SECRETS TO TAKING MORE DOVES WITH TONY ROSETTI

More Dove-Hunting Secrets

EDITOR'S NOTE: Tony Rosetti not only has the reputation in years past as one of the nation's best shots but also has proved his prowess with a shotgun in national and international competitions. He was the United States International World Champion in1969, 1971 and 1972; the National Skeet-Shooting World Champion, an aggregate of all four gauges .410, .28, and .12, in 1970 and 1972; the World Champion in 1972 in .12 gauge and .410 gauge; the last person to win three of the five World Gauge Championships; a member of the Pan-American Games Gold Medal Team in 1971; the Silver medal individual winner in 1971; a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic Shooting Team;, and the past winner of the Mississippi State Championship and many other championships and big-gun shoots.

Learn Why You're Missing: According to Rosetti, "A good wing-shooting instructor will be able to tell you whether you're shooting in front of or behind the targets and teach you the proper shooting position to correct your misses. He'll look at the way you mount the gun and watch the position of your head when you shoot. He'll notice if you pick your head up off the stock, which can cause you to miss. If you raise your head up even only 1/2-inch above the rib, you'll shoot 3-feet high. Usually you won't be able to tell whether you're raising your head up or not. All you need to see when you shoot correctly is the bead of the shotgun and the bird. Taking a lesson or two from a shooting instructor will allow you to identify your mistakes and shoot more accurately."

Understand When To Shoot: As Rosetti mentions, "Don't hesitate too long to shoot. Often a hunter waits until a dove is right on top of him before taking the shot. But the best place to try and bag a dove is when it's out in front of you. Probably the most-difficult shot is attempting to take a dove when it's straight up over your head. Instead, try and bag doves somewhat further away. Get into the proper shooting position before you squeeze the trigger. Then if the bird does start to dip to the left or the right, you may have time to compensate for the dove's movement, if it's further out in front of you instead of straight up over your head. Remember, doves don't fly like clay targets. When they're riding the wind, zigging and zagging, you need to have enough time to compensate for their erratic flight before you squeeze the trigger. You won't have time to make those adjustments if you let the bird get too close. If I see a dove darting as it comes into the field, I plan to bag that dove when it's 20- to 30-yards out. Then my shot pattern can open out. Even if the bird does dart to the left or the right, there will be enough shot in the air to down it. When a dove is closer to you, your shot pattern is tighter, and the dove has a better chance of dodging the shot."

Know How To Take A follow-Up Shot: After you have shot and missed a dove, Rosetti suggests you forget about the first shot. "Concentrate on the second shot. Make sure your cheek is still against the stock. Remember to swing your barrel out in front of the bird before you squeeze the trigger. Most of the time the second shot will be the most difficult to make. Since the bird is generally closer to you then when you made your first shot, you'll tend to rush the second shot."

Determine Lead: Most shooters kill their doves within 25 to 30 yards of the shooter. Rosetti comments that, "Determining your lead depends on how strong the wind blows, how fast the dove flies, if the birds are flying with or against the wind, and what distance you are from the dove. Generally, if you attempt to bag doves from 25 to 30 yards, then lead the bird 3 to 4 feet. To learn to use a 4-foot lead, put two sticks on the ground 4-feet apart. Aim at the first stick while looking at the second stick. This exercise will help you determine what a 4-foot lead looks like. If you aren't able to judge a 4-foot lead on the ground, you'll have a difficult time determining what a 4-foot lead is in the air."

Use The Chokes And Shells Best For Dove Hunting: Most people tend to overchoke themselves when hunting doves. They either use modified or full chokes believing that with tighter chokes they can bag doves at greater distances -- perhaps out to 50 or 60 yards. However, for every bird they bag at 50 to 60 yards, they'll miss five or six birds out of 10 that will be at 25 yards or less. Rosetti has found that the best all-around choke for the dove hunter is, "The modified. I prefer 3 drams of powder with the equivalent of 1-1/8-ounces of No. 8 shot for shooting doves. I use the super-light trap loads instead of the economy shells or promotional shells most dove hunters tend to shoot. By paying $1.50 more per box for high-quality trap loads that have been formulated to produce the most dense pattern at the greater distances, I bag more doves than the hunters do who shoot the less expensive shells."

TOMORROW: MORE SECRETS THAT WILL HELP YOU DOVE HUNT SUCCESSFULLY