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John's Journal... Entry 112, Day 2

KEVIN TATE: DOVE SHOOTING SECRETS

More Dove Shooting Secrets

Click to enlargeEDITOR'S NOTE: Kevin Tate of West Point, Mississippi, a screenwriter for Mossy Oak's and Remington's outdoor TV shows and videos, has more than 20 years of dove-shooting experience. This week Tate will tell us his top 10 secrets for shooting doves more effectively and consistently.

SECRET NUMBER 3 -- CHOOSE THE BEST GUN
You'll need to hunt with a gun that you've practiced with and that's best-suited for you. Some hunters will purchase or borrow guns a week or two before dove season begins. Instead of going to a skeet range and shooting two or three boxes of shells to become accustomed to the guns, they'll save those shells and waste twice that many on opening morning by missing most of the doves they attempt to take. The key to shooting doves is being very familiar with the gun you're using. The 20-, 16- and 12-gauge shotguns are the most popular and the easiest guns to use. I prefer to shoot a 12-gauge Winchester automatic because of its familiarity. I also like the 12-gauge shotgun because it provides more shots, a better range and a difference in recoil compared to a 20 gauge. Additionally, the 12 gauge gives me more opportunity for success with a little more shot capacity. I also use No. 7 size shot in a Winchester shell. You can expect more shot uniformity with a Winchester shell, which leads to better patterns and better-overall performance.

Click to enlargeSECRET NUMBER 4 -- SELECT PROPER LOADS
I advise hunters to pattern their shotguns. Get a piece of posterboard and half-a-dozen different dove loads, and shoot at the board to see how the loads pattern. You'll be amazed at how various loads perform in a shotgun. Sometimes you'll find loads that are inexpensive for a reason -- they're not well-made, and the shot may not be uniform. As a result, the load may not pattern well. For example, you may shoot a posterboard with a loaded 12 gauge at 30 yards, but there may be holes in the pattern through which you can throw a football. That pattern is not satisfactory for hunting. Too, using inferior equipment is not respectful to the game you're shooting.

TOMORROW: MORE DOVE SHOOTING SECRETS


 

 

 

Check back each day this week for more about Dove Shooting...

Day 1 - Kevin Tate: Dove Shooting Secrets
Day 2 - More Dove Shooting Secrets
Day 3 - More Dove Shooting Secrets
Day 4 - More Dove Shooting Secrets
Day 5 - More Dove Shooting Secrets


John's Journal