Original hunting partner was sick so worked out to meet up with his son in law's group and also recruited another brother firefighter to meet up and hunt with me. Warren, who had originally backed out because he was to be riding in with the sick guy. He managed to get his motel reservation back, so it was on for the 1st. We did well.



A few morning dove flew early, but Warren and I were not in the right flight pach early on. Was for the better because a little later the waves of whitewings came. At times it was like shooting into flocks of blackbirds. I had a witnessed double with one shot and a called one armed shot. So we had some fun with it.



I think we had one of the better fields with lots of sunflowers. Though most of the dove where not flying to our field, nor many stopping in it. You had to be positioned in the right place to be in the main flight paths.



The group at the main gate was shooting high flyers out of huge flocks some using high brass 6's and 7 1/2 shot pheasant loads. I had a SxS 20 with cylinder and modified chokes so had to be more conservative with my shots. But when in range it was lethal.



Blaze was an angel and did her job well.




Day 1 there had been only maybe 15 hunters in our field give or take and we all got limits. Day 2 my coworker could not stay for, and my other friend still home sick did not come up for the second day. His son in law's group moved farther down the field to the main flight paths and I moved ajacent to them on a point of the field. Less birds flying early, but the big flocks of whitewings showed again. I had to shamelessly shoot my 15th out of a tree, but again I am sure all limited again. It don't get much better.

A Mojo Sunrise picture. BTW, Mojos had almost no effect on the Dove. They had very little interest in them. The few that did were morning Dove and I typically passed on those waiting on the whitewings.



Blaze pointing a cripple. Not very graceful, but that is what she is doing.



I set up this picure with the dog. A tired dog.



And then some more Dove fly over just as I take another picture.

The above pictures were at one of the Green's Dove lease fields. But I did some evening scouting at my nearby Deer lease. Lots of Sunflowers in one of our fields as well as Dove Weed (Croton). Tons of morning dove hitting it and flying to roost in the creek bottoms. I was leaving the Dove there untouched to reserve this place for a hunt with my son this weekend.





I stayed to hunt again Thursday. I was going to split the hunt taking most of my birds early, do some work at the deer lease and then go back to the dove lease to finish on the way home. Started with a nice Sunrise.



Unfortunately that was it. 5 birds later, I came down low sick. I was the only one on the field and could not drive. I curled up under a tree with Blaze for a pillow and slept it off for a couple hours. Made it to the Deer lease where I stayed in bed the rest of the day. Then somehow made the drive home late last night. Worst flu like illness I have ever had with every known symptom. It's in my chest now, but I got some chicken soup down and though probably worse off, actually feeling better at the moment. I don't get sick often, and I would have said I never get this sick. When I get too sick to hunt, baby I am sick! Saturday is out of the question now. Anyway, for the most part it was a bang up opener for the year. I would do it again, illness and all if that had to be included to go again.

good shooting! Hope you feel better.

Nice shooting John, I'm jealous. A lot more eating to those white wings compared to mourning dove. What kind of SXS were you shooting?

Looks like a heck of a time! I have been shooting a side by side 20 also this season! Just more fun then my 12 semi auto!

Awesome pics!

Nice pics, good shooting, hope you feel better soon.

Awesome pictures. I always enjoy the pictures of Blaze!

Sounds like good times. Hope you get better quick.

Great pics. Could we get one of you pale and shivering with a dog for a pillow?

Get better quick!

Great Report & Pics John Way to go !

Ouch sorry about the sick! Looks like chalk up another report that says "don't ever work on 9/1, dummy!"

It is a BSA Classic. Spanish made gun. Bought it off another forum member a couple months ago. I had been looking at much more expensive SxS's when that one showed up on the classified forum. I was very happy with how well I shot with it. I had ordered a couple different chokes for it from Briley. The cylinder choke was the ticket opening day. Under 30 yards with 1 ounce of #8s, it was hard to miss. Thursday I was using my Verona 12 a little tighter choked and due to my shooting being a little off I was about to put it up to get the 20 back out, but never made it back to the truck before I came down sick. I will be using that 20 for most of my Snipe hunting this year for sure.

in the 1st pic blaze looks like she's been gaining some weight in the off season..good job shoot some more

Thank you sir for not saying I look like I had been gaining some weight in the off season.

Hope you are better now. Can't imagine getting sick out there.

Great pics and report. What do you use for the game strap and do you have to keep their heads on?

The small game strap in the first pictures, I could not tell you where I got it. Had it for years, thought I had lost it and bought the larger one that is in the last couple of pictures. It is actually an old Eddie Bauer Product that I bought fairly cheap on ebay. I don't know what it sold for originally, but I am sure I would not have paid it. Yes, with both one would have to leave the heads on. But I kill my cripples by squeezing them behind the breast anyway.

It even has Eddie Bauer stamped or impossed on the top part of it.

Yep gotta love young county for dove huntin.Im in olney myself,and when the farmer lets the sunflowers grow...ooowwwweeee its on!!! to bad the sob mowed it down this year

Sniper John- I love the way you role.

Well, I'm still sick and not rolling anywhere anytime soon unfortunately.

great pics john. You can tell blaze is wornout in that one pic.

great pics and story as usual

Wow, looks like a great hunt!!

Once again John, great photos.
Hey does Blaze get more excited when you pull out the shotgun or the camera?

I am just wondering when them sunflowers were planted to still have flowers . All of mine are dried up