Opening Day Doves

Each year on the opening say of our Dove season our state DNR hosts a youth hunt at some of their public fields. We have been fortunate enough to have been drawn for these hunts several times. This past Saturday was another opportunity for us to spend a day shooting at doves.

I took my two sons, Alex who is 13 and Ridge who is 8, this was the first time Ridge had an opportunity to shoot at doves, or anything for that matter. It was a great day, the weather was excellent and the birds were flying as well as I've seen in over 20 years of dove shooting. There was a twist this year, because for the first time, the parents were not allowed to shoot. It was bitter sweet, in years past, I shot little, giving the boys the opportunity, but this year the birds were flying so well, I found myself salivating and yearning for the opportunity.

The day started with us selecting a stand beside a large tree, very soon a few doves were headed our way, Alex took his youth model .410 single barrel that he has long outgrown and at the report of his first shot, the dove folded, Ridge was off like a great retriever and found the bird. I had the boys alternating shooting, three shots each and switch.

Ridge did excellent, shouldering the .410 and shooting without hesitation, he hit a few but nothing fatal. He shot about 35 times, and Alex shot around 60 times, Alex ended up with eight birds alternating between the .410 and my .20 gauge. Ironically he got more birds with the .410 than with the 20.

This was one of those opportunities that as a Dad I long for, a day spent with my sons afield, enjoying the sport, spending a day talking about things, and watching them in their excitement and success.

A special thanks to the South Carolina DNR for hosting us and setting these fields up for us, it was definitely a great shoot. We will be back next year for sure.