Well, another opening day of public has come and gone. The turnout seemed to be a little lighter than last year. The bike dash was once again a sight to behold. My buddy and my son saw a few crashes but I was too busy trying to survive the 1000 yard dash to be able to pay attention to anything else. The last 100 yards I went to tunnel vision and was only thinking about making it to our spot alive without having a heart attack.fficeffice" />>>
We were able to grab the same spot we shot last year and got set up. We got a few shots off right away as birds were flushed by other hunters entering the field. Once things settled down a little the birds continue coming in ones and twos for the next hour or so.>>
The field was full of juvenile birds and they were flying early and nonstop. After a few were killed around us everyone started calling out juvies and most people quit shooting them. They were as plentiful as a field full of Dragon Flies and I've never seen anything like it before.>>
As the afternoon progressed hunters continued to arrive and filled in around us. About 4:00 this dude comes by and was struggling to make it thru the muddy field. Tired and looking like he couldn’t go any further he started to set up about 20 yards away from me. I called him out on that bullshit and he moved another 10-15 yards down. It wasn't optimal but my group was close to limits and I made a mental note to try and long gun every single bird that flew over him.>>
I got my chance pretty quick when his first bird was coming straight to him. He had his gun up and was watching the bird but I just happened to be a little quicker and the bird was mine. It dropped about 10' from the dude and as I walked over to retrieve the bird I was grinning like a mule eating briars. The satisfaction was all mine.>>
Unfortunately, all was not well in the field today. To the father the next stand over by the train track with the 12 year old son, you sir should be terribly ashamed of yourself. Your repeated cussing and yelling at your son was a poor display of fatherhood and sportsmanship. Why you felt the need to cuss the boy up and down for not calling out birds to you was beyond anything I can fathom as a father.>>
As the dad’s hateful tirades continued throughout the afternoon, once again a chance at satisfaction would be mine. A long crossing bird was leaving a trail of misses behind when it was almost to the jackass that had set up next to me earlier. Once again the old pump gun came alive and another bird was dead. The little boy had also shot at the same moment I did and the bird fell real close to him. As I started the walk thru the mud the little boy had already retrieved the bird. The dad’s words to his son was ugly, yelling and cussing, he told his son he didn’t kill that bird and he had to give it up. The boy’s pleading attempts to explain that he had shot the bird just encouraged the father to yell at him more. I ignored the father and called to the boy. I told him it that I saw him kill that bird and he needs to put it in his bag. After a little more urging he accepted the bird and with a parting, “Thanks mister.” I walked back to my stand.>>
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Overall, it was a great day and I was blessed to be able to share another opening day dove field my own son.>>
33 birds with 3 guns.>>
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