Opening day

[POPAYOTE]

I couldn't believe the amount of dove today. the limit came pretty quick about 40 minutes. last year it was like 20 minutes. lots of white wing and eurasian too. also 1 rattlesnake about 3 foot long lost his life today. I'm glad that came at the end of the trip, it would have ruined a great morning if I saw it first thing. the bad part was I didn't see it until the end of the trip and I walked all around the bastard for 2 hours. it's always great to get out and shoot, especially when you don't get drawn for big game. my friends son 8 went on his first dove hunt today, that was cool to be a part of that.

[Semper]

sounds like a good time. i going out wensday

[jbeee]

I posted this on azbasszone.com, but thought I would share it here,,enjoy!

Disclaimer- Times are approximate..all shooting was done during legal shooting hours.

5:00 am- Arrive at super secret location. General BS'ing commences immediately as we wait until safe shooting light. So far, it looks good as there are no other hunters in the area (yet)

5:40am- Its time to spread out and get set for the birds. As I begin walking with my 6 year old, we immediately encounter a nice sized rattler stretched out on the rocks. In a mild panic, I throw aformentioned 6 year old behind me..he runs another 40 yards in the opposite direction.

5:41am- Spend a few minutes convincing 6 year old that its ok to proceed in a wide, round-about directioon to our chosen spot.

5:45am- We find a good spot..then a vehicle approaches, I make eye contact with said vehicle and even throw them a nice wave. They acknowledge my wave and then proceed to set up about 75 yards in front of me and just caddy corner to Terp and Glenn. I decide that they must enjoy being peppered. But, since I'm a safety guy in my real life, I decide its just better to move away, and besides, the birds are flying in every direction except in front of me, so its better to move anyways.

6:00am- Terp and Glenn are blasting away..I occasionally shoot. Finally, one unlucky and slightly blind bird flies a good pattern in front of me. He becomes dead..

6:20am- I am being peppered! Somehow, another group of hunters has coyly set up behind me and are taking shots with wild abandon. Time to move again.

6;45am - 9:00am- The shooting is great! Its now time to mention the guys that set up in front of me earlier..apparently, they're having a great time and have discovered an excess amount of .22 shells in their inventory, so like any good American, they hand a .22 rifle to their kids and they begin blasting away..usually with 5 to 12 shots at a time. I'm worried about the hunters who were behind me earlier as the .22 seems to be going in their direction. Terp and I begin grumbling loudly about parenting, responsibility and courtesy. We also suspect they are shooting at doves with the .22.

We also get a great airshow. Some daredevil in a plane begins doing loop-de-loops, dives and other air related tricks..mostly right over our heads. I'm worried that we will be involved in some freak airshow related accident. You know the kind, the plane begins a dive and then crashes into our set-up, ending in a firey explosion and only the earlier mentioned rattlesnake survives..along with his .22 shooting buddies.

Shortly after the plane leaves.a hot air balloon wanders into our airspace..I don't think they know it's opening day..so we hold our fire until they've cleared the "hot zone" in order to avoid a Hindenburg-like incident. (Oh the humanityyyyyyy!)

Around 9, the birds have figured out that something is amiss and that many of their friends have come up missing and cease to fly in our area. We decide to call it a morning. Both Terp and I finished the day with 8 birds each.

I can't wait to go again. This time, I'll bring safety glasses, flak jacket,kevlar helmet, large orange flags, snake gaiters, more Oreo's, smoke for signaling planes and balloons, and more patience.

Other than that, I wouldn't have traded that morning for any other. Well, ok, I could have done without the .22 rounds richocheting in every direction.

End of report.

[shedhntr]

sounds very similiar to my hunt, except the .22's were 9mms. the birds didnt really start flying until 8:30 a.m. did limit out on mosquitos by 6:30. new to this site and azbasszone.