Checklist for the dove hunter
By By Otha Barham / outdoors editor
August 27, 2004
Plenty of times I have grabbed my gun and some shells and dashed off to the dove field on opening day having forgotten some item that became more and more essential as the hunts progressed. This was usually due to one or more familiar reasons. My mind had been on fishing for several months and I wasn't concentrating on hunting and wasn't ready to make the first hunt of the season. Or an attitude of "It's just dove shooting for heaven's sake. I need a gun and a license."
I eventually learned that if I neglect any one of the following, I usually regret it.
1. Take some sun screen. You haven't been out in the sun all that much and you could get cooked opening day. That hurts. Skin cancer is no fun and can come along later and take you out.
2. Bring a stool to sit on. Standing for a quick limit is a breeze, but three or four hours on your feet if the birds are not flying is a pain.
3. Speaking of a breeze, there may not be one and a few swigs of cold water will make you smile and save your kidneys at the same time. Take at least a quart.
4. For Pete's sake don't go for doves wearing that white cap with the stupid catchphrase on it. And cover up that white T-shirt. Every year I see some dove hunter dressed with such and wonder if he is trying to handicap himself. The birds flare away at 50 yards and the chap burns a lot of powder for naught. Wear camo.
5. Do your gun a favor and take along a small can of rust preventing spray. The salt from your sweaty hands will just ruin a shotgun's metal finish. Spray it and wipe it down in the field when the action slows and your gun will appreciate it.
6. Be sure that the other spray can in your bag is insect repellent. Mosquitos annoy you, chiggers dig in and stay around for days sucking your blood and ticks can be dangerous. Repel them.
7. Wear your glasses to protect your eyes. Eye injuries are rare, but can be very, very tragic. Sun glasses may be necessary. On cloudy days, shooting glasses with yellow lenses provide great contrast. If you haven't tried them you will be surprised.
8. I'm not sure why I am placing snacks this far down on the list when in fact my snacks usually outweigh all my other dove gear put together. Better to have too much than face starvation, I always say.
9. Dove hunting is a lot of fun, but if you go off and forget your shotgun and shells, it can be a drag. Take twice the number of shells that you think you will need. Sometimes you will need all you take and some borrowed ones too.
10. Finally, take along some little gift for your host to say thank you. A couple boxes of shells will be warmly received if he or she is among the shooters. A carton of .22s, a six pack of cool drinks, a new camo cap, some bug spray something to show your gratitude for being included.
All the above items can go into a modest size plastic cooler except of course the gun and the stool. And you can even skip the stool and sit on the cooler.
