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Shooting Dove, Not as Easy as it Looks
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You really want fun do a late season shoot when the true migratory doves come thru. The ones that have been shot at all the way from Canada , thats a whole different ball game. Like going from slow pitch softball to baseball.
Full Choke, 1-1/8 oz of #8
go out 30 long steps and put up a few full open sheets of newspaper
shoot your IC choke
shoot a Full
now
move out to 40 steps, do the same and you decide
also
when looking at the 40 step newspaper, notice how close it looks, and how far away those Doves you have been shooting at actually are
I agree with using a proper load for doves. And yes, the closer, the better. You need to lead them a bit. Doves are fast. They dont look it, but they fly really fast.
My brother busted a few on Saturday. I would have joined him but it was too dang hot. Lol...My Dad took us every year when we were growing up. Lots of fun.
My brother busted a few on Saturday. I would have joined him but it was too dang hot. Lol...My Dad took us every year when we were growing up. Lots of fun.
Everybody is recommending heavy loads, but I've been shooting them for all my life with 1 oz of #8 or #9 at 1200fps. Heavy loads just make your shoulder sore.
I agree with some who have suggested a better quality shell. Your patterns should improve with them. Skeet is really better for dove practice than sporting clays. You need practice for those crossing shots. And typically, new hunters don't give doves enough lead. They're often flying much faster than you might think.
As for choke, I've never hunted with anything tighter than Improved Cylinder except in late season when I'm taking longer shots than I should. That's another mistake beginners often make...shooting at doves too far away. If you'll keep your shots within 35 yds, your % will go up. Judging range is an experience thing, the more you go, the better you'll get. Take a veteran dove hunter with you and they can help you with that.
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I agree with some who have suggested a better quality shell. Your patterns should improve with them. Skeet is really better for dove practice than sporting clays. You need practice for those crossing shots. And typically, new hunters don't give doves enough lead. They're often flying much faster than you might think.
As for choke, I've never hunted with anything tighter than Improved Cylinder except in late season when I'm taking longer shots than I should. That's another mistake beginners often make...shooting at doves too far away. If you'll keep your shots within 35 yds, your % will go up. Judging range is an experience thing, the more you go, the better you'll get. Take a veteran dove hunter with you and they can help you with that.
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Thank you for this advice. I am looking forward to my next trip. With all these recommendations I am not sure what to change and what to keep the same. I see trial and error in my future.
