doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Dove Opener?

Good shoot in southern Colorado, how'd everybody else do?

Lloyd,

We did ok down in SE Colorado. We didn't see as many doves in years past and not sure if it's related to the limited irrigation due to water restrictions. I see the cold front will probably be here early next week--dove season will be over soon.

Ken

Limits Sunday, Monday, one short of limit Tuesday, limit today too. Northern IL has been great so far. We're seeing 30-40 shootable birds in 3 hours each day and probably 200-500 birds out past 50 yards in the same time.

One thing we're noticing is only about 50-50 young birds to old which doesn't bode well if this is common elsewhere this year.

Shot my first dove with a Fed band on it today so that's something new. I have to call it in and find out the bird's history.

No exotic doves seen yet this year in Northern IL though, just mourning doves. Central IL was overrun with Eurasian Collard doves last year so they are slowly invading.

Unusually poor in the St. Louis areas that I hunt. Very few birds. We haven't been seeing doves on electric wires, which is a bad indicator.

How we did on the opening depends on your perspective. My friend and I only shot three mourning doves. I shot two and he shot one. We both went through over two boxes of shells. So, some might call it a bust and really poor shooting.

Of course, there were all those Eurasian collard doves we shot, to make up for the lack of mourning doves. There is no limit on them and I shot enough I didn't even count them. I have three gallon size bags of Eurasian breast in the freezer.

We had a blast.

Oh, and this season first ruff grouse hunt, Tuesday morning, went well. It was a little on the hot side so we kept it under and hour for the dogs sake. The dog work was good. It was nice feeling the weight of a bird in my vest. We moved five birds. I shot once and collected one bird. It really is early for grouse, only a leaf, here and there, show any of a hint of Fall colors to come.

Well I need to go load the dogs into the rig and head up the mountain for another quick hunt before I head off to work.

Georgia dove season usually opens Labor Day weekend. This year it was postponed to this coming Saturday so we are behind the rest of you for a change. Nice to hear the reports though!...Geo

Late doves in Georgia and very early ruffies in Utah. Lots of options in this country. We really saw only mourning doves in the field (lots in town, however). I shot the only Eurasian we saw.

Gonna be like that next year, too, Geo. Bummer. Won't get back right until 2015.

SRH

I'll try to make it!...Geo

West of Gainesville, TX was great on the opener, but rained on Labor Day and scattered them. Steve