Dove, Dogs, and Shotguns

Blistering heat, dead or failing crops, dead lawns, and burn bans pretty much describe this summer here in Texas. Most say this year’s almost fourteen inch shortfall of rain is a curse, but I say it’s great news for dove hunting. Before you call me crazy, let me explain.

“In my opinion for doves and most avian species, the drought doesn’t affect them,” said Jeff Makemson, a state biologist.

Makemson goes on to say that drought doesn’t necessarily help dove as much as rainy, stormy weather hurts them.

“A dove will typically build a nest in a pine tree about 12 feet off the ground,” Makemson said. “It is a fragile nest that will blow down easily. Storms, heavy rain and wind will affect their nesting success.”

Nesting is critical to hunting success. Especially early in the season, when the population of dove is local birds. Heavy rain and storms limits a dove’s ability to nest and reproduce, therefore populations decline. The later migration of northern dove happens later in the season as cooler northern air forces them south in search of food and shelter.

In short, a good opening day is dependent on local dove populations ability to nest and reproduce. In a drought the mortality rates in nesting dove goes down and the reproduction rates go up. Therefore, populations are higher in a dry season. All this leads to great dove hunting during these years, and this year has all the conditions in place and should be phenomenal.

Another note worthy point about the effect of drought is that the hunting around good watering holes is better. In a wet year the dove can water at any puddle around and will not be found concentrated around large bodies of water. When you take the puddles away it forces them to head to the stock tanks and ponds, playing right into a smart hunter’s sights.

Dove don’t like watering where there is a lot of brush or high grass. They prefer sandy, flat shores with shallow water. In a drought, water levels drop creating perfect watering holes, and perfect hunting spots. Set up a few decoys and have plenty of shells, because you will need them.

My dad loves to get out early in the afternoon hunts, but with record temperatures, you might want to take a little longer nap. Dove will typically enter a field to feed in the afternoon between 3:30 and 4:00 P.M., but when it’s extraordinarily hot they will wait until closer to 5:00 P.M..

Just another way that an effective hunter can maximize his time in the field, spending more time reloading instead of false alarming on dragonflies.

Here’s to good hunting this season!

Time to RELOAD!

Dove, Dogs, & Shotguns

• Mimosa Farms Public Dove Hunting #2378 Review Located about 60 miles south of  San Antonio in Dilley, TX, Mimosa Farms public land is one of the best public dove leases I've been on. The property is about 1450 acres and was well maintained. The land consisted of about 900-950 acres of croton that had been shred into rows......
• Texas Migratory Bird Report Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February. North Zone Dove: Wet weather continues to plague the dove flight, making access to fields tough. Muddy roads and soggy fields have not been conducive to hunting. Most of the birds have left the bottoms and staged......
• Wearing Earplugs - Just Do It Do you wear earplugs while dove hunting or shooting a shotgun? if you are like me, the answer is no. I've made every excuse in the book for not wearing them. From, it messes up my shot, to, they are not comfortable. I think after you read the following report,......

• Fishing and Boating Lexicon Continued Clarity - This refers to how clear the water is, this is measured by how deep an item can be and still be visible from the water's surface. Clearwater - This is a term that is used in order to describe a body of water like a river or lake......
• Beyond the Emergency Fund: Water, Water Everywhere, but Not a Drop to Drink This article is the first in a five-part series on preparing your household "Beyond the Emergency Fund." For five consecutive Mondays, we'll look at a variety of preparedness methods such as food and water storage, alternative power sources and ways to prepare for specific types of household emergencies. On the......
• Stone Tree Golf Club Stone Tree Golf Club is located in: Novato, CA Phone: 415-209-6435 Website: http://www.stonetreegolf.com Course History: Stone Tree Golf Club was opened in 2000 and was designed by Johnny Miller, Sandy Tatum, Jim Summers and Fredrick C. Bliss, ASGCA. The Par 72 course stretches out over more than 6800 yards and......

Of course the tree huggers don’t like it, but it looks like some one is going to get to have some fun in Waller. Luckily, Waller is only 20 minutes from my front door, I will be investigating what exactly this means for hunters and will keep everyone posted.

From the Houston Chronicle:

Federal wildlife wardens have granted a Waller County airport permission to kill up to 2,400 birds a year to reduce the danger of collisions with aircraft, stirring a new round of criticism from conservationists.

The permit allows the 2-year-old Houston Executive Airport to kill 13 species of migratory birds, including geese, egrets and sandhill cranes, in an effort to ensure aircraft safety.

Bird advocates argue that the permit confirms their decades-old position that the Katy Prairie, a popular stopping point for migratory birds on the central flyway, is not the right place for an airport.

“Why put an airport in a place full of migratory birds?” said attorney Jim Blackburn, who represented a citizens group that had opposed the development of the airport near wetlands and wildlife preserves. “They will kill thousands of birds, but the problem won’t go away.”

But Jeff Haskins, who leads the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s migratory bird office for the Southwest region, said the permit was “kind of a no-brainer. I always side with the aircraft.”

An airplane’s engine can suck in a bird — killing it and, sometimes, the engine. In January, geese sucked into engines forced a US Airways jet to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River shortly after taking off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

More than 7,500 planes collided with birds in 2007, according to the most recent federal data. But the Federal Aviation Administration has said it doesn’t know the full extent of the problem because only about 20 percent of bird strikes are reported.

The Houston Executive Airport, about 35 miles west of downtown, has recorded two bird strikes since opening in January 2007, said Andrew Perry, its executive director.

Airport officials have used loud, startling noises to scare birds away from the runway. The permit allows them to use shotguns and pesticides after every effort has been made to haze birds from the 1,980-acre property.

A wildlife manager under contract with the airport would kill the birds. If any are killed, it likely will happen mostly in the winter, as flocks of migratory fowl arrive.

Perry said the permit is standard operating procedure for an airport “in case there is a need to take an animal for the safety of people and the aircraft.”

The permit is in effect for one year, after which the airport must submit a list of kills to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Airports throughout Texas and the nation must request such permits because transitory birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 among the United States, Canada, Mexico and many other countries.

Environmentalists had previously raised concerns about potential bird deaths if an airport operated on the prairie, home to hundreds of thousands of wintering geese, ducks and hawks and other resident birds, such as bald eagles and barn owls.

For nearly two decades, the city of Houston debated whether to build a Waller County airport for corporate jets and other smaller planes. But the city abandoned the project in 1998 after the FAA concluded that an airport should not be built on the site because the large number of birds in the area posed a threat.

Perry said the bird population has declined since then because of suburban sprawl.

Still, some bird experts said the permit makes little sense because most birds on the list are abundant.

“Where do you draw the line? Are 2,400 birds enough when thousands of geese winter in Waller County? I don’t think so,” said Cliff Shackelford, an ornithologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

What’s more, the list doesn’t include snow geese—a prominent inhabitant in the winter.

“This is a peculiar list,” said Fred Collins, a former president of the Houston Audubon Society. “It’s hard to recognize what they’re trying to do.”

Haskins, of the Fish and Wildlife Service, said the agency is aware that 2,400 is a small percentage of the birds that winter near the airport.

He said the number is based on the airport wildlife manager’s request.

matthew.tresaugue@chron.com

• New Season Hunting, Fishing Licenses Go On Sale Aug. 15 AUSTIN, Texas — Texas hunting and fishing licenses for 2009-2010 will go on sale Saturday, Aug. 15. Sportsmen are reminded all current Texas annual hunting and fishing licenses (except for the year-to-date fishing license) expire Aug. 31. Most fees for recreational hunting and fishing licenses have increased by five percent;......
• Let's Help Bring Dove Hunting to New York Communist, no dove hunting, that would be like no birthday or Christmas. From the PostStar.com It may have been nearly 50 years ago, but local real estate agent David Collins still fondly remembers his dove hunting outings while stationed with the U.S. Army in Kentucky. "It was a whole lot......
• Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo in Austin Suspended TPWD to Instead Expand Presence at Similar Events Statewide AUSTIN, Texas — Because of a sponsorship revenue decline related to the economic recession, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is cancelling the Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo set for Oct. 3-4 in Austin. The agency will suspend the Austin event for......

• Mothers visit U.S. detainees in Iran [/caption] TEHRAN, Iran – The mothers of three jailed Americans brought appeals for their freedom to Iran Wednesday on a mission that could be complicated by diplomatic showdowns over Iran's nuclear program. The three women are scheduled to visit their children — who have been held since July when they......
• Bing overtakes Google in U.S. market share Microsoft Corp's new Bing search engine gained U.S. market share in its first month in operation but still trails dominant rival Google Inc, according to data released on Wednesday. Bing, launched on June 3 but available to some users a few days earlier, took 8.23 percent of U.S. Web searches......
• U.S. Trade Deficit and Household Deficits are Amazingly Similar A stunningly simple overview of the Obama administration's plan to reduce the U.S. trade deficit, freeze federal spending, and allow the 250k+ salary tax cuts to expire. Why worry about such big picture items? Because a budget is a budget! It doesn't matter how big, or small, the numbers are.......

This is the video that  won first place at Cannes.

Perfect for ex-wives!

• Finding Good Dove Leases - Easier Said Than Done There are hundreds of dove leases advertised on the Internet and in newspapers. Just about everyone tells you that they have the best dove hunting in Texas. How do you know which ones actually have dove on them? IF you have a large bank account and can afford to hunt on......
• Left-Handed Shotguns Left-Hand Shotguns are few and far between. Finding one that has any style can be hard and expensive. I'm in the market for an over-under 20 ga. or 28 ga. and am getting frustrated. I listen to my brother going over all his options and I'm stuck choosing between plain......
• Walking the field Perhaps my favorite way to hunt dove is to walk the field for those dove that  have lighted in the field. Of course, if you are in a big shoot with many other shotguns, you can't do this for obvious safety reasons.  However, later in the season this method can be......

When you think about it, there is a lot of items that need to be accumulated to have a successful dove hunt. I’ve made a checklist to help make sure you don’t forget anything before opening day. Print it, and check it off before you leave, you’ll be happy you did.

• Place to hunt
• Place to stay
• Shotgun
• Spare Shotgun (just in case)
• Ammo
• Gun oil
• Hunting license
• Dog
• Dog kennel
• Electric collar
• Leash
• Dog treats
• Dog’s water bottle & water
• Dog food
• Flashlight
• Camo clothes
• Hunting boots
• Shell bag
• Game bag
• Shooting glasses
• Ear plugs
• Extra clothes
• Snacks for the field
• Water bottle for the field
• Drinks
• Ice
• Cooler for birds
• Cooler for drinks and food
• Mosquito spray
• Suncreen

• Texas Migratory Bird Report Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February. North Zone Dove: Wet weather continues to plague the dove flight, making access to fields tough. Muddy roads and soggy fields have not been conducive to hunting. Most of the birds have left the bottoms and staged......
• Skeet Shooting is Best Practice for Dove Hunters According to Phil Bourjaily of Field & Stream. Phil is a well known writer/gun expert and has some really good points on improving your kill ratio. I've always felt that skeet was a great warm up for dove season. I always start with my shotgun a little lower than most shooters to......
• Getting Started How to get started Dove Hunting A step by step guide to get you in the field! Dove Hunting is a great sport for all ages. Whether you are 12 or 50, it can be rewarding. I started at age 17 and haven't missed an opening day since. As the......

• 5 Common Weight Loss Mistakes Being involved in the weight loss industry for many years, I have seen a few common things that stop people from losing weight. These common, and often not thought of, things can frustrate and thwart your weight loss goals. Below is a list of mistakes that are made that......
• Final Stock Market Trading Days for 2009 It's that time of the year again and the holiday season is about to begin.  Don't forget that the stock market takes a holiday, too.  If you've been meaning to place more trades this year, make sure you know your stock market holidays and early closing hours. Be sure to......
• Roadside Emergency Kit: What to Include Bible Money Matters recently wrote a great series called "In the Event of an Emergency." This series inspired me to write a few posts that I thought would be beneficial towards emergency situations, too. Last week I wrote my first article that I thought would be applicable, Spring Cleaning Checklist:......

Charlie at the Picosa Ranch has recently listed his dove lease on our free listing service. THANK YOU, Charlie. Our goal at DD&S is to build a free site where hunters can view available listings and read reviews from hunters who have hunted these leases. So Charlie, get some of your customers to fill out the review form so everyone can see how great your place is. Below is all the info on the Picosa Ranch.

NAME OF LEASE: Charlie Ammann

EMAIL: cammann@picosaranch.com

CONTACT NAME: Charlie

CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: 512-428-5127

PREFERRED METHOD OF CONTACT: Phone

LOCATION INCLUDING CLOSEST CITY OR TOWN: Wilson County

TYPE OF LEASE: Day

PRICE: 850

DESCRIPTION:
Texas Dove Hunting
Picosa Ranch is a Texas dove hunter’s dream. Located just 30 miles southeast of San Antonio this pristine dove hunting property has grain fields of milo, millet and sunflower that hold whitewing and mourning dove throughout the ranch. If hunting doves around water ponds is your style, then you will enjoy the fast action of Texas dove hunting at its finest around 8 stocked ponds.

Texas Dove Hunting Package Includes:

•3 days of Texas Dove Hunting
•Guide service, skeet shooting, fishing, lodging, meals, beverages, in-field transportation, bird cleaning and vacuumed packaging.
•Dates: Sep. 18 - Nov. 3 and Dec. 26 - Jan. 9

•Rates: 3 Full Hunts (3 days/2 nights)- $895 per hunter
•Non- Hunters: $250 per night

• No reviews yet.

• TPWD Sets Hearings on Lastest Proposals In a news release from Steve Lightfoot with Texas Parks and Wildlife, he announced the the department would conduct 21 public hearings. The hearing would cover the topics of increasing fees and yhe new dove season propsals. Changes proposed for the 2009-10 Texas dove season include a 70 day season......
• Migratory Bird Report North Zone Dove: Best hunts have been in milo, corn and sunflowers around Abilene, Lubbock and Amarillo, though afternoon rains have limited the flight somewhat. The front forecasted for this week should deposit a new crop of mourning doves to Texas. Hunters around the Red River endured 10-12 inches of......
• TPWD Scoping Migratory Bird Issues at Public Hearings News Release Media Contact: Steve Lightfoot, 512-389-4701, steve.lightfoot@tpwd.state.tx.us April 28, 2009 AUSTIN, Texas — In addition to public comment on proposed fee increases and dove hunting seasons, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is inviting input on a series of scoping issues related to migratory game birds during public hearings......

• Successful Grouse Hunting Grouse hunting is popular sport for hunters who like the challenge of hunting birds. Grouse hunting often gets grouped in with partridge and quail hunting because there are ranches and land with fairly enclosed areas that offer grouse hunting tours and guided hunts. Grouse hunting is a sport that many......
• Alaska River Maps & Fishing Guide User Reviews Send this to a friend Alaska River Maps & Fishing Guide Manufacturer: Frank Amato Publications Customer Rating: List Price: $29.95 Sale Price: $21.03 Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours Free Shipping Available Buy Now Product Description Finally, the ultimate book for anglers! Professional guides and expert anglers......
• School and State at Ends over Gun Decision The decision was made less than a day before the East Wake High School (North Carolina) marksmanship team was set to face off in a statewide shooting competition. At the behest of one of the principals of East Wake, along with the superintendent, the school team was barred from competing......

I can’t believe it is already July 21st. In a little over a month I will be waiting for the sun to come up over a field in North Texas. As my plans get finalized, I thought I would put together a checklist to get you ahead of the pack come opening day.

1. Determine where you are going to hunt. It may be that you go to the same place every year, but if not, make this choice within the next two weeks.
2. Scout, scout, scout. Did I mention scout? Probably the most important item on the list. By beginning early you will allow yourself time to find another lease if your first choice turns out to be a dud. For more tips on scouting go here.
3. Practice. If it has been a while since you shot anything but a coral snake in the front yard (took me three rounds), it would be wise to squeeze in a few rounds of skeet. Shooting skeet works out the bugs that can develop after a few months of inactivity. I might also mention that shooting skeet really gets your engines revving for opening day. For some tips on shotgunning go here.
4. Make the necessary purchases. Things like a hunting license, public land permit, your lease, shells, mosquito spray, shooting glasses, ear plugs, and any new accessories you would like to add to your arsenal. By starting early, you can spread the expenses out over a few pay checks, instead of postponing September’s mortgage payment.
5. Lodging arrangements. Don’t wait to the last minute on this one or else you might be crashing in your pickup. If you are hunting with a dog, make sure where you stay allows them. It can get expensive if they don’t.
6. Exercise fido. If your dog has laid around for eight or ten months, you probably want to break out the old decoy and get him a little exercise before you ask him to go retrieve in the 100 degree weather.
7. Clean your shotgun. For me this is a night before ritual, but it definitely needs to be done. A cleaned and oiled shotgun performs much better than one that hasn’t been taken care of.

If you knock these things out early, all you will have to think about the night before is who is going to get their limit first.

My friends at Impact guns can help you with all your preparations.

Time to RELOAD!

Dove, Dogs, & Shotguns

• Skeet Shooting is Best Practice for Dove Hunters According to Phil Bourjaily of Field & Stream. Phil is a well known writer/gun expert and has some really good points on improving your kill ratio. I've always felt that skeet was a great warm up for dove season. I always start with my shotgun a little lower than most shooters to......
• Time to Gear Up !! With 84 days until the 2010 dove season, it's time to inspect your geat and begin to make any purchases needed before the season. So I thought I'd make a blog post of my findings. First up for me is a shell/field bag. Currently, I'm using a 3 pouched belt......
• Walking the field Perhaps my favorite way to hunt dove is to walk the field for those dove that  have lighted in the field. Of course, if you are in a big shoot with many other shotguns, you can't do this for obvious safety reasons.  However, later in the season this method can be......

• History of Opening Day - Major League Baseball [/caption] Opening Day of baseball is one of the most anticipated days of the year. So it should come as no surprise that some of the best season-starting performances in history have come from players who have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. For over a century, baseball......
• Seven Lessons I've Learned While Being In Debt As a Young Adult I, and now my wife, have been in debt ever since enrolling into college.  After college, like many, we both got a good paying job.  However, you quickly find that being on your own results in many purchases, most of which are needs in order to live a comfortable life.......
• How to A Avoid Foreclosure When Your Behind on Your House Payment Several years ago, I was listening to a radio show about personal finance. A woman had called and told the host that her credit card bills were caught up, but she had not eaten in two days. Talk about some seriously messed up priorities. Paying your mortgage payment shouldn't come......

 In the mail yesterday I received Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s special drawings magazine. Right inside the front cover was an advertisement for ‘BIG TIME Texas Hunts’.

There are seven ‘Big Time’ hunts you can put in for. They all start with Texas, e.g. Texas Premium Buck Hunt, exotic safari, gator hunt, whitetail bonanza, grand slam, waterfowl adventure, and the big time bird hunt.

The Big Time Bird Hunt winner gets to take three buddies for two days of quail hunting, two days of pheasant hunting, two afternoons of dove hunting, and one buddy gets to join the winner for a two-day guided spring turkey hunt.

Naturally, to put your name in for one of the hunts it cost $10 over the phone or at a licensed retailer and $9 if you enter online. Go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/bighunts to check it out and enter the drawing. The deadline to enter is Oct. 15, 2009. To purchase by phone call (800) 895-4248.

These hunts appear to be top of the line and all the proceeds go to help preserve the great traditions of hunting in Texas.

The bird hunt could be the best ten bucks you ever spent, call or go online today.

Time to RELOAD!

Dove, Dogs, & Shotguns

• Getting Started How to get started Dove Hunting A step by step guide to get you in the field! Dove Hunting is a great sport for all ages. Whether you are 12 or 50, it can be rewarding. I started at age 17 and haven't missed an opening day since. As the......
• Remington's Great American Bird Hunt (Wii Game) November 12, 2009 - SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Mastiff, a leading publisher of interactive entertainment, today announced that Remington Great American Bird Hunt for Wii, the latest in its popular series of outdoor action games, is now available in retail stores throughout North America. With an arsenal of authentic Remington......
• Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report Sept. 9th Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February. North Zone Dove: Plowed corn fields along the Red River in Lamar County held limits of mourning doves. Birds are coming into soybeans as well. Clay County hunters set up along treelines in the morning......

• Brief History of the Sitar The sitar is a plucked string instrument that uses sympathetic strings and a long hollow neck along with a gourd resonating chamber in order to produce a very rich musical sound along with a complex harmonic resonance. The Sitar is predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, but has been used......
• Thinking of Gift Ideas Thinking of gift ideas, think smart. I want to buy a gift, yet I am not sure what to buy? This is always a problem when it comes to buying gifts. The best solution when buying gifts is think smart, which includes how much can I afford, what type of......
• Nominations for 2009 Prevaricator of the Year™ 2009 Update: Time is drawing to a close for this year's Prevaricator of the Year™. This has been a banner year for the prevarication industry. The stimulus funding, bailouts, omnibus spending bills, earmarks, cap and trade, healthcare, FCC regulations, Czars, etc., all have vaulted their proponents to the top of the......

Okay, I’ve been doing a little research on left handed shotguns. I figure I’m not the only left-hander that finds it difficult to find a left handed model. So I compiled a list of left handed shotguns available for 2009.

Hope it helps my fellow left handers in their quest to find a quality left handed shotgun.

Scroll down to get your favorite left handed shotgun added to the catalog!

From Remington:

Although Remington caters more to left handers than others, their 2009 selection of left handed models is pretty slim. The lineup only consists of two models, the 870 Express and 1100 G3. However, the 11-87 premier is still available for around a grand

• The 870 is the best selling pump in the world, you don’t achieve that without quality.
• MSRP = $400
• Specifications

• The 1100 G3 is a new version of the classic 1100. Introduced in 1964, the 1100 is timeless.
• Semi-automatic
• MSRP = $1000
• Specifications

From Benelli:

I was most impressed with Benelli’s lineup of left handed autoloaders. Benelli is known for holding up to the most brutal conditions and it’s nice to know a lefty has the option to go for the top shelf. Here is their left handed options.

• The M2 is known as Benelli’s workhorse.
• MSRP = $1400
• Specifications

• The Super Black Eagle II is a great autoloader, with an affordable price tag.
• MSRP = $1650 - $1900
• Specifications

• The Montefeltro is my favorite, but I’m not real big on synthetic stocks. 
• MSRP = $1300
• Specifications

From Browning:

Remington and Benelli both had dedicated pages for left handers, after that finding a left handed model became a little tougher. I only found one from Browning.

• A true left handed over and under, fairly rare, especially with a name like Browning.
• MSRP = $3500
• Specifications

From Beretta:

Beretta doesn’t make a dedicated left handed model that I could find, but several of the their models come with a reversible bolt for left handers. Here they are….

$1925

$1400

$1550

• Get all the specs on the Berettas here.

——————————————————————————-

Below are recommended models for left-handers, recommended by left-handers!!

——————————————————————————-

• I’ve had three left handed shotgunners recommend the BPS
• Not a left handed model, but has bottom ejection and a top safety that makes it very lefty friendly
• Browning quality
• Pump-action, several different versions available
• MSRP = $600-$800
• BPS specifications
• In stock at Impact Guns

• The Ithaca Model 37 is another bottom loader/ejector that lefties prefer.
• Pump-action
• Ithaca’s pumps are world renown for quality
• Choose from several models
• MSRP - $800-$1000
• Ithaca’s specifications
• Order directly from Ithaca

—————————————————————————–

Laurona Sidelock S/S Leftie

Price: $1,500 and up

Specifications

——————————————————————————–

Fabarm H38 Lion Reverse

Price: $1,000

Specifications

——————————————————————————–

Ruger Red Label

Price: 2,000 & up

Specifications

——————————————————————————–

Also, SKB makes quite a few left handed models. I opted not to include their photos because I haven’t the first clue about their quality or reliability. They seem to be more into trap guns and heavy up clay shooting, but you can decide if they are right for you by clicking here.

As far as shopping for left handed shotguns online, Able Ammo is hands down the most lefty friendly. It is as simple as AbleAmmo>Guns>Left Handed Guns>Left Handed Shotguns and you get about 25 shotguns to choose from.

Okay, I’m getting a pretty steady stream of viewers to this page. I’m trying to improve the catalog, so here is what we can do…. fill out the little form below and as I get the models other left handers shoot, I’ll add the specs of your shotguns to the catalog. Hopefully, over time, we can build a comprehensive catalog for all us left-handed, right-minded, shooters.

• 2009 Electric Collar Review An electric collar can be an effective tool when training your hunting dog. E-collars can be used to reinforce commands and keep your hunting dog from getting into a bad spot. Today's collars have many features and levels of stimulation to help control your dog in any situation. Remember, e-collars are only......
• What is gun fit? I was doing some research on gun fit and came across this article at shotgunworld.com. It contains an excert from an article in The Caller, from Corpus Christi. I'm positive I couldn't explain it any better, so here it is... Anybody who thinks a new shotgun might be the answer for......
• Getting Started How to get started Dove Hunting A step by step guide to get you in the field! Dove Hunting is a great sport for all ages. Whether you are 12 or 50, it can be rewarding. I started at age 17 and haven't missed an opening day since. As the......

• Don't Wait Until You're 50 To Start Preserving Your Wealth With globalization 2.0, worldwide financial markets have become so much more intricately connected and symbiotic - literally thriving at the edge of chaos - that seemingly small things can now tip them into turmoil.  The events of late 2008 in particular attest to this.  For example: an economics prof I......
• Guide to Left Handed Acoustic Guitars One distinctive as well as important group of guitars is the group of left handed guitars. The left handed acoustic guitar is held with the fret board positioned in the right hand, and the guitar player uses his or her left hand to do the picking. The strings of the......
• Tesla Model S Tesla's Model S debuted in Manhattan on April 30th.  If only I had $50k that I didn't need, I'd love to pick one of these up.  Electric cars have been around a long time, but Tesla really gets it right.  There is no reason in the world that electric has......

From WCAX:

A new court ruling could ease prosecution of hunters who unintentionally wound or kill people. The Vermont Supreme Court has established the legal distinction between a tragic hunting accident and hunting criminal negligence that has already sent two hunters to prison with others awaiting trial.

Timothy Madden’s lawyer announced that Madden will be ready to be tried for involuntary manslaughter in October for shooting his pal David Jenkins while they were deer hunting in Milton. Police say Madden told them he thought Jenkins was a coyote and it was an accident.

Madden has rejected a plea deal for one year behind bars and chosen trial.

Five years ago Collin Viens became the first hunter ever sentenced to prison in Vermont, after he shot a farmer sitting in a tractor– not knowing the farmer was there. Viens got one year behind bars. He appealed claiming it was an accident, not a crime.

Two weeks ago the Vermont Supreme Court unanimously rejected Viens appeal. The court ruled that because Viens ignored the risk of causing the death or serious injury of all persons within gunshot range, the state was not even required to prove that he intentionally fired the rifle to prove criminal negligence.

“The Vermont Supreme Court is really clarifying that it’s not going to tolerate defenses that say, look, I didn’t mean to kill anybody. I wasn’t doing anything illegal,” explained Cheryl Hanna, a professor at Vt. Law School.

Hanna says the ruling established for the first time that hunters can be held criminally responsible for unintentionally wounding or killing others, even if they are breaking no other laws.

I think this is a good start for hunters. We don’t prosecute traffic accidents, other than establishing fault and writing a ticket, hunting accidents should be the same.

Time to RELOAD!

Dove, Dogs, & Shotguns

• Proposed legislation to infringe on hunter's rights Infringe is putting it mild. There are two bills in the Texas House of Representatives that are aimed directly and Texas hunters and gun owners. If passed, we could find ourselves needing some legal counsel. The following is from Texas State Rifle Association's website: Bad Bills~Bills to Stop HB 736 by......
• Headed for a Showdown From the Houston Chronicle: WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to decide whether strict local and state gun control laws violate the Second Amendment, ensuring another high-profile battle over the rights of gun owners. The court said it will review a lower court ruling that upheld a handgun ban......
• Farmer vs. Lawyer From Field & Stream: Farmer vs. Lawyer joke. (Bird Hunting)  A big city lawyer went duck hunting. He shot and dropped a bird, but it fell into a farmer's field on the other side of a fence. As the lawyer climbed over the fence, an elderly farmer drove up on......

• How I Pick the Best Long Term, Buy and Hold Stocks I'm something of an oddity in the investing world when it comes to finding the best buy and hold investments: I do not limit myself to a one individual method of stock analysis. In other words, I'm not 100% reliant upon fundamental analysis where I only review the financial......
• Selecting an Ideal Beginner Investment Today you are going to read my views on first investments for beginners. That topic seems strange for a baby boomer who is probably considering his gazillionth different investment option. On the other hand, the high school and college graduation seasons have just concluded, causing me to reminisce about my......
• Evan By The Numbers March 2010 One of the main reasons that I started this blog was to hold myself accountable, since I truly believe that Accountability Leads to Success when dealing with personal finance and me..  Oh so you want to question my belief? Check out my FIRST post from August 2008 it is right there......

Looks like the 20th century traditions still hold true today. Out of nearly 300 votes Black labs received some 140 votes. Yellow labs took 2nd with 98 votes and chocolate came in 3rd 56 votes.

Thanks to everyone who participated.

• Upland Bird Country Review Recently my brother did a little quail hunting courtesy of the folks at Upland Bird Country. He had a blast and I asked him to write up a review for all you bird hunters who live near Dallas, TX. Thanks bro. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Upland Bird Country Review Location: Corsicana, TX (~60 miles......
• Walton Ranch Review I know this site is mainly about dove hunting, but hunting quail is a lot of fun also. Last Christmas, my brother took me and my oldest son, (Dad couldn't make it unfortunately) to the Walton Ranch  just outside of the small town of Navasota, TX. The Walton Ranch is a......
• 2009 Electric Collar Review An electric collar can be an effective tool when training your hunting dog. E-collars can be used to reinforce commands and keep your hunting dog from getting into a bad spot. Today's collars have many features and levels of stimulation to help control your dog in any situation. Remember, e-collars are only......

• A Look at the Recorder The recorder is a musical instrument that falls into the woodwind family of musical instruments, and falls into the family of instruments known as internal duct flutes or fipple flutes. These are whistle-like instruments including the ocarina and the tin whistle for example. The recorder is a type of end......
• Index Funds 101 The most significant invention in the 20th century as far as investing goes is mutual funds, at least if you are a small individual investor with modest means. Thanks to mutual funds, the benefits associated with large scale international capital markets are now capable of being taken advantage by more......
• Sydney Opera House at Night - Sydney, Australia The Sydney Opera House comprises three groups of interlocking vaulted ‘shells’ which roof two main performance halls and a restaurant. These shell-structures are set upon a vast platform and are surrounded by terrace areas that function as pedestrian concourses. Inaugurated in 1973, the Sydney Opera House is a great architectural......