Those of y'all on the lease. Are you hunting the Leonard area or Howe area for the opener?

Leonard

I think if I was in McKinney I would take a harder look at the Howe side. I had a friend that had a farm halfway between Howe and Gunter and it was great dove hunting. Not sure what they planted on the Howe side and whether or not they had the same problems getting the fields harvested. From what I saw on the Leonard side with the few fields that are cut it is going to be a zoo Friday morning.

What few birds we did see were on the Leonard side!

I've worked with David and Jay for years, if I can help let me know. Our shop is in the middle of the Leonard side. I have not been to Howe at all this year, but typically early is better on the east, later on the west;

As for the roads, there's plenty of places to hunt off pavement; If you insist on getting stuck, that's an easy feat most years. We saw a ton of birds last few weeks, but last weekend saw fewer; early morning, or last 15 minutes of LST are the keys here more than most places;

Like some said above, tons of land, get out and scout, don't sit in a bad spot, there are good ones

As for corn, there's a ton of it, find the most recently shelled place, hunt there!

Thanks for the info sigg226fan. Where exactly is Richardson`s Guns located? And do they have a pistol range there? If not,where can we shoot a pistol close to Leonard?

Google Maps takes you to us perfectly, FM 816 south of Bailey

Remember we're hunters too!!!

I do hate to say our ranges are private for training purposes only, but I can find you a place to plink some that are safe too. Shoot me a PM if interested. In the next couple of years, our ranges will be public.

BTW the fields around Spring Creek Cemetery are cotton this year, and not part of the lease. CHeck your maps carefully. Cotton is still a crop in the field, and will not hold dove, and is expensive to repay if damaged, please don't hunt in cotton.

Some cotton is turning, and looks brownish, that's part of the cycle, again, please dont hunt in cotton (plus, there are not many birds in there, nothing to EAT)

PM sent sigg226fan

How was the hunting?

Are you guys gonna post up the secret spots?

I am headed there in the morning. So pissed at this gas crisis but I cant take it anymore, I am going. Look for a white FX4 pickup with a Texas Bowhubter sticker. See ya'll out there...

The whole place must be a secret.

Not a good day. 2 flyers at the Dove decoys 1 was behind the main house barn area and 1 Dove in a old cut field. Action was too slow.

I finally made it out last night. Wife was out of town all weekend which left me with 4 kids.

Should have had about 8 birds each but me and my buddy left with a pair each. Probably should have shot some skeet! We saw quite a few birds but most were out of range. Other side of the field from us sounded like WWIII.

I'm in a brown F150 with a TexasBowhunter sticker on the back, stop by and say hi. I'll be out Thursday evening and planning Sunday morning as well. Hunting the Howe area.

Also, don't be a dirtbag, pick up your hulls! Whoever was driving the white Nissan titan, you left all your hulls and a beer can. We picked up your mess.

Went out this morning in Howe, was only able to hunt till 830. Only spotted 4 birds. No shots.

Pretty sure they ask for vehicle/plates on the lease form don't they? That's unacceptable. Report it: 1. They may not have even been a lease holder, 2. Loser for leaving trash and should be booted off.

Went out this morning in Howe, very slow. Did pick up 36 empty hulls in a pile.
Hunted near Bailey opening morning, no shots in my field but some shooting near buy.
Went back yesterday, nothing.

"I hunted a couple of seasons with DJ Farms, did not do very well. Nice folks and plenty of land but not many birds. It has been a few years so it might be worth checking out again. I go west for dove."

Doesn't sound like much has changed

I used to hunt out west when I lived in Ft Worth, moved to McKinney 3 yrs ago. Never hunted this part of the state. May have to make the drive next year.