Fellow hunters:

I am hoping today was just a freak or something. I have been seeing unbelievable amounts of dove in Taylor, Jones and Fisher counties, North and West of Abilene. I had to go to Hamlin today on business and drove thru the areas where the rainfall exceeded six to ten inches last weekend. Drove around sunflowers, ripe milo and ranch land and to my amazement, I saw one bird on a high line wire. Granted, I was not in the fields to get an up close and personal view, but I am wondering if those huge rains might have moved the birds from those particular areas. Of course, there is still plenty of time for birds to move back or come out of seclusion, but I thought you might want a somewhat negative report to temper your expectations somewhat and I have been one really pouring it on about the number of birds.

Let's hope the birds are there and just were not showing themselves in the area from Abilene to Anson to Hamlin today. It was later in the day when the lines are normally covered up with birds???????

DO NOT FORGET INSECT REPELLANT< The gnats and mosquitoes are really bad.

Regards,
Ron, Mud-Dabber

how far north of abilene are you talking about??

30 miles to Anson and north west another 25 plus/minus. As stated, maybe it was just an off day or something, but the day was clear and dry. Let's hope so anyway.

Regards,
Mud

yeah lets hope so...I will be at least another 30 miles north of that on the opener.

My reports from the Breckenridge area are not good. . .

If you are hunting in the immediate area, I am thinking one needs to concentrate on food supply. It has rained so much for so long, the dove are not tremendously interested in ponds or water. Every bar ditch and mudpuddle in the area has water in it. Looks like food supply will be the key around this area.

Regards,
Mud

Keep us informed. I hunt in between ABilene and Anson. Please keep the posts coming as the next weekend comes.

I will try to post up, mid week. Here in town, no doubt there are still doves in the neighborhoods, but they are not moving around much. Just north where Disability Resources is located and a usual outstanding spot, it is dead silent. Like I said though, we have a week for it to get hot and dry out and things can change mightily in that time period. No doubt there are going to be lots of birds, but the rains might have changed it from Spectacular to Good.

We need lots of heat and lots of milo and other grains to be cut and on the ground.

Regards,
Mud

I have seen that too before. One dove on a wire for 100 miles and then there are a 1,000 birds in one field and 0 in another. They concentrate so much you better be on that exact field. That's what makes it hunting. Good thing there is predators and hogs out there in case the dove shut down!

I don't know if y'all remember three years ago when it rained like crazy in the Breckenridge area a week before the season. It was horrible. You were lucky to see a dove in a 50 mile radius two days after Sept. 1. It took until Oct. to get any birds to us where we hunted. And since they were migratory you better get them quick til the next flock came through. Hopefully this year won't be like that.

In Dallas right now I am not seeing many flying at dusk. I saw some this morning drinking puddles in the street but they aren't visiting the wire behind my house yet. Too much food everywhere.

guess i better bring my skeet thrower just incase!!!!

and plenty of adult beverages

e-fly and the zorx

You guys are going to be fine where you are at. My experience in the past, tells me you are in exactly the spot TxDuckman was talking about.

Expectations just need to be tempered down a bit, as things are appearing spotty where two weeks ago, birds were everywhere at any time of the day.

Remember, there is alot of difference in having milo or other grains that are still green when the season begins than hunting a place where the grain has been ripe and harvested. Alot of harvesting has began where it was too muddy last weekend, just not where I was. Certainly a question worth asking for those still looking for a lease at the last moment.

Regards,
Mud

Not getting a lot of good reports out of Elbert (Throckmorton) right now either. Hope they show up this next week. If not, we will have a great time anyways.

Just got a report from our place in Spur. 3 dove all day. Wow. Good thing we have tons of land to varmit hunt on!

hey zorx, looks like we may be gettin real good at washers and horse shoes... im sure we are going to see plenty of birds..atleast with all the food were bringing we are going to eat WELL!!!!!!!!!

I want to note I am not hunting on this property or near it so don't worry about my reports.

I scouted at daylight this morning and visibly saw 10 birds in a shredded sunflower field (20ac.) Saw less than 10 birds in hundred ac. wheat field w/red top cain. Alittle sparce right now but I have high hopes!!! Heck, I gotta have high hopes!

The calm before the storm!! Seriously where I am going in W Tex my buddy probably hopes there are no dove. He just wants to call and shoot coyotes the whole time. lol.

Its not looking all that great out toward Sweetwater either. I've only got one place, west of Colorado City, that has alot of birds on it. Hopefully, it will stay hot and dry for a while. There should be more birds moving in daily. Hopefully in Fisher and Nolan counties. I really don't want to drive a 100 mile round trip everyday just to hunt dove, but I guess I'll go where the hunting is good.

Oh, fair warning; the mosquitoes and ticks are the worst I have seen!!! I did a little scouting a couple of days ago and literally got eaten alive.

i drove from dallas to ft worth down to brownwood then on the way back came back up 16 thru commanche across 20 continuing north towards graham. There were tons of birds in ft worth and tons north of Strawn on 16 but not much around graham. I went west of graham towards woodson and stopped at murray at my place. not to many birds but there were some coming into my mesquites at sun down to roost for the night. hopefully the commotion of all the hunters will get them up and flying.

Bassinger, I used to have a quail lease in Murry. I remember going past the old school house and not far from there was our gate. The gate was on a curve on that main road through Murry. Can't remember the ladys name that owned it but we all had three wheelers and she decided not to lease to us the second year because of the three wheelers!!

probably lady's name was atwood, hamilton, or kites... just guessing.
if you turn right on that dirt road at that bend my ranch is down there. and yes there are a few quail in the area. a few dove also but the grass is so tall, I havent had a chance to get a tractor yet since we bought the place so no can hunt(lose the birds)

yea I am having the free dove hunt here in eastland. Tropical storm erin pushed the birds out but I am hoping this front will bring some. I saw alot this evening over my place, more than Ive seen in a few days and they were high and fast. Rain is supposed to be here the middle of next week so I hope all will be ok. I see alot of birds, they are just scattered. Usually once people get to shooting, they stir them up and the birds move a little better.

If you have access online or can get an Abilene Reporter News newspaper, in the outdoor section is a prospect on the dove season by the outdoor writer. Seems interesting enough to read if you can get it.

that is today's paper, Sunday, August 26, 2007.

Regards,
Mud

Plentiful but scattered in the early season seems to be the consensus.