Doves @ The Ranch - Sunday, Sept 3, 2023

The day started at 6:15 am with venison biscuits & gravy.  Dad, Michael, Zach, Harrison, Hailie, Alex, Will and I partied down.  Kathy & Hadley passed.  Nick showed up later.  

We split into three groups and set up along the driveway at about 7.  Nick and Zach took the pond.  Michael, Hadley, and Alex took the corner.  Kathy, Harrison, Hailie (observer, not hunter), Will and I took our driveway out front.  We all had Mojo decoys and stationary decoys to put out.

And... the hunting was slow.  The kids got bored and walked just to switch places.  Not many shots were fired.  In fact, we logged 3 birds and probably 12 shots total.  Although Harrison was having fun, he didn't get many (i.e. none).

About 10-ish, we grabbed the clay pigeon / trap thrower and met at the curve to shoot some clays.  This was enjoyable because we could haze each other.  And once folks figured out the pattern, we switched the flight path and humbled them.

For not having shot since she was a wee lass, Hailie did very well.  Harrison took some time to get warmed up, but really preferred the OU shotgun versus his pump.  Both performed better than Alex (according to his wife!).  

We came back to the house and grilled all the birds from Friday and today - wrapped in bacon, of course.  We ate the remainder of the venison salami, and yes, once again consumed adult beverages.

And then we took naps - well, at least I did.


Eric showed up at 7 pm.  So me, he, Alex and Will went to the pond to hunt evening birds.  There were more flying around and in one hour we shot what we had all morning - 3 in the bag.  I didn't mention that this morning I didn't even get a gun out.  I was lead interrogator for Hallie & Harrison (engaged to be wed and not hunted doves before).  But tonight, I grabbed the Remington 870 Youth model 20 ga.  I went 50% - missed the first bird clean and dropped the second.  2 shots and 1 bird.  Alex?  Not so much.  I don't think Eric even fired a round.

We cleaned the birds, put things away, and called it a night by 9 pm.  Long day.  I need another nap.

Will with his BB gun and a hunting bucket full of decoys - heading off to hunt!
This is the future of the sport folks!
Teach your kids to hunt so you don't have to hunt for your kids. - Ted Nugent


Harrison & Hailie ready to start their dove hunting together.
Look @ their cute matching outfits!

The Martin Family ready for opening day of doves!

This is indeed a photo of Harrison with a dove.
Is it his dove?  #Nope

Hailie & Kathy doing the selfie thing

Hailie blazing away at clays

The group shooting clays

The boys' turn to shoot


Hadley & Will with a dove


My spot hunting doves on the pond later that night.
I soon went 50% or 1 bird for 2 shots.


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