranch in Ballinger Texas, where the dove hunt is more like a shoot. One of these years I’d like to put a AH bird shoot and game feed together.. finish off the party a big bore shoot of some kind. Love the dove opener! .410 and 28g for most of our group.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Dove hunt/ big bore shoot. Oh my!

 

[Hunt anything]

My first shotgun was an old Western Field bolt action .410 shooting 2 1/2” #6’s it was choked full. I shot a LOT of doves, squirrels, rabbits and a few ducks with that thing. I think my dad would give me 1 box of shells and tell me to make them count and have at it. I think shooting this gun helped me become a pretty efficient shotgun shooter. No margin for error with that gun.

 

[HankBuck]

Wow.. I’ve never heard of a state that doesn’t allow dove… I’m sure there are others.. but they are so plentiful across the south east and even most of the south west that I’m actually surprised at the limits imposed in some places down this way…

@mdwest - No Dove Hunting in New Jersey ….they are classified as a “Song Bird” and “protected” ——even though they are a Gamebird and hunted in All surrounding States.