What is worth standing on the edge of a dirt field in the afternoon when the thermometer says 112°? If it is September, and you are in Arizona, it is probably for the start of dove hunting. This year Arizona passed a new law that reopened some old dove hunting land in the state. The law passed allowed hunters to legally discharge a firearm to pursue game inside city limits, allowing a lot of desert to reopen for hunting. Thus I find myself in the afternoon after work standing in a dirt field slowly roasting.
Fortunately, a friend of mine had scouted this field and the doves where moving continuously through the field. We set up to intercept them as they moved in the afternoon from feeding fields to some water just east of the dirt lot. This year I was unable to make it out and shoot some skeet preseason, this showed right away. The first 20 doves to fly by me were given a free pass, as I was nowhere near hitting one. Finally I hit my first bird of the season, which got the ball rolling. One of the things I enjoy about dove hunting is the crazy variety of shots they provide. Most of the time I can make the right to left shot, or the straight on shot, but find left to right to be more difficult. Dove will challenge you on all angles and speeds. As the evening wore on and the suns affects diminished, my shooting improved. Day one of dove hunting was once again successful.
Amy jokes how September first is one of the few holidays that I am guaranteed to take a little time off of work. Your shooting got progressively better as the season wore on. By duck season, you should be in fine form.
ReplyDeleteI was in fine form before the end of dove season, thank you. But we will do great this year out in the duck blinds.
ReplyDelete