All good points but, IMO, the biggest problem a beginner faces pass shooting doves, is stopping their swing.... no follow thru, no dove.

Full chokes? The only time any of my shotguns sniff a full choke is when they get dressed up for turkey. Mod rarely see's me guns either. I/C wins the race...and most times its the only one in the race!

Have a great opening day, gentlemen. Enjoy, shoot well and be safe.

My tip is put lots of lead in the air and hope a dove flies into it.

I tend to stay with similar velocities over a wide variety of shotguns, season starts with 410/28ga and usually ends with a 1oz 20ga load. I usually shoot fairly slow velocities and leads are all about the same.

When the birds are decoying well I can get it done with 2 boxes and a 28ga. Best streak last year was 8 for 8, hope I can duplicate it this year.

I totally agree. I love waiting on the decoying shot into the Mojo's. That seems to only last the opening couple of days, then they wise up until new birds arrive.

Good luck and safe hunting. Aim small, miss small.

Gman

It only takes me 15 shells to kill my 15 bird limit every hunt, unless I hit 2 or more in 1 shot, then it takes even less.

The problem I have is figuring out which 15 shells are the right ones before the hunt. I typically have to go through 25 - 35 shells before I find the right 15.


I do agree with the original poster that consistently shooting the same dove load does help tremendously. Going back and forth from a higher speed shell to a lower speed shell loaded with pellets, will make it necessary to adjust. If you've been at it a long time and can figure it out on the first couple of birds good for you. But there are for more people that shoot more than two boxes for a limit than there are that get their limit in a box. If you are a two box or more person, sticking to the same load will certainly help you.

I think the best tip, is when you think you have enough lead, lead them some more. Very few people are missing doves by shooting in front of them. Especially if pass shooting.

I find passing shots are easier then them dive bombing the decoys twisting and turning. I think they are more acrobatic than greenwings at times. Most of the time its just easier to see them when they are higher than coming in really low. At least for me where we hunt that seems to be the case.

I have to disagree with OP. Accuracy is what counts. There is not that much difference between #6 through #9 loads. Shotgunning isn't like developing an accurate load for a rifle. If you give George Digweed a 12 gauge with 9 loads or a 410 with 6 loads he will hit his target. Improper shot size or not knowing shot pattern is generally an excuse for poor aim. It is simple, more shot means smaller lighter pellets, less shot means larger heavier pellets but you still have a spread. Make sure your spread meets the target and you've got a hit. Tighter chokes are designed to improve shot pattern at a distance and more open chokes allow for a bigger shot pattern to improve the odds of a hit. I defy anyone to show me multiple targets shot by a shotgun with a shotshell in 6 through 9 load where all of the pellets hit in the same spot or created an exact pattern. This does not happen. Shot patterns are a small clouds of lead pellets spreading as they are acted upon by wind resistance and gravity. In other words, if anyone can show me a shotgun that consistently patterns a "dove sized" hole that caused a miss because they didn't compensate for it I will declare them a "shotgun sniper."

Fact is you also have to look out for others when you shoot. You people who can do 15 with one box, or 15 with 15........You are just selfish!!!!!

I, too, COULD shoot like that, but it is bad for the economy!!!! I miss to help the workers!!!!!! The more I miss, the more shells I have to shoot and then The more shells that have to be made.

If you shoot and hit and hit and hit, well, I just don't know what to say....

I will keep shooting and missing to make 'Merica strong...

I just shoot skeet occasionally throughout the year and at least once a week in the summer. I think most folks are just plain rusty come opening day. It's all about trigger time.

bingo

I'm not a young buck. I don't have to shoot in the off season to kill doves Sep first. Like riding a bike.

Last trip afield I whacked 15 birds with 18 rounds. Of course, I spent hours and hours at the Skeet range to prepare for that trip.

That's a little like what some of my buddies say opening day. Then they say that the sun was in their eyes, the gun is shooting off, there's something wrong with the ammo, ect.

BTW, I'm an old fart too.

LOL, I may have a few relatives like that. Miss a gimme then look down the barrel like it's bent or something, followed by some choice 4 letter words.

And I'm certainly not claiming to be the best shot around. I just know me. I've gone years where I shot a lot before the opener (especially when my son was just getting started) and others where I didn't do anything but change the turkey choke to IC or MOD. Very similar results with both.

I shoot year round. I'm always ready. Dubs will pile up around my feet. 😅

Apparently iPhone emojis won't work on here