2025 dove thread

[stevejfarms]

Gotta start with a good breakfast if your gonna dove hunt. My 4yo grandson getting ready for his 2nd dove hunt.#swiss roll!

 

[.270Rem]

I didnt know dove banding was a thing...thats neat.

I banded quite a few in Virginia during July and August.

 

[mtmiller]

Poor shooting, 24 shells, but we scratched out a limit. Slash had to sit out last year due to a porcupine incident, so big fun for both of us.

 

[WildWill]

Excited seeing everyone's opener. Mine starts in a little over 30 minutes.

 

[crock239]

Poor shooting, 24 shells, but we scratched out a limit. Slash had to sit out last year due to a porcupine incident, so big fun for both of us.

Oh, so THAT'S how you're supposed to take a great field photo of a dove hunt...noted.

 

[WildWill]

Just enough birds flying to keep my interest but overall pretty slow. Just got my first double of the day with bird 6 and 7. Another 30 minutes to a hour and I'll have to call it quits and get to work.

 

[mtmiller]

Oh, so THAT'S how you're supposed to take a great field photo of a dove hunt...noted.

I was happy how it turned out. Hopefully no one was watching me set up tripod, set focus on Slash, pick up rocks to throw over the camera to get pup to look right direction, balance gun on leg, hold birds in a decent spot, throw said rocks, hit remote shutter, hide remote that is in hand, don’t drop birds or gun and hope the dog is looking the right direction and I didn’t smack my camera with a rock.

 

[Birdbander]

Somehow there were less flying this morning than yesterday. Might have seen 20, not one within range. No shots fired. Packed & heading the 6 hours back home to Michigan.

Next up will be grouse & woodcock opener on the 15th then leave for blue grouse in Colorado on the 19th.

 

[WildWill]

Ended up with 9 for the morning with a 10th being swallowed by the tall grass past the field edge. Beautiful morning now to get some work done.

 

[Birdbander]

I've lined up to hunt the first 3 days of next dove season west of Abilene, TX. Hopefully there aren't any life altering events to derail

Thanks everyone for sharing your dove hunts!

 

[Treeshark]

Slowest morning I've seen in years. A week ago there were piles of birds. Still early though.

A ton still around up here a few hours north of you. My neighbor and I were just commenting late yesterday afternoon how many were flying around.

I suspect they will be heading your way on Thursday with the cold weather coming in.

 

[mtmiller]

Busy afternoon. Twenty shots and a limit. 31 minutes.

 

[Bluffgruff]

Not the opener, but a limit with a single shot 20ga today. I had the 12ga nearby, but resisted the temptation and I probably shot better as a result.

 

[brockel]

Good first day for me and the pup. Couple bonus grouse. Bumped a couple pheasants and if looks could kill I’d be a dead man from the dog giving me the look when I didn’t shoot of “what the hell I did my job why didn’t you do yours”.

 

[WildWill]

No birds flying this evening but I'm being "entertained".

 

[Mallardsx2]

 

[WildWill]

Birds were flying much better this morning. She's the best retriever I've ever hunted with! As we were walking out the field this morning I asked her if she'd like to come fetch birds for me again next year. I was a bit worried when she quickly responded with a "NO". But just as quickly she said "I wanna shoot next year" .

 

[Mallardsx2]

Limit by 10:00 Saturday. Good little shoot.

 

[Mallardsx2]

 

[Mallardsx2]