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1st dove hunt
#7269503
08/28/18 02:24 AM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 103
Texaspilot
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 103 |
My son wants to go on a hunt with me and I think he is finally old enough (although when he was three, we did a “deer hunt” which consisted of him and I sitting on a stump for about 30 minutes until he ran out of patience a couple years back). I thought I would let him accompany me on a dove hunt, he will turn 5 just two days before the opening day. Was thinking just go out early to a public dove field and hang out until mid morning and maybe get some shots, maybe not. He will probably enjoy it either way. Just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for bringing a young un on a dove hunt?
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: Texaspilot]
#7269527
08/28/18 02:39 AM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 208
longgunner
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 208 |
i took my son as a young man. a few things:
1) lots of water and candy. Make sure he is having a good time. Don't try to teach him too much to fast. Just let him have a good time. 2) If you have a wounded bird, don't let him play with it. he may grow attached. pull the head off quick! 3) Let him bring a BB gun and practice gun safety. 4) If hunting public land, have him wear orange!
Good luck.
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: Texaspilot]
#7269677
08/28/18 11:10 AM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830
beaversnipe
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830 |
Leave his phone in the car
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: beaversnipe]
#7269833
08/28/18 01:18 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,534
rickym
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,534 |
Leave his phone in the car sad but true Have lots of snacks and fluids, a few things to keep in interested.
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: Texaspilot]
#7269879
08/28/18 02:01 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 126
hunt15
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 126 |
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: Texaspilot]
#7269966
08/28/18 03:12 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,594
First_Chance
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,594 |
Spray him down good for chiggers... nothing worse than taking a little one out and they get eaten up with those little bastages.
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: Texaspilot]
#7270080
08/28/18 04:36 PM
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 618
nate33
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 618 |
Pay attention ------- ear protection,,,make sure he is on the left side of you when you fire. Also the BB gun is a great idea.
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: Texaspilot]
#7270109
08/28/18 04:57 PM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 103
Texaspilot
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 103 |
thanks guys. All good stuff. He is getting excited!
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: Texaspilot]
#7270509
08/29/18 12:11 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,221
jnd59
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,221 |
I second the bb gun but if you read the rules bb guns are not allowed on many public land areas. May not be a problem with the right warden.
No matter how high a duck flies a hammer still breaks a window.
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: jnd59]
#7270534
08/29/18 12:37 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,483
Guy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,483 |
Eye protection hunting dove public for the opener, good chance you both will get peppered.
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: Texaspilot]
#7270586
08/29/18 01:44 AM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,100
Espy
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,100 |
Took my almost 3 yr old grandson last year he had a blast. like others said eye and ear protection and a bb gun. my grandson turned out to be a great bird dog.
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: nate33]
#7270608
08/29/18 02:03 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,428
TLew
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,428 |
Pay attention ------- ear protection,,,make sure he is on the left side of you when you fire. Also the BB gun is a great idea. A little iffy based upon if you are RH or LH, have a dog, and shoot an autoloader...I get what you're saying though, put some thought into it
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: TLew]
#7270675
08/29/18 03:06 AM
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 287
kweber
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 287 |
we were the 'fetchers" till we could limb-shoot w/a single-shot 410... we leared "Injun-sneak" w/them guns... back a few (5) decades... pert sure the "men" had a fun time watching us... their way of teaching... sneaking a dove on a limb was good schooling....
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: Texaspilot]
#7270697
08/29/18 03:34 AM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,429
BDB
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,429 |
Don't let him pop his first beer until you get your limit I'd try to find an out of the way spot. I took my oldest when he was about 9 or so on public....what a nightmare. Field was crowded and dangerous.
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: Texaspilot]
#7270797
08/29/18 11:40 AM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 103
Texaspilot
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 103 |
I’m planning on a little bit farther drive to hopefully find a less pressured field. If it ends up being crowded/dangerous, we’re out of there...
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: Texaspilot]
#7270871
08/29/18 12:55 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 135
Garwoodie
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 135 |
Agreed, first dove hunt needs to be in wide open spaces, away from the crowds.
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: Texaspilot]
#7270999
08/29/18 03:06 PM
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5
OK243
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5 |
Taking my oldest (6) son for the first time in a weeks and am hoping that he enjoys it as much as I will.
JW
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: Texaspilot]
#7271234
08/29/18 07:07 PM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 103
Texaspilot
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 103 |
Me too. He sure is excited. I hope it’s not a let down for him.
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: Texaspilot]
#7271254
08/29/18 07:21 PM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 347
TX Hitman
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 347 |
My son shot his first dove when he was 5. Had him carry an old BB gun the year before and try to "shoot some birds". When he turned 5, I bought him a Rossi 410/22 combo single shot. He couldn't even [censored] it by himself. (even better for safety) Once he got over being scared of it, he finally shot a dove that landed on a tree limb. The next year he shot his first dove that was flying. Hasn't stopped since. Looking forward to another opening day with him this weekend. He has been hunting with me for the last 19 years.
My 5yr old daughter isn't as excited as he was. She did pull the trigger on a 20 gauge last year but doesn't want to "kill them". However, she is a excellent retriever.
What to bring..... Plenty of drinks / snacks. Bug spray extra change of clothes for them. ear plugs And the most important thing, SNAKE GUARDS. I buy the canvas gators. They are awesome for the little ones. Come all the way up to their hips like chaps. They absolutely hate wearing them but it's worth it. No matter where you are, make it part of the hunting requirement and as important as gun safety. He had an issue wearing them until he saw his uncle take a strike from a rattler on his guards one season. For years after, he wouldn't even get out of the truck until he had them on.
Suggestions... While you are sitting there killing time, it's perfect opportunity to teach!!! Guns and safety, life and death, respect, and about life in general. Life is busy and what better time to make life memories. And don't think they won't remember them as well.
Have a blast!
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Re: 1st dove hunt
[Re: Texaspilot]
#7275180
09/03/18 11:54 AM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 103
Texaspilot
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 103 |
Well, we didn’t see a single dove, (heard one or two) but we had a good time. We ran into a herd of hogs (two bad they aren’t allowed to shoot on his piece of public land), saw a couple of cool cranes, had a standoff with an angry bull, heard some cool song birds and saw some great stars and a sunrise, saw a ton of baby frogs at the water hole and my son only said he was bored a couple of times, but I think he liked it and it was a good experience. He wanted me to just shoot stuff and it was a good teachable moment that hunting is not necessarily shooting... I was worried about huge crowds or problems on the public land, but we didn’t see any other hunters. Just some utility workers on a far edge of the field as we were walking out (I believe the field must be leased from some kind of oil company or utility.) Had a good time, just next time need to find some doves!
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