Dove hunter reporting in: Limited out at 15.

[Eleanors38]

Got my limit at a friend's "ranchita" in Texas. This is not a commercial operation, but a small spread with a cattle lease and spring-fed crop field with a strip of sunflowers. Hot day (98°), but we were in the field by 7 a.m., and I had my limit by 9 a.m. Wonderful time!

[Scuba]

1. How sad for you. You're going to clean and cook them, though, eh?

[Eleanors38]

3. What do you think?

Take aged, de-boned, buttetflyed dove breast and wrap around half a pickled jalapeno pepper (sliced length-wise), and a slice of cheddar jack; roll this within a slice of bacon, pinning it with a toothpick. Repeat per size of group you wish to gather around and sing your praises. Cook over rather hot hardwood fire till the bacon gets crusty and the cheese melts all over. Serve these bon bons piping hot, accompanied by ice sheet-forming Lone Star beer.

Hell, yeah I'll clean and cook 'em and EAT them after I fight off the surprise guests and half a dozen cats.

[ManiacJoe]

5. You make a post like that without sending me any of the food?!?!?!?!???

I should talk to the host about banning you from the group....

[Eleanors38]

6. My hunting buddy uses the giblets to make a dirty rice dish.

Try cleaning miniature gizzards. I have yet to try that, but I'm going to. Last spring, I traded off some venison for a package of naturally raised goat, and made a goat curry & coconut stew which was exceptional. I'm going to sub the goat with deer and see what happens.

[meathead]

8. That sounds goooood!

I spent a summer in Greece eating goat roasted on a spit, giro style. It was the best street food I've ever had! Congrats on the successful hunt, I'm headed to my dove field Sept 19th.

[Eleanors38]

9. Good luck on your hunt! I'll be back on a public field as well

once the heat backs off a bit. Looks like next Friday next wk brings 90° & 80% chance of early afternoon showers, that might bring them through. Yeah, goat done right is great. The guy with the cattle lease had 3 we saw while hunting. Big demand for the meat, cheese and milk, but only 2 USDA milk-cheese facilities in Texas.

[Hemmingway]

2. Wonderful!!

I am preparing my food plots and shooting lanes for deer season. We are about to run out of venison from last year. I plan to fill all my tags this year and get a trophy if I'm lucky.

[Eleanors38]

4. I now take 2 deer/yr. Check the recipe for dove I described above

It works well for deer, too.

[meathead]

7. I'm dove hunting Oct 19th!

I just got back from my lease, I was fine tuning feeders and cameras. I'm on a MLD3 lease, so we food plot year-round. We only take does at 2 1/2 and bucks at 4 1/2. Archery season starts 9/27 and I can't wait!

[tularetom]

10. Limited out opening day, haven't been back since

I picked up some sort of allergic reaction out there. Itchy watery eyes and a stuffed up nose are keeping me home.

Too bad because all I have to do is climb over my back fence and walk across a dry creek bed and I have access to several hundred acres of prime dove habitat. My dog is driving me nuts, he wants back out there worse than I do.

We used to have a big family cookout at the end of the first half of our split season but all my grand kids are parents now and don't shoot as much these days. Doubt if we'll do that this year, 15 doves won't be enough.

[Eleanors38]

11. Cram some Vicks up your nose and head back out!

I'm going to try and sneak a hunt in tomorrow morn at the WMA N. of Austin, ahead of a front & rain. After that, it's cooler and the wonders of caliche.

Too bad, but when we are young and urban we forget the treasure of having The Woods so near and accessible. Now, it is what I look forward to most.

Congratulations on your limit!

[ileus]

12. We hit the range today getting ready for next Sat youth day.

At least I think it's next Saturday, may be the next one. Either way my son's 7mm08 was spot on.

Then we shot the new CZ p-08...

[Eleanors38]

13. Lucky y'all. Youth hunts for deer in Texas are Oct 24 & 25,

a wk. earlier than general gun season.

I hear good things about the 7mm 08; doesn't kick much, but is more authoritative and versatile than the .243 class.

[ileus]

14. I really like the round...

So much I haven't taken out my 270 or 308 in several years.

His gun is a little H&R youth super small and light, so it's got some recoil but not to where my (soon to be 10) year old son can't handle it.

I'm thinking of finding a youth bolt for next year in 7mm08 and upgrade him from the single shot.

[Eleanors38]

15. There are so many good affordable rifles, now.

For under $600 you can get a -MOA rifle in many calibers. 30 yrs. ago, that was considered custom shop quality.