Looking forward to taking a weekend off and seeing how rusty my shooting eye has gotten. I am taking Michael on his first Dove shoot and he has been wearing out the clay targets.

I am going to have to invest in die's for my reloader to start reloading 20ga. shells if this keeps up. That boy can run through a box of shells faster than anyone I know.

I pulled out my Beretta Whitewing OU last night and thought I would show him how to break some clay's. Needless to say I had to hustle to keep bragging rights. About the only time I shoot this gun is during dove season or if I take a upland trip somewhere. It always takes me a while to get dialed in with this gun. Funny how I can pick up my duck gun and never seem to miss a beat but I use that OU and I need a while to get in the groove.

When or has your Dove seasons started and do you guys hunt them. It is a Southern Tradition down this way, been hunting with the same group of guys for the last 15 years. A big hunt over sunflowers in the morning and then move to another field ususally Millet and or Milo for the afternoon. Luch is usually a Pig Roast or Bar BQ pork with all the fixin's. Really looking forward to it.

How about you guys do you celebrate the kickoff of hunting season with a dove hunt and picnic?

Marty

Unless we get a pretty good cool front, I'll likely pass on September doves again this year. Just not my "thing" in the heat, though I'll shoot 'em in October.

Now when teal (which are now thick here) season opens, I'll be out there feeding mosquitoes and deer flies even if it's 110 in tha shade.

Dam Marty that sounds like a great time. We dont get a dove season in NY not sure why? Local goose opens the begining of september. I will try to get on a few of them if possable. Shoot a few for me will ya.

Our dove opener ussally coensides with our early goose opener, geese take priority. If it all works out its geese in the morning and doves in the evening.

I'm going to miss opening day this year, first time ever. Doing a favor for a client I have to run a hunt test with his dog, trying to get that last pass, last test of the year in these parts.

quote:

Originally posted by Craig Klein:
I'm going to miss opening day this year, first time ever. Doing a favor for a client I have to run a hunt test with his dog, trying to get that last pass, last test of the year in these parts.

An opening weekend hunt test is something hard to even imagine from my area's vantage.

Opening day tomorrow, the temps here have been in the 70s the last day or too, it should be a hoot! Ruby is gonna love it!

I hear ya Rick, seems kind of dumb to have a hunt test on the kick off of the hunt'en season. But work comes first, hopefully she passes on Sat. and I'll be able to sneek out for a while on Sun.

Hey Craig......I hate when work interferes with life!

Tell me about it, thats going to be the hardest part about running the kennel for me. I don't mind hard work or long hours, done that my hole life, missing hunting trips though is going to be hard, very hard.

Craig,

You are a young guy with hopefully lots of time!

I had my first business (which was my "hobby" too) I started at 25 with no help from anyone, working 10-12 hours a day, 7 days a week, and sometimes round the clock with no sleep. I loved it!! Never wanted for work or money at that time and would go back there in a minute if I could. They were great years with lots of fun and the hunting and dog training quickly followed when things stabilized.

Lots of luck with your new business and the good thing, is that your "hobby" (retrievers) too, is all around you.

Keith

Keith, I wouldn't trade jobs with anyone, I love it. EVERY job has its draw backs. It will just be hard for a Quack head like me to watch the migration go by and not be able to go after them. I'll be alright, might just have to go to a few addiction meetings . We run a hunting preserve for pheasants also so I can always get a fix shooting a few scratch birds, not quite like watchen greenheads spiral down from the heavens, but it will help. I do think I'll have a little more time next year.

Thanks for the well wishes, take care Craig.