Dove, Dogs, and Shotguns

If anyone has hunted these leases, feel free to leave a review on them. Thanks for posting them, and keep them coming. Below are the details:

NAME OF LEASE: Carol Knutson

EMAIL: info@muysecoranch.com

CONTACT NAME: Carol

CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: 830-363-4281

PREFERRED METHOD OF CONTACT: Either

LOCATION INCLUDING CLOSEST CITY OR TOWN: D’Hanis, Texas

TYPE OF LEASE: Both  day and season

PRICE: 65.00

DESCRIPTION: Dove lease available for September 2009 season. 
Central Zone, 340 acres in Medina County, north of D’Hanis.  Half fields, half brush.
Parker Creek tank and numerous water troughs. 
Would prefer 4 - 6 hunters to lease for the entire month at a negotiable rate.  Can also do weekly hunts.  Weekend hunts require 2-day minimum.
Please see Web site:  www.muysecoranch.com. 
Phone:  830-363-4281
————————————————————–

NAME_OF_LEASE: Moore’s Hilltop Hunting Ranch

EMAIL: plvm52@yahoo.com

CONTACT_NAME: Paul Moore

CONTACT_PHONE_NUMBER: 817-925-8305

PREFERRED_METHOD_OF_CONTACT: Either

LOCATION_INCLUDING_CLOSEST_CITY_OR_TOWN: Fort Worth, TX.

TYPE_OF_LEASE: Day

PRICE: $40 & up

DESCRIPTION: 
MOORE’S   HILLTOP  HUNTING    RANCHES
4132 Midway Road – Springtown, TX. 76082 – 817-925-8305
We are a facility that offers various recreational activities and is located 25 miles northwest of Fort Worth near Azle, Springtown & Weatherford.  Our ranch  headquarters are located in Parker County in the Veal Station community at  4132 Midway Road. This area is known for  it’s beautiful rolling hills, southwest landscape and Texas wildlife. This ranch was homesteaded by our ancestors in  1858 and has been in our family all these years. Our ranch is a Texas Historical Farm and is certified by the commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Family Land Heritage Program for being maintained in continuous agriculture operation by the same family for 150 years. We are very proud of the ranch and we would like to share it with friends, neighbors and guests. Our staff appreciates the opportunity to work with you and make sure that you are happy with the event and we will work hard to make it memorable.  If you are looking for open  fields, running creek, rugged terrain and peace & quite then we have the perfect place to offer. We specialize in commercial quail, chukar and pheasant hunts year round. We offer other great  hunting  experiences that are enjoyable  yet  reasonably  priced. If  you  don’t  find  a  package that fits your  needs  we can customize one for you.  Bring your friends  and  or clients for an  enjoyable time .

2009  DOVE HUNTS – START SEPT. 1 

Veal Station Field (70 acres) - LIMITED HUNTERS (15 PER DAY)   Sunflowers, planted milo, johnson grass, dove weed, some vegetation mowed for easier find, round hay bales for blinds, mesquite trees in some areas, two stock tanks and a spring fed creek thru the ranch. We have had dove hunts for over twenty years so we feel that we know what the birds like. We limit our hunts  so there are enough guns to keep birds moving but not to many guns to get in each others way. This property is a 30 minute drive from Fort Worth near Azle.  Opening Day & Weekend -$75 per hunter  (NO half day leases on opening day or opening weekend) After Opening Weekend - $60 per day or $40 per half day.
 
Poolville Field – (80 acres) LIMITED HUNTERS (15 PER DAY) Some sunflowers, dove weed, mesquites, stock tank and wheat fields nearby. This property is a 45 minute drive from Fort Worth. It is located 2 ½ miles west of Poolville. This is a good place to hunt  birds during the day and varmints at night and camp.
Dove hunts: $60 per day. No half day leases unless three or more hunters, then it’s $35 per gun.
Varmit ( hogs, coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, possums, armadillos, squirrels, rabbits, frogs, turtles, and Lord only knows what else on this property) hunts start at $40 per day per gun if you have paid for a dove hunt or $75 per day if only varmit hunting. We limit our varmit hunts since you can use rifles. These are day  (twenty four (24) hour) leases but if you want more than one day we do have rates available. Hunt includes access to wood for outdoor fires (weather permitting), blinds, feeders, etc. You are invited to bring your tent or camper at no extra charge. Hunters under sixteen (16) with parent or guardian are half price. Call for more information.

Bridgeport Field – (150 acres) LIMITED HUNTERS (25 PER DAY) Sunflowers, dove weed, mesquites, stock tanks. Five miles west of Runaway Bay near Lake Bridgeport. One hour drive from Ft. Worth and one and a quarter hours from Dallas. $90 per day. No half day leases unless three or more hunters then it’s $50  per gun. WEEKDAY  HUNTS  ONLY – NO SATURDAY OR SUNDAY HUNTS.

Meals, lodging, group rates and discounts are available upon request. All leases are day lease only – NO SEASON LEASES AVAILABLE - Booked on first come first serve basis. 
A HUNT IS “BOOKED” WHEN  A DEPOSIT IS RECEIVED AND CLEARS THE BANK.  A DEPOSIT MAY BE MADE BY CASH, CHECK, CASHIER’S CHECK OR MONEY ORDER. ALL   HUNTS  REQUIRE  50% DEPOSIT & RESERVATIONS  AT  TIME  OF  BOOKING.
All payments sent to : MHR – P.O. Box 487 – Springtown, TX. 76082
 

2009 – 2010 Quail - Chukar – Pheasant  hunting in Parker County, TX.
DOG  EXERCISE – You can bring your dogs out and work them on our property. Rates start at $40 per person. You release your birds or we sell birds. MANY  COMBOS - Call or email for more information. 
RESIDUAL   HUNT – Quail, Chukar, Pheasant - $90 PER GUN  (minimum 3 guns) - $100 PER GUN  (minimum 2 guns)  -  $110 PER GUN (minimum 1 gun)  -  This hunt  includes hunting access for residual birds from previous release bird hunts and native birds  (in season). These  hunts begin at  8:30AM  or 1:30 PM.  Bird cleaning facilities are available  at  the headquarters.
NON – GUIDED  STOCKED  HUNT - $210 PER GUN (minimum 3 guns)  $225 PER GUN (minimum 2 guns) $240 PER GUN (minimum 1 gun)  This hunt includes 15 quail per gun (Add $75 per gun for chukar or pheasant  hunts – Start Jan.1) access to hunting headquarters for  snacks and drinks prior to and after the hunt plus cleaning facilities. You are furnished a map of  the ranch with areas where birds are normally found . Hunting times are 8:30 AM or 1:30 PM.  Hunters are  welcome to bring their  own dogs, if  well  behaved.
GUIDED  STOCKED  HUNT - $250 PER GUN (minimum 3 guns) $275 PER GUN (minimum 2 guns) $300 PER GUN (minimum 1 gun)  This hunt  includes,  15 quail per gun, (Add $75 per gun for chukar or pheasant hunts – Start Jan.1) guide with dogs, birds are cleaned and sacked after your hunt. Access to hunting headquarters for snacks and drinks prior to and after the hunt. Hunting times start at 8:30 AM or 1:30 PM.   NOTE: A gratuity  is  appreciated  by  your  guide  and  our staff.

MAXI MEMBERSHIP - $2995.00 per person. This membership gives priority on hunts, no deposits required and discounts to members guests. Members are guaranteed a minimum of 15 hunts (15 quail/hunt) per year with a guide or 18 hunts (15 quail/hunt) per year without a guide. access to the ranch headquarters with drinks and food available prior to and after hunts. Access to ranch for exercise and working dogs. Members guest fees - $195.00 per person with guide or $175.00 per person without guide. Chukar and pheasant may be available after Jan. 1 or until birds are no longer available.
REGULAR MEMBERSHIP - $1995.00 per person. This membership also gives priority on hunts, no deposits required and discounts to members guests. Members are guaranteed a minimum of 10 hunts (15 quail/hunt) per year with a guide or 12 hunts (15 quail/hunt) per year without a guide. access to the ranch headquarters with drinks available prior to and after hunts. Access to ranch for exercise and working dogs. Members guest fees - $205.00 per person with guide or $185.00 per person without guide. Chukar and pheasant are available after Jan. 1 and until birds are no longer available.
MINI MEMBERSHIP - $1095.00 per person. This membership also gives priority on hunts, no deposits required and discounts to members guests. Members are guaranteed a minimum of 5 hunts (15 quail/hunt) per year with a guide or 6 hunts (15 quail/hunt) per year without a guide. access to the ranch headquarters with drinks available prior to and after hunts. Access to ranch for exercise and working dogs. Members guest fees - $215.00 per person with guide or $195.00 per person without guide. Chukar and pheasant are available after Jan. 1 and until birds are no longer available.
A HUNT IS “BOOKED” WHEN  A DEPOSIT IS RECEIVED AND CLEARS THE BANK.  A DEPOSIT MAY BE MADE BY CASH, CHECK, CASHIER’S CHECK OR MONEY ORDER. ALL  NON-MEMBER HUNTS  REQUIRE  50% NON-REFUNDABLE  DEPOSIT IN ADVANCE & RESERVATIONS  AT  TIME  OF  BOOKING  In cases of cancellation, hunts may be rescheduled during the current season. We ask that you please provide us with at least 48-hour cancellation notice.

       ADDITIONAL  BIRDS  CAN  BE  RELEASED  FOR  HUNT PACKAGES.            EXTRA  BIRD  RATES VARY

TURKEY  HUNTS – FALL 2009 (Bow &  Gun)   &   SPRING 2010 
These hunts are limited unless a group wants to lease the entire turkey hunting area. (Call for group rates) The hunts start at $100 per person per day with access to the headquarters with restrooms, frig, bird cleaning facilities & guide with directions to hunting areas – or we have weekend hunts with lodging (2 BR, 1 bath, 2 restrooms, kitchen w/ stove, frig and table with chairs, living room, (with couch and love seat)  three meals Saturday (breakfast, lunch, dinner), guide service, bird cleaning facility, from Friday night (Check in 6PM to 8 PM) to Sunday morning (Check out at 9AM) for $275 per gun, with $250 lodging deposit. Youth weekend available. These hunts are reserved on a first come first serve basis. If during your hunt you may kill any animals that are in season. We charge by the hunt not by the animal. Please be sure you are in accordance with the law.
________________________________________________________________________
NON  GUIDED - HOG, COYOTE, etc. HUNTS -  Memberships available upon request
We have 100 acres in the Poolville (NW Parker County) area where you can hunt with shotguns, rifles, handguns and bows. We have 200 acres in the Springtown/Azle area (NE Parker County) where you can hunt with shotguns or bows. We have seen  hogs, coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, possums, armadillos, squirrels, rabbits, frogs, turtles, and Lord only knows what else on these properties. Know the seasons and license required. Prices start at $40 for working your dogs or overnight camping. Hunts start at $75 per day per gun and hunters under sixteen (16) with parent or guardian are half price.   These are day  (twenty four (24) hour) leases but if you want more than one day we do have rates available. Hunt includes access to wood for outdoor fires (weather permitting), blinds, feeders, etc. You are invited to bring your tent or camper at no extra charge.
$600 for ten hunts per year varmit hunting membership. This will not be valid during deer, turkey or dove season.
_______________________________________________________________________
One youth hunter sixteen (16) and under is half price with each paid  parent, guardian or any paid adult.

REQUIREMENTS:
Texas Hunting License  -  Liability waiver signed  -  Blaze orange vest or hat  - Stay within boundaries of the ranch  - Shotguns only – NO rifles, handguns, etc. on bird hunts.   NO alcoholic beverages before or during hunts.  NO  illegal  substances at any time.

———————————————————————

NAME_OF_LEASE: JD Smart

EMAIL: huntsansaba@gmail.com

CONTACT_NAME: JD

CONTACT_PHONE_NUMBER: 5123809210

PREFERRED_METHOD_OF_CONTACT: Either

LOCATION_INCLUDING_CLOSEST_CITY_OR_TOWN: San Saba

TYPE_OF_LEASE: Day

PRICE: $600/2 nights/3days

DESCRIPTION: Great house sleeps 8-10.  $600 per hunter includes 2 nights stay anbd 3 days of hunting. Full kitchen, washer/dryer, a/c, great pool and deck at your disposal.  Also includes a catfish/bass tank for fishing.  Cable TV, Internet.
———————————————————————-

NAME_OF_LEASE: South Zone Hunting, LLC

EMAIL: Jim@SouthZoneHunting.com

CONTACT_NAME: Jim McNeill

CONTACT_PHONE_NUMBER: 210-404-1465

PREFERRED_METHOD_OF_CONTACT: Phone

LOCATION_INCLUDING_CLOSEST_CITY_OR_TOWN: Dinero, TX

TYPE_OF_LEASE: Day

PRICE: 500

DESCRIPTION: Great Dove Hunting Packages!  Both Corporate and Individual Hunting Packages!  Hunt includes meals/beverages, lodging, 2 days of hunting, and grab bag!  For more info, call Jim McNeill at 210-404-1465 during normal office hours or check-out our website at www.southzonehunting.com.  Thanks for reading!

———————————————————————–

NAME_OF_LEASE: barker ranch

EMAIL: skcattle@aol.com

CONTACT_NAME: preston

CONTACT_PHONE_NUMBER: 325-743-2001

PREFERRED_METHOD_OF_CONTACT:  Either

LOCATION_INCLUDING_CLOSEST_CITY_OR_TOWN: winters

TYPE_OF_LEASE: Both

PRICE: 0.00

DESCRIPTION: 300 acres,farm,coastal,tank  42 miles south of abilene
—————————————————————————-

NAME_OF_LEASE: San Juan Ranch

EMAIL: dontbescared2@yahoo.com

CONTACT_NAME: David Acevedo

CONTACT_PHONE_NUMBER: 956-723-8717

PREFERRED_METHOD_OF_CONTACT: Either

LOCATION_INCLUDING_CLOSEST_CITY_OR_TOWN: Laredo, Texas

TYPE_OF_LEASE: Day

PRICE: 50.00 per day

DESCRIPTION: Located 5 min. from town off on Hwy 83 S. in Webb County. 200 Acre ranch with grain fields along the Rio Grande River.

—————————————————————————

If I can get six a day, we will be the best place for dove listings in Texas. I appreciate everyone’s help.

Related Posts

• New Texas Dove Lease Mr. Carrales has listed what looks to be a great dove lease in the heart of whitewing country. If anyone has hunted this lease please send us a review. Below are the details: Name of Lease: Gus Carrales Leases Email: gus.carrales@oxea-chemicals.com Contact Name: Gus Carrales Jr. Contact # : (361)522-4070......
• TPWD seeking dove leases Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is seeking to lease some more dove land for its public land. Landowners interested can click HERE for more information or call 512/389-4505. This a great opportunity for farmers to make some short term cash. The state generally pays about $5 per acre of land......
• Migratory Bird Report North Zone Dove: Rain showers last week put a damper on the flight, however, between showers doves were good in corn, milo and along treelines. Fields near Paris enjoyed good shoots in harvested corn and soybeans. Amarillo fields of corn and milo hosted steady shoots. Abilene saw half-limits to near-limits......

Related Websites

• Marc Jacobs By Marc Jacobs For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 Ounces User Reviews Send this to a friend Marc Jacobs By Marc Jacobs For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 Ounces Manufacturer: Marc Jacobs Customer Rating: List Price: $85.00 Sale Price: $39.55 Availibility: Usually ships in 1 to 2 days Free Shipping Available Buy Now Product Description Introduced in 2001.......
• EarthTalk: On Green Landscaping. EarthTalk is a new weekly installment from E/The Environmental Magazine. Dear EarthTalk: Is it possible to landscape my property in a green-friendly way? I would like to create a more natural and wildlife-friendly backyard, but I don’t want to break the bank doing it. Are there any tax incentives for......
• How To Keep Wildlife Out Of The Compost. Dear EarthTalk: My husband and I want to start a garden this year. I really want to make compost from leftover food scraps and yard materials. He says it will attract unwanted animals, and refuses to agree to it. Is he right? If so, how do we deal with that......

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!

Related Posts

• Do Dove Decoys Work Every year I see hunters placing decoys around the dove fields. I've always wondered if they were worth their salt. Let's find out... Ducks, Geese, Turkeys are all susceptible to decoys. With ducks being the most social of the game birds. These flock oriented birds find safety when they spot......
• Another Great Dove Hunt in Dilley The dove were plentiful again this weekend at Mimosa Fams, #2378. In two half day hunts five of us shot close to 100 dove. That's pretty good considering two of the hunters were my sons. Both were on their first real dove hunts. It was pretty awesome having three generations of my family......
• 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,......

Related Websites

• 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......
• Triathlon Terms part 2 Here is a brief glossary of terms used in triathlon training and triathlon racing. Bonk - This describes a situation where you suddenly begin to lose energy and a level of fatigue sets in. This is typically caused by depleted glycogen stores within the liver and the muscles, and it......
• STEARNS PUDDLE JUMPER - 3864 ORANGE For children weight: 30-50 lb.USCG Type III ApprovalOffers great stability and confidence building while in the waterAllows free range of motionChildren's Life Vest Description Product DescriptionContinuing with our tradition of innovation, Stearns introduces the new Puddle Jumpers™ series of flotation. The Puddle Jumper's unique design allows free range of......

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

Related Posts

• 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......
• New Dove Lease Listing 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......
• Only in Texas .... Apparently some of the people moving out to the country are surprised during dove season. I came across this article from WFAA, and couldn't help but see some humor in it. Lori Castoldi awoke last week to the sound of gunshots near her Prosper home.      "It was all around......

Related Websites

• 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......
• Lose Weight Without Dieting? Losing weight doesn’t have to involve following an elaborate meal plan and making a great deal of changes in your daily life. Yes, you do have to make some changes in what you eat. As always, exercise is important. However, you can lose weight by just making a few simple......
• Pray for Pakistan Have you heard about the flooding in Pakistan? Often we see an incredible open-ness to the Gospel when Christians rise up in love and practical ways. Here's how you can help. It's from a Pastor friend of mine. As all of you know Flash floods in Pakistan caused by heavy monsoon rains......

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 give the effect of preparing for an incoming dove, bur Phil recommends to start with your shotgun completely dismounted in order to “work on mounting it in synchronization with the speed of the target.”

One point omitted by Phil was that skeet shooting not only improves your fundamentals, but prepares you mentally also. For those of you that have not suffered through a bad round of skeet or an off opening day, there is not much difference. They both suck, tremendously. Learning to put together a complete round of 25 (especially after some early misses) can really toughen your mind up for those misses in the field. Unfortunately, we all can’t be like Kobe Bryant, able to shoot without a conscious. For most of us, developing mental toughness when shotgunning is an acquired skill. Skeet shooting can help you avoid pressing in the field and make for a much more fun and productive hunt.

Phil has some more tips for wingshooters here.

Time to RELOAD!

Related Posts

• Shotgunning Tips I was looking through some past articles on Field & Stream's website site and came across an article with some very good tips on five tough shots for dove hunters. It covers: The Incomer You See Forever The Dove With Its Jets On The Long Crosser The Dove That Comes......
• 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......
• 5 Things To Do in the Off Season Early July, probably the most boring time for a sports fan and hunter like myself. No football, basketball, dove hunting, or anything else to entertain me on the weekends. I've even caught myself trying to get in to soccer, but it's not working. The best sport on right now is......

Related Websites

• 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......
• Boom Goes the Dynamite! March Madness is Here and Billions Out the Door March Madness is officially upon us.  I have to say, being a sports fan, it comes at the right time since the NFL season has been over for a few months and the MLB season is still a month away from opening day. Your bracket may be ready, but what......
• Toughen up Baby! “Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory.” ~ Bill Russell Ask any athlete how they get through their sport, and most of them would probably say that it starts with their mind. They have the mental ability to let go of what their body feels and focus on......

What exactly is positive reinforcement training?

According to expert dog trainer, Don Hanson, it is the practice of rewarding your dog with food or play for behaviors you want repeated. Hanson says that “rewarded behaviors tend to be repeated and unrewarded behaviors tend to be extinguished.”

By using using positive reinforcement your hunting dog will be performing certain behaviors in order to get a reward instead of to avoid being punished. Hanson says that the most effective negative punishment is “simply withdrawing your attention or the opportunity for a reward.”

Actions such as sitting, coming, staying, and fetching can all be easily taught by using this method. Furthermore, breaking your dog from jumping on you or other people or any other undesired behavior can be broke efficiently using positive reinforcement.

I have implemented this method with my new hunting dog, Layla. The results have been fabulous. By seven weeks old Layla was sitting and would come when called. She is nine-weeks old now, and is by far the most well minded dog I’ve had.

For just a pup, she has got it together. She goes to the door to potty, sits when she wants a treat, retrieves well and is a pleasure to own.

The only thing I’m having trouble with is getting her to stop biting my hand when she gets excited or wants to play.

Does anyone have any advice to help stop this? Your thoughts are welcome..

Time to RELOAD!

Related Posts

• Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report North Zone Dove: Dove hunters saw fair to good shoots around the Panhandle over cut corn and milo. The region has received rain during the summer so there are plenty of watering holes and playa lakes. Lubbock and fields north of Abilene were good for morning shoots of mourning doves.......
• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-06-21 Using positive reinforcement training yo train your hunting dog. http://bit.ly/Zt81d # Tips on Starting Kids Out Hunting http://bit.ly/jdFYt # Just broke 100 followers, THANKS to everyone. # Good night tweeters # An interesting article on dreams http://bit.ly/dWX4Z # 96 pound catfish!! http://bit.ly/Q1ITZ # Just broke 200 followers, THANKS EVERYONE,......
• 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......

Related Websites

• 3 Rules of Dog Walking Etiquette [/caption]When you're walking a dog, it's inevitable that you're going to encounter some familiar and some not-so-familiar faces along the way. While you might be a dog lover, it's important to remember that not everyone else is a dog lover; and even the other dog owners should have their own......
• Sticking with Your Resolutions Why do we make New Year's resolutions? What's the purpose? Did you even bother making any resolutions, or did you refrain due to the associated pressure and oft resulting disappointment from trying to follow said resolutions and failing? We make resolutions because we want to move forward; we want to......
• Potty training for dogs How can I potty train my dog? To learn how to potty train your dog, I’ll tell you a little story that you might be familiar with. Mr. James is very excited with his new puppy that he bought in the local pet store. He comes home, places a few......

AUSTIN, Texas — Changes proposed for the 2009-2010 Texas dove season, including a 70-day season and 15-bird daily bag statewide, received approval from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

The season framework change is part of a new adaptive harvest management regulations package developed for the 14 states, including Texas, within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Central Management Unit.

Additionally, the commission approved moving the South Zone dove season opening the Friday nearest Sept. 20, but no earlier than the 17th. This year the season will open Sept. 18 if approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in late June.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department received relatively little input, although overwhelmingly supportive of the changes, during the public comment phase. Less than 100 comments were received via email or through the agency’s online public comment survey and 32 comments during nearly two dozen public meetings around the state.

If authorized under federal guidelines, Texas dove season in the North and Central Dove Zones will run from Tuesday, Sept. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 25 and reopen Saturday, Dec. 26 through Sunday, Jan. 9, with a 15-bird bag and not more than two white-tipped doves.

The South Zone dove season will run Sept. 18-Nov. 3, reopening Dec. 26-Jan. 17 with a 15-bird bag and not more than two white-tipped doves. Possession limit is twice the daily bag for all migratory game birds except light geese, which currently does not have a possession limit.

The Special South Texas White-winged Dove Area will open to white-winged dove afternoon-only (noon to sunset) hunting the first two full weekends in September running from Sept. 5-6 and 12-13 and reopen when the regular South Zone season begins on Friday, Sept. 18 through Tuesday, Nov. 3 and again from Saturday, Dec. 26 through Wednesday, Jan. 13. The Special White-winged Dove Area season takes four of the allowable 70 days, so when the regular season opens, this area most close four days earlier than the rest of the South Zone. The daily bag limit is 15 birds, not more than four mourning doves during the first two weekend splits and 2 white-tipped doves. Once the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15.

The Service is also reviewing a proposal to give TPWD the option to adjust a portion of the boundary of the Special White-winged Dove Area. This change would remove portions of Jim Hogg and Starr counties and also received commission approval.

TPWD is making no changes to other early migratory game bird seasons other than to reflect calendar shifts.

If Texas gets a 16-day September teal season, the dates will be Sept. 12-27, while a nine-day season will run Sept. 19-27.

The season for rail and gallinule is Sept. 12-27 and Oct. 31-Dec. 23; for snipe, Oct. 31-Feb. 14; and for woodcock, Dec. 18-Jan. 31.

Related Posts

• 51 New Game Wardens Will Enforce Texas Conservation Laws Cadet Class To Graduate 9 a.m. June 9 at Capitol In Austin AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Game Warden Academy’s largest class ever will graduate at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning in the House of Representatives chamber at the capitol, after which the 51 cadets will disperse to their first duty......
• TPWD seeking dove leases Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is seeking to lease some more dove land for its public land. Landowners interested can click HERE for more information or call 512/389-4505. This a great opportunity for farmers to make some short term cash. The state generally pays about $5 per acre of land......
• TPWD Offering 'Big Time' Hunts  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,......

Related Websites

• Wimbledon Championships - Facts and Figures [/caption] The Championships: Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and is generally considered the most prestigious.[2][3][4][5] It has been held at the All England Club in the London suburb of Wimbledon since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, and......
• Home Network Security [/caption] Home Computer security 1. What is computer security? Computer security is the process of preventing and detecting unauthorized use of your computer. Prevention measures help you to stop unauthorized users (also known as "intruders") from accessing any part of your computer system. Detection helps you to determine whether or......
• Lake Thomas A. Edison    Lake Thomas A. Edison Lake Thomas A. Edison is located near Clovis, CA Phone: 1-877-444-6777 About the Lake: Lake Thomas A. Edison was named for the famous inventor and was finished in 1954 as part of a hydroelectric project. Numerous lakes in this area, including Lake Florence and Lake......

Starting a youngster out with a shotgun can be a great experience for both of you. If you follow a few guidelines, you can help ensure that you pour a solid foundation. A foundation that will be the basis of a lifetime of hunting and shooting.

I’m not going to try to tell you what age to start kids out hunting or shotgunning. I feel that every kid is unique and only you can decide when your son or daughter is ready. Things like maturity, size, and desire are all things to consider before making the investment. My ten year old wanted to go hunting so bad this year, he was willing to do anything to get a shotgun.

Gun safety is the most important thing you can teach your kids. Kids see a lot of killing on TV and on the video games they play, yet they just don’t realize how dangerous a gun really is. We must instill in them safe practices until it becomes habit. Start with how to carry the shotgun with much focus on where the barrel is pointed at all times. Next move to how to work the safety on the shotgun. The only time the gun is taken off of safety is when the shotgun is mounted and ready to fire. After some practice with handling the shotgun, move on to loading instructions and firing. The key here is to let them know gun safety is no joke, and if they are unsafe, they will lose their privilege to have a gun. Remember, we as experienced hunters, must set the example when it comes to safety. For some more tips on safety, click here.

Also critical to success is the gauge of shotgun you buy your child. Specifically, how much recoil they can handle. Let’s face it, a kid is not going to want to do something if it hurts every time they do it. So buying a ten year old a cheap 12 gauge is probably a mistake.  I bought my 13 year old a youth model 20 gauge, and my 10 year old a youth model .410. Both of my sons are average height and weight and I have had no complaints from either one about recoil. My oldest is a couple of years away from moving up to a 12 gauge in my estimation, and then I’ll hand down his 20 ga. and the .410 to my now 6 year old. The idea here is to build confidence with a shotgun they can handle that won’t make them flinch every time they pull the trigger.

Next is practice, practice, practice. Unless you have acreage, you’ll need a place for them to shoot. I recommend starting them out shooting skeet. The controlled environment allows you to help them every step of the way their first round. Try to plan their first shoot for a time when the range isn’t too busy to help relieve some of their anxiety. Keep all of your instructions and pointers positive, making every effort to keep their confidence level high. I always reflect on how bad I was when I first started, to let my boys know that it’s okay to miss and  that’s why we practice. I encourage the two of them to only compete with themselves, trying to better their own scores each time, for now. Later we can get into the sport of competing against everyone. Fundamentals is what your are after here. Properly mounting the shotgun, following through the shot and seeing the target. Of course, on the very first round, you’ll be dealing with every aspect from handling the gun, to loading and unloading, and shooting. Not to mention, all of their nerves that come along with the first shoot.

After I took my ten year old out for his first round, in which he only hit a few, he told me that was one of the funnest things he had ever done. I made a big deal of the targets he hit and it inspired him to do better. Now just a few rounds later he consistently hits 10-13 clays with his single shot .410. Not too shabby.

Confidence is the key to any shotgunner, but especially with kids. If your kids are like mine and they have to be good at everything, keeping their dobber up is sometimes tough starting out. Concentrate on the good things they do, and reinforce, positively, the areas they need improvement in.

The average age of hunters in the US is 49 years old. We need all the young hunters we can get, so  they can pass the traditions on for generations to come. 

Time to RELOAD!

Related Posts

• 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......
• Getting Started (part II) WHAT TO DO? Okay, you've acquired everything you need to begin dove hunting, NOW WHAT!?!? There isn't too much to it, but if you take a few steps prior to taking the field, you'll have a lot more fun and a lot less stress. Let's begin. Get familiar with your......
• 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,......

Related Websites

• blaming video game Now I'm gettin' serious.I came across from Gamespot News and I have heard something that really hurt my (little) gamer's heart. It's said:Now, one thing that won't go on in Thailand is sales of Rockstar Games' blockbuster action game Grand Theft Auto IV. Reuters is reporting that the country's main......
• Hunting and Gun Safety Hunting is a fun and enjoyable sport, but it is also considered to be one of the most dangerous. It is absolutely imperative that you take safety precautions to make sure that you and those around you are kept safe during this exciting endeavor. Your life and the lives of......
• Weakend: Who Killed the Kid in Me? It feels like not too long ago that Christmas always felt like it was 366 days away. No matter what, it was never going to get here. I looked forward to going to the beach with my family every summer, and that week always felt like 2 days. I watched......

On our first trip to South Texas dove hunting my dad, brother, and I had a hair-brained idea to head south at 8:00 P.M.. The plan was to make the six hour drive, get four or five hours of sleep and hit the field for the morning hunt. Let’s just say the ride was almost as spectacular as the hunt was.

We arrived in Donna, TX somewhere around two in the morning and that is where the fun began. We thought we would find the lease and get a nap in the truck. Finding the lease sounded easy enough, but turned out to be no small feat. We drove up and down the roads looking for an entrance to the Longoria Unit. We were suffering from sleep deprivation and the TPWD map just didn’t have enough details on it to navigate in the dark.

Meanwhile, there was another sub-plot going on that would turn out to be one of our fondest memories. As we drove up and down the streets in Donna there were several questionable activities going on in this not so good neighborhood. Dad was driving his truck and my brother and I were in mine. So, for the banditos (as they became known) having two vehicles passing back and forth seemed to bother them. They started changing their locations, which made us paranoid, thinking they were looking for us. At one point, Dad stopped and got his 12 gauge out and loaded it. I followed Dad’s lead and did the same.

By now a good hour and a half had gone by since we came into town. We were ready to give up and would have killed for some sleep. Alas, we found it, on the same dirt road we had been on twenty times and just didn’t go far enough. We pulled up, stretched our legs for a minute, and with the thought of the banditos fresh in our mind, laid back for a two hour nap.

As my brother and I drifted off into neverland, BOOM, BANG!! WERE UNDER ATTACK!!! I jumped up hit my head on the top of cab, tried to grab my gun, and almost messed in my pants all in a split second. Luckily my shotgun was on safety, because I would have blasted a hole right through my transmission. 

As for the attack, it was my dad dropping his tailgate and letting his dog out of the kennel. I just knew the banditos had found us and my adrenalin and lack of sleep caused a pretty serious over reaction.

Dad laughed so hard he almost fainted. I have to admit, it was pretty funny. Now every year there is at least some mention of the banditos on our dove hunting trips. A memory that will be with us long after we forget about all the good or bad shots we made. 

I think that anyone who is against hunting should try it. Whether it is dove hunting or any other type of hunting, the time spent hunting makes for some great times with friends and family. That’s what it is all about for me.

Sure, I’ll be the first to tell you how much I love the sport of dove hunting. But for me the sport is so intertwined with the times with Dad and my brother and now my two oldest sons. Three generations of my family will be in the field this year and for years to come. That is big.

The hunt is always fun, but remember the ride there, the hotel rooms and everything in between. It’s a package deal and it’s all worth it’s weight in gold.

Time to RELOAD!

 

Related Posts

• 6 New Texas Dove Leases If anyone has hunted these leases, feel free to leave a review on them. Thanks for posting them, and keep them coming. Below are the details: NAME OF LEASE: Carol Knutson EMAIL: info@muysecoranch.com CONTACT NAME: Carol CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: 830-363-4281 PREFERRED METHOD OF CONTACT: Either LOCATION INCLUDING CLOSEST CITY OR......
• Getting Started (part II) WHAT TO DO? Okay, you've acquired everything you need to begin dove hunting, NOW WHAT!?!? There isn't too much to it, but if you take a few steps prior to taking the field, you'll have a lot more fun and a lot less stress. Let's begin. Get familiar with your......
• 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......

Related Websites

• Overnight Train Mathura (Agra) to Mumbai By now, my fantasy of  "Overnight Train to x x x " has been exposed as poor romance, frustrating adventure and less than ideal transportation. Guess what? The overnight train from Mathura Junction to Mumbai reset the template. From the moment of arrival on the platform at the Mathura Station,......
• Window Glazing Repairs If you're not ready to sink money into replacement windows but your windows are drafty and in poor shape, you can make simple window glazing repairs yourself. Also known as reglazing, this is simply the removal of the old glazing (the putty around the panes of glass) and application of......
• How To Catch An Author by Pam Jenoff, guest blogger and author of Almost Home. After the publication of my first novel, The Kommandant's Girl, I was thrilled to be invited to speak at a number of events, ranging from small book clubs and library gatherings to larger fundraisers.  I gamely accepted every invitation,......

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 the premium leases that cost $200 per day and up then this is probably not a problem for you. However, if you are looking for a good season lease , or even a reasonably priced day lease then your challenge is great. The choices you have are to take the time to drive to the leases and scout them or take the landowner’s word for it. As far as having enough time, for most of us, time is a precious and driving countless hours is not realistic. I might add that driving to a dove lease in July will only tell you so much about the lease, wait too long to scout and they might not have any spots left, damned if you do and damned if you don’t.  The landowner or person leasing the land is not going to be completely honest, and I don’t fault them, they just want the money.

This very problem is the main drive for Dove, Dogs, and Shotguns. If you notice up top there is a form to submit a dove lease and also a form to submit a review of a dove lease. The idea is for landowners to have a place to list their lease and a place for hunters to place reviews of these leases. The reviews are simple, and hopefully, once the site gets going. will become a place for dove hunters to check before making a commitment to purchase a dove lease. Let us do the scouting for you, so all you need to worry about is dove hunting.

It is free to post a review, free to post a lease, and free to view all of the above. All that it will cost you is a little time to send us the reviews and leases to make this site a one stop shop for dove hunting.

Tell all your fellow dove hunters and landowners to go to www.dovehunting101.com and submit reviews and leases.

Related Posts

• Picking a spot in the field Who hasn't done it, shown up for a big dove hunt and put yourself in a bad spot. It is simply miserable to listen to all the blasting around you as you contemplate everything from moving spots to what you did to deserve this. The best bullets, most expensive shotgun,......
• TPWD Offering 'Big Time' Hunts  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,......
• How to pattern your shotgun Do you miss a lot? Have you ever wondered what the difference between a Modified cylinder and an Improved Cylinder is? What about the difference between a 7.5 or 8 shot load? All these questions can be answered with a couple of boxes of shells, some paper, and time. Patterning......

Related Websites

• 3 Great Sermon Preparation Tips If you've never written a sermon before it can be a tall order, daunting task and difficult to start. I guess you call it writer's block, coupled with the nerves of standing in front of a large, expecting congregation. Where do you start, what do you talk about and which......
• 7 low-cost and quick meals Photo by: Zesmerelda Each Monday here on Gather Little by Little I write about topics and techniques for saving money. This article is part of that ongoing series called Money Saving Monday Tips. With 6 children in our house, it seems like we're always on the run. Whether it......
• Four Lifestyle Tweaks For The New Year As 2009 came to a close, I intentionally avoided the usual resolution-setting process most people go through on New Year's Eve. Instead, this year I am simply making a few minor lifestyle tweaks that should help me reach my larger goals, but not require the usual Herculean effort that seems......

Choosing shotgun shells and choke tubes can be confusing to say the least. Just go to Academy and look at the variety, 1oz., 1 1/8oz., 7 shot, 7.5 shot, 2 3/4″, 3″, lead, tungsten etc, etc, etc. If your not careful you could spend a fortune on the wrong stuff. Let’s examine what the numbers mean.

Let’s use, say 8 shot, 1 oz, 2 3/4 in lead heavy dove load for an example.

• #8 shot is size of the shot, the bigger the #, the smaller the shot. Remember though, the bigger the number the more BB’s there are in the shell. If you subtract the number of the shot from 17 that gives you the actual size of the BB, i.e 17-8=9, meaning 8 shot = 9/100 or .090″. Every BB is .090″ in 8 shot. Got it, good.
• 1 oz is how many ounces of BB’s there are. So it makes since now the smaller the BB’s, the more that fit into the shell. For instance, in 7.5 shot there are 350 BB’s, and in 8 shot there are 410 (in a 1oz load).
• 2 3/4″ is simply how long the shell is. Some shotguns shoot up to 3.5″, but were shooting dove, not 747’s (the airplanes).
• Lead is what the shot is made of. Lead is the best for inflicting the most damage for the money, steel is more environmentally friendly but sucks in the killing department, and tungsten is too damn expensive.

For more technical data on shotgun shells click here.

Okay, now that you have an idea what all the numbers mean, let’s drill down into the dove loads. You most likely will want 7.5 to 8 shot when dove hunting. If you are new to shooting go with the eight shot / 1 1/8 oz and up load, 2 3/4″ shell(exactly the shell I shoot). This load will give you a very dense pattern (lots of BB’s) and increase the odds of  shooting the dove. If you are a little further along you might go with a 7.5 because the larger shot inflicts more damage. Personally, I shoot an 8 shot still because it’s what I’m used to. The more ounces, the more money the shell costs. If you’ve got the budget you can shoot the heavier loads to add more firepower.  Don’t spend too much time on this because it is much more important to have good fundamental shooting than to rely on a good bullet to make up for what you lack in.

You’ve made your selection on the shells you want to shoot on your dove hunting trip, now it’s time to decide which choke to use. Most modern shotguns have screw in, interchangeable choke tubes. The three most common are full choke, modified choke, and improved cylinder. Contrary to popular belief these have nothing to do with how far shotgun shoots. A Lot of dove hunters will put a full choke in thinking it will allow them to shoot farther, this is really not true. A full choke holds the pattern of shot in a tighter pattern (for a longer distance), for a more concentrated amount of shot entering the target. Great for geese, pheasant and other large birds, but you try to hit a dove coming across you from 25 yards out at MACH 2 with a full choke and you had better do everything right and still get a little bit lucky. Bottom line, unless you are an expert shot-gunner a full choke will cause you a lot of frustration (and misses, especially in the closer ranges). Next is modified choke, this is a common choke used when dove hunting. It opens up better in the closer ranges than a full choke will, but holds a little tighter pattern than improved. Considering most shots on dove should be 35 yards and under my vote is improved cylinder. Improved gives you the widest pattern that is still deadly at 35 yards. I shot modified for years and was fairly successful, but when I made the switch to improved my accuracy improved dramatically. My philosophy is put a heavy 8 shot in the air with an improved cylinder and you’ll spend less time cussing and more time looking for dove and bragging about how great of a shot you are.

Time to RELOAD!

Related Posts

• 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......
• How to pattern your shotgun Do you miss a lot? Have you ever wondered what the difference between a Modified cylinder and an Improved Cylinder is? What about the difference between a 7.5 or 8 shot load? All these questions can be answered with a couple of boxes of shells, some paper, and time. Patterning......
• 5 Things To Do in the Off Season Early July, probably the most boring time for a sports fan and hunter like myself. No football, basketball, dove hunting, or anything else to entertain me on the weekends. I've even caught myself trying to get in to soccer, but it's not working. The best sport on right now is......

Related Websites

• Planning your Budget One of the greatest ways that you can get a handle on your finances and overcome your debt to build wealth is to build a personal budget. There is no single one size fits all answer to budgeting because everyone has unique needs and circumstances when it comes to generating......
• Needs and Wants in Household Budgeting How much money do you honestly believe that companies are spending on advertising every single year? Sadly, the answer is more than one hundred and fifty billion dollars every single year. The purpose behind all of this spending is to create desire, making us want products and other things that......
• How NOT to fix the 401(k). I just read a sidebar article in January's Money Magazine, titled Fixing the 401(k). The article highlights 4 proposals from Washington as a " response to the retirement savings crisis": Relaxed hardship-withdrawal rules "President-elect Barack Obama has proposed temporarily dropping the 10% penalty for hardship withdrawals from an IRA......