Dove hunting

...hunted doves for years when i worked in the US near west...came to water holes, dugouts, and stock tanks in the evening in droves...shot hundreds by the time we moved back here...

i used a 12 ga., modified choke (or full choke if it was more of a place for pass shooting)...AA...#8

we also used double barrel 10 ga. black powder shotguns...which was a heck of a lot of fun! :) (don't recall the choke)

and one of the most delicious wild meats there is - hands-down - is dove breast wrapped in bacon (use a toothpick to hold it together) and BBQed - drove me WILD!
 
Last edited:
remember it has to be steel in ontario, find a field and pick em off. That far south there are hundreds, just gotta find where they are in a field
 
Last year I couldn't find any steel shot smaller than a #6 anywhere. So, I went with 3" 1 1/8 oz. Winchester BlindSide Hex steel shot. Used a 12 ga, 24" barrel with a mod. choke & despite my fears of leaving nothing but feathers, they worked like a charm on both doves and ruffies. The pattern is nowhere near as dense as a 7 1/2 or 8 lead pattern, so not really a lot of damage to the meat at all. Biggest downside is you have to be pretty quick, coz the effective range is significantly less than with the same size shot in lead.

Have fun!! :)
 
had trouble last year finding steel shot sized for dove too. not a very big market considering they've just been made huntable.
 
While #8 in lead would be ideal, I would think that #8 steel would be way too light. Can't hunt them here, though.
 
The steel shot rule for doves is ridiculous. I can sit in the exact same spot and shoot crows and pigeons with lead, but whatever - I'm happy to have the new hunting opportunity and have enjoyed a few dove shoots already. Hardly "shoots" by world standards, but firing a handful or two of shells while relaxing on a folding chair in the afternoon is a bonus. Easy hunt for the kids to enjoy too.

I'm using 20ga. with Federal steel #7's and IC choke. Be prepared to miss a few. :p
 
It is a upland bird and all upland birds can be hunted with lead so way did they make it steel only on doves another rule made up by people that do not have a clue what they are doing
and also were is the ofah on this.
 
sk8r said:
Last year I couldn't find any steel shot smaller than a #6 anywhere. So, I went with 3" 1 1/8 oz. Winchester BlindSide Hex steel shot. Used a 12 ga, 24" barrel with a mod. choke & despite my fears of leaving nothing but feathers, they worked like a charm on both doves and ruffies. The pattern is nowhere near as dense as a 7 1/2 or 8 lead pattern, so not really a lot of damage to the meat at all. Biggest downside is you have to be pretty quick, coz the effective range is significantly less than with the same size shot in lead.

Have fun!! :)
Click to expand...

Pretty expensive dove loads!!
 
DOGHIDE said:
It is a upland bird and all upland birds can be hunted with lead so way did they make it steel only on doves another rule made up by people that do not have a clue what they are doing
and also were is the ofah on this.
Click to expand...

They fall under the migratory bird licence.
 
We've been using winchester xpert #7 steel loads with ok results. Not sure if I like the 7's seem to take lots of feathers off and the birds keep flying. That was in 20 and 28 ga though. Not sure how the 12's are. We were getting em at lebaron's and I believe they were around $70 a flat for 12/20 and the 28 are $125.
 
Triggers and Bows sells #6 steel. 7.5 for close up . I bought the cheap challengers . Doesn't take much to knock um down . Just have to knock them down . That's why i go with the cheap stuff .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom