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Bardwell Lake Dove #5322122 09/23/14 04:46 PM
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ryanweary Offline OP
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I posted a few years ago about Bardwell Lake and promptly forgot I ever registered for these forums - stupid me.

Anyways, I've been down there multiple times this year and only see a handful of birds out of range. Out of 4 or 5 trips down there this season I've fired a collective 5 shots total. Missing all of them of course. I'm curious if I'm just in the wrong area. I typically go down S. Cooke Rd. and head left where the road dead ends (I think that's Old Waxahachie Rd.??) There are what appears to be a few decent spots there. Lots of trees, water (obviously), and fields nearby that this year are planted with cotton.

I'm curious if anyone else has been down there and actually been successful this year. I live in Oak Cliff and it's about a 45 minute drive down there and I'm about to give up on it all together. Seems like most other private lands are full for the season already so I'm stuck with public hunting for the year. Any suggestions from anyone would be much appreciated.

Re: Bardwell Lake Dove [Re: ryanweary] #5323877 09/24/14 03:26 PM
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Ben Lilly Offline
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Originally Posted By: ryanweary
I'm about to give up on it all together.


That's probably the best decision, you get an "A" for effort bub.

Re: Bardwell Lake Dove [Re: ryanweary] #5323969 09/24/14 04:17 PM
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It's public land. Probably shot out at this point of the season and cotton isn't a great crop for dove fields. With it cooling off birds will be less pressured to water.


Re: Bardwell Lake Dove [Re: ryanweary] #5324021 09/24/14 04:44 PM
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I know this area very well. The area you are referring to is great for rabbit and hogs

(hogs you have to take the path to the left of the parking area, then turn left at the fork. take it about 400 yards till you see a hole in that fence, go through that hole and it will bring you through to a new open field, walk to the end of that field and then make your way through a small trail through the woods (about 100 yards, then cross the next open field to the end. That whole area to the right up that creek is great for bedding hogs!)

Ok back to the topic haha.

Dove is scarce here in this area, and when they do fly, they will be too high above the tree lines to take clean shots.

You actually want to go across the lake to the other entrance. The one DIRECTLY across the little fork int he lake from this access point.

Once you park here as soon as you enter the gate go RIGHT. This will be a small clearing, and may look too small for dove. BUT its the highest point at Bardwell.

All those birds you saw flying at the other access point too high? Yeah they are flying over this point too, BUT now you are at the top of the hill and they are now within good shooting range.

Good luck and let me know how you do.


Joseph Trousdale
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Re: Bardwell Lake Dove [Re: ryanweary] #5324024 09/24/14 04:45 PM
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I forgot to mention.. the new access point you want to use is Ennis Parkway access point.


Joseph Trousdale
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Re: Bardwell Lake Dove [Re: ryanweary] #5324255 09/24/14 06:54 PM
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*making notes*


[Linked Image]

Re: Bardwell Lake Dove [Re: Fooshman] #5324278 09/24/14 07:12 PM
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I've heard that the dove are unusually larger there.

Re: Bardwell Lake Dove [Re: ryanweary] #5324344 09/24/14 07:49 PM
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Gdogg, last year I saw a lot of white wings there, I don't know about this year. have not been up there much this year


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Re: Bardwell Lake Dove [Re: ryanweary] #5324353 09/24/14 07:58 PM
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Time to find a new spot.

Re: Bardwell Lake Dove [Re: ryanweary] #5325791 09/25/14 03:13 PM
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ryanweary Offline OP
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Thanks for the replies. I've tried several spots at Bardwell with varying success - never anything to write home about though.

jtprocaddie - Thanks for the spot tip. I'll probably head back out there next week sometime to try again. I typically try to go once or twice a week, usually on Wednesday or Thursday and once on the weekend.

Any of you locals interested in meeting down there for a hunt? I've got one mojo - and it helped last night - except it attracted a bird of prey instead haha. I did get one dove, and it was the only one within reasonable distance to target but at least I got him. I'd really like to limit out one day out there to restore my faith in that place. I rarely see anyone else out there but I hear people shooting in the distance, must either be private land owners or that area across the lake you mentioned. I won't be going this weekend - anniversary weekend with the Misses - but next Wednesday or Thursday I'll head out again.

I'll post my results from that spot once I get a chance to visit it. Again, thanks to everyone for the tips!

Re: Bardwell Lake Dove [Re: ryanweary] #5325870 09/25/14 03:53 PM
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No problem, good luck! Post some pictures!


Joseph Trousdale
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Re: Bardwell Lake Dove [Re: ryanweary] #5326871 09/26/14 01:42 AM
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Can tell ya one thing, duck hunted in last year and didn't see [censored]!!


I don't always shoot deer, but when I do, I prefer B&C's.
I don't always shoot ducks, but when I do, I prefer banded ducks.
Re: Bardwell Lake Dove [Re: ryanweary] #5333762 09/30/14 02:08 PM
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ryanweary Offline OP
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Went out last night - nothin. Not a single dove in sight. I'm giving up on Bardwell. By next season we'll be moved to somewhere north of Ft. Worth and I'll buy a season pass to a lease out there - but man - I'm disappointed in Bardwell this year. It's been decent in the past to me.

Re: Bardwell Lake Dove [Re: ryanweary] #5338566 10/02/14 07:23 PM
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Sorry to hear that! Most places are having a tough time this year. And its not Bardwell itself. A lot of the farm land around the lake went with cotton this year and not sunflowers. That effected it the most


Joseph Trousdale
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Re: Bardwell Lake Dove [Re: ryanweary] #5340460 10/03/14 08:25 PM
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ryanweary Offline OP
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My wife's family out in Abilene are having an awesome season. They're limiting out nearly every hunt. I've decided that after this front moving through I'm going to give it a few days and head out to the lake Tuesday or Wednesday next week. I scouted out a few other spots in the area you recommended that look promising. I might invest in another Mojo this weekend too. The problem will be getting there soon enough in the day. Luckily I work from home so I might take off around 3 and be set up in the field by 4.

Re: Bardwell Lake Dove [Re: ryanweary] #5365570 10/17/14 04:54 PM
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I live in Ennis and hunt Bardwell regularly. In my experience, dove is best early in the season, but begin to be pressured by hunting on surrounding private land (and other corp hunters). I go for the first couple of weeks and by then I'm on the hogs which are great at Bardwell.


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