Dove season in Texas looms: Sept. 1...

[Eleanors38]

Will be heading NW of Austin about a hundred miles to a little spread with, hopefully, some sunflowers left un-cut. It'll be 100°, but I live without AC and am used to it. And we'll stay over for Labor Day to hunt again! Limit is 15/day with 45 posession limit after the first. Peculiar, since before it was 30 after the opener.

Bought a couple boxes of Estate .12s to go with some Winchesters, and will use the Rem 870 my Dad & Mom got me in 1961. I'll have a Stevens 311D SxS .12 for BU (1955).

Half a dozen of us poppin' away in a cow pasture with steaks over a pit and under the stars later. Baby, it's that time again!

[ManiacJoe]

1. Sounds like fun. Stay safe!

[Jenoch]

2. I have never been dove hunting and really do not like to hunt in even the heat of Minnesota

in September. Although this year marks the 10th season for dove hunting in Minnesota, we have no real tradition of hunting doves. When I lived in southern Minnesota we did a lot of pheasant hunting and waterfowl hunting. Now that we have land in northern Minnesota we do a lot of grouse hunting.

My father still hunts with his 870 that he bought in 1949 when he was 17.

[Eleanors38]

3. The "social aspect" of dove hunting didn't develop

In the South until the 20th Century. When it did, some interesting customs were hatched. Many folks shoot in the a.m., then break for lunch. Often BBQ is over an open fire. Mexican-Americans sometimes spread out a beach towel for eats, play cojunto music while shooting; football games are heard crackling from the fields. I saw a lady in a full summer dress (camo-like pattern) & cowboy boots. Whole families are common. But these aren't ancient practices.

As an adolescent in Fla, I once drove up to a field with a few hunters and a lot of shooting, and they immediately invited me to join in: more guns means more circulation. My Mom & Dadd presented me with a new 870 in 1961. I'll be using it in the 98* temp this wk end.

I bet some customs will develop in Minn.

[Eleanors38]

4. Found an article in Field & Stream which gives a good overview to the sport...

http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/hunting/2012/07/how-throw-best-dove-party

Good summary on the Big 3 elements of dove hunting: variety of grains & seeds, nearby tree roosts, sandy roads for grit. My experience is the birds fly in the A.M. starting around 8:30, and more so after 4 p.m. (South time).

You might stake out a piece of land (public or private) right before opening day, and see if they are flying in. Then get your friends together and start a tradition! If they are flying, you won't regret it.