John's Journal...

Enjoying a Dove Game – Any Number Can Hunt and Play

Day 3: A Traditional Dove Shoot Lasts a Full Day, Including Recipes for After the Hunt

Editor’s Note: Dixie sportsmen are bringing-back the great old tradition of plantation dove shooting. The best part is that you don’t really need a plantation to try it. Much of our hunting today has become a sport for loners, with many of the social and the recreational values eliminated. There was wisdom in the old planters of yesteryear who chose to meet annually in the fall for a delicious meal, a dove shoot and a time of fellowship. A plantation-style dove shoot today may be just the remedy to put fellowship, friendship and people enjoying people back into the sport of hunting.

"The Heisman Spirit" by nationally-known artist Daniel Moore will be auctioned-off at the dove shoot, a 36 X 28.5 edition that Moore will personalize at the shoot. Each hunter in attendance at the dove shoot will receive an 8 X 10, artist-personalized, edition.

Click for Larger ViewHunters arrive at Sweet Apple Farms the morning of the University of Alabama Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ shoot (See Day 2) and store their gear before the noon hunting time. Prior to lunch, they sight-in on either trap or skeet or fish in heavily-stocked bass ponds. Then after sitting-down to a barbecued lunch with all the fixings and homemade desserts, each hunter is taken to his stand. The shoot begins when all the hunters arrive at their stands. With success afield during September, you’ll need recipes to prepare the doves you’ve taken. Here are some of our family’s favorites.

Baked Doves

Ingredients:

18 doves
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons Crisco oil
Salt and pepper
1/8-teaspoon garlic salt
Juice and grated rind of 1/2-lemon
2 teaspoons liquid smoke
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
4 strips bacon
1/4-cup chicken broth
1/4-cup water

Preparation:

Click for Larger ViewBrown doves in a mixture of butter and Crisco oil in a skillet; salt and pepper liberally while browning. Remove doves to a baking dish. Sprinkle with garlic salt, lemon juice and rind, liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce and more salt and pepper. Cover the doves with bacon. Deglaze the skillet in which the doves were browned with the chicken broth and water. Pour over doves. Cover and bake at 325 degrees for 1-1/2-hours.

Yummy Doves

Our daughter-in-law, Shanna Phillips, gave us this recipe for chicken that’s very delicious and easy to prepare, and we also enjoy using with doves.

Ingredients:

8 – 12 dove breast fillets – cut into pieces and not already cooked
1/2-bottle French dressing
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1 packet dry onion mix
Preparation:
Put in a crockpot, and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours. Doubles well.

Working Barn Stew

Click for Larger ViewThis recipe is another simple, yet delicious, one for chicken or doves.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound of dove breast fillets, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup chopped onion
1/2-medium green bell pepper, chopped
1/2-medium yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
2 14-1/2-ounce cans stewed tomatoes
1 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
3/4-cup purchased, medium picante sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2-cup shredded cheddar cheese
6 tablespoons sour cream

Preparation:

In large stockpot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chicken, onion, bell peppers and garlic, and cook for about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, beans, picante sauce, chili powder and cumin. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 25 minutes or up to 2 hours. We like to use our crockpot to place the stew mixture in, once all the ingredients have been added, and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours. Place in individual serving bowls, and top with cheese and sour cream.

Country Style Doves

Ingredients:

Click for Larger View6-8 dove breast fillets
Salt, pepper
Flour
Crisco shortening
Preparation:

Coat doves with seasoned flour by shaking flour and dove breasts in a bag. Brown on all sides in shortening. Remove breasts. Leave 3 tablespoons shortening in the skillet. Sift in about 2 tablespoons flour and brown, stirring. Stir in salt, pepper and water to make gravy. Place browned doves in gravy, and cook over low heat until tender.

For information on the University of Alabama’s FCA benefit dove hunt, go to www.bamafca.com.

Tomorrow: The Value of Having a Good Retrieving Dog on Your Dove Shoot


Check back each day this week for more about "Enjoying a Dove Game – Any Number Can Hunt and Play "

Day 1: Remembering the Dove Shoots of Yesterday
Day 2: Tradition Upheld – A Plantation-Style Dove Shoot at Sweet Apple Farms near Livingston, Alabama That Benefits the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Day 3: A Traditional Dove Shoot Lasts a Full Day, Including Recipes for After the Hunt
Day 4: The Value of Having a Good Retrieving Dog on Your Dove Shoot
Day 5: How to Plan an Old-Fashioned Dove Shoot

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Entry 629, Day 3