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Are You Ready for Dove Season?

Are You Ready for Dove Season?

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Times Outdoor Columnist Have you noticed all the young doves getting gravel on the sides of the roads? It appears that we have had a good hatch of birds in spite of an unusually wet spring and summer. Doves live only a few years and a 5 year bird is old. The opening of dove season signals the start of hunting season and opening day is almost here. Are you ready?

The first thing is make sure your hunting license is current. License can be purchased from stores that handle hunting and fishing supplies, or over the internet and by phone (800364-4263). The first thing the game wardens check is the hunting license and the price of the license is much cheaper than the fine. If you are a non resident, don’t try to sneak it by as a resident. That costs double. Most dove hunts are by invitation and are expensive and hard to prepare, so always be sure to THANK your HOST! This is a social time to be with old and new friends, gathering to shoot a few birds and spend some quality time afield. Quite often this is the first real hunt that kids get to participate in, being a real part, not just along to pick up Dad’s Birds. I can remember Dr. Keith’s 1st dove and the rest of that hunt. He didn’t get a limit, but it was not from lack of pulling the trigger.

That was many years ago and we try to hunt together on opening day as often as possible. It’s getting close to that time when my grandson Owen joins in that tradition.

Getting ready for opening morning on Sunday Sept.

1, 2019, is always fun.

Take those young hunters and “bust” some clay targets. Most outdoor stores have plenty of shotgun shells and clay targets that can be hand thrown or with a machine that will last for many opening days. On opening day have plenty of shells because doves are much harder to hit than orange clay birds.

The limit is 15 morning or white-winged doves and the 3 day possession limit is 45. There is no limit on Eurasian or collared doves but make sure you can identify the species because wardens Andy and Will definitely can! For big bird hunters, Canada goose season opens the same day and the limit is 5 birds per day.

When was the last time you cleaned your gun?

Recently or maybe not since the last time you shot a duck. Steven and Samuel Gattis, who own and operate Webb Arms in Marion are running a gun cleaning special. This is for all guns except muzzle loaders, a Standard cleaning is $20 and the Advance cleaning where the gun is completely broken down and each part is inspected is $35. If you have ever completely cleaned any gun, this is a bargain and they do quickly. They take care of my guns and they are very good. Gattis has a good selection of both hand guns and long guns and they will give a box of ammunition with a purchase. If a scope is purchased they will mount and bore site it at no charge. Webb Arms is the only complete archery store in town and are offering 10-70 per cent off on many items. They can restring your bow and customize your arrows. A new item is a handheld Thermal Camera that is great for following blood trails, The first hunting seasons are in warm weather and need light weight clothes.

We all love our old shirts and parts but even these eventually wear out, and what it is worse, they tend to shrink a couple of sizes. Maybe too many deer steaks with taters and gravy after the hunt? Tobey Duncan at ANN’S Outdoor Warehouse on 7th St. has good selection of early season hunting clothes in all the new camo patterns.

Did that old hunting chair finally wear out? He has comfortable chairs and stools that are light weight.

How about new boots while walking around in snake county looking for a downed bird? And don’t forget your cap or hat? It seems like you just got that young hunter camo clothes. You did, and it is good if there is another younger outdoorsman to pass them down to. At least every two years that kid needs a larger size. Toby has a good selection that will fit. At least for this year! While you wait for the game to show up, the mosquitoes are already there. Thermal Cells are the solution and they can also be used deer and turkey hunting. Don’t forget head lights if you stay a little late.

If it’s time to look for a new gun, either new or used, visit Bryan Simonetti at City Cash Pawn in Marion. He has a good selection and will take your old gun in on a brand new one. He has plenty of shotgun shells plus a lot of other interesting items in the store at a bargain price.

Labor Day is the last of the summer BBQ weekends. If you are having a Labor Day hunt or get together, Bonds’ store at Horseshoe has some of the best BBQ along with slaw and baked beans. They cook it the old fashioned way, long and slow using hickory and pecan. They have butts, ribs, and chicken. Give Natalie a call at 870-339-3381 and reserve some of the best you have ever eaten. Try it once and you will come back for more. Let them do the cooking while you are in the field dove hunting.

The fishing report is about the same as last week in spite of all the thunder storms and hard rains. Midway remains the place to go if monster bream are on the ticket. Bass and catfish are also good if you have the technique. Good catches of nice crappie are taken by trollers. Burnt Cane is producing good numbers of small/medium bass and keeping size bream. All the recent hard rains has made the ramp at Cow Bayou tricky and 4-wheel drive is a necessity. Good catches of crappie, both pole fishing and trolling, are being reported with many large slabs caught on jigs and live minnows.

Get that kid in the woods and on the water with you. Lakeside Taxidermy needs some more trophies to mount at a reasonable price, fast service, and beautiful work. Send pictures and stories for all to share and enjoy.

Papa Duck Lakeside Taxidermy 870-732-0455 or 901482-3430 jhcriner@hotmail.com

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