Annual Harvest
Today is September 1st.
To a Texan, this means the beginning of Dove Season.
Our morning we started at 4 am with coffee and breakfast leading up to our hour-long drive out to the fields. With No traffic on the road this early on a Sunday morning, we arrived early.
Birds were moving well before sunrise. As per Texas law, we waited until 30 minutes before sunrise before we began our yearly tradition. This year the birds were as thick as bugs on a bumper, an analogy drawn from the song Convoy by C W McCall.
This year I chose the Benelli M2 12-gauge because of the rain we have in the area. I wanted something dependable in all conditions. The Benelli M2 is inertia driven making it more reliable in wet conditions over a gas-operated shotgun. Oh, and this year I reminded myself to make sure the 3 round plug was properly installed. This not only gives our winged friends a chance, but it is also required by law.
The morning hunt yielded great rewards as we obtained our limit within an hour. With the vast number of birds in the air this year, it is tough not to hit something in the air.
We are now off to continue our tradition back at basecamp where we will clean our harvest and get them on the smoker for dinner. Lunch will consist of our usual Campfire Chili and Cornbread which was placed on the fire before we departed.
This year is a bit different in a way. Also armed with my mobile hotspot and laptop, my friends and family noted I was online writing this post. As my online business grows and push towards retirement, I look forward to logging on a couple of hours a day to check on things while I am out playing and enjoying life.
I am looking forward to the evening hunt before we repeat the process tomorrow morning on Labor Day. If you are out hunting today, remember your basic gun safety and bring everyone home in one piece. Good Luck and Have a Great Hunt!
"Let's bring them (Birds) down and get them in our bellies where they belong."
Michael
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Recent Comments
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Michael,
Growing up in the farming world around the West Texas Plains, this was a definite part of the year's flow. I miss being young enough to enjoy the dove hunting!
Sitting on the side of a dirt tank, picking stickers out of my sox! That just doesn't do it fot me nowadays!
Thanks for the walk down memory lane,
Sami
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Mmmm.. shooting poor defenseless animals....
I'll say no more...
Poor Defenseless "Tasty" Animals.
You forgot an adjective.
Michael
Maybe I did my friend!