Drew the private lands dove hunt in Young County. Has anyone been on this hunt? Just curious how it went.

I live in Young county. I damn sure wouldn’t drive from east Tx to dove hunt here if it’s like it has been the last few years. Things have changed!

I was drawn for young county the 1st or 2nd year they started doing the private land dove draws. I was sent to a good spot on a field and shot a few dove in the morning. Evening they had us all follow to a field they scouted a half hour farther drive away. I did not shoot anything that evening, but I spent my time shooting the bull with a GW, guide, and other hunters rather than paying attention to the dove. Hunt was nothing special, but nothing bad. There were no other hunters other than the drawn hunters. I had a good time and do put in for it every year. But like scalebuster, my hunting lease of 20 years is in Young county just down from the road from were the drawn hunt is, so I put in for it only due to convenience. I would already be there down the road hunting my lease the day before or after. It's not an opening weekend hunt and birds in that county get a lot of hunting pressure, so know that your at the mercy of the weather, migration, and any previous hunting pressure.

I've been twice. First time was great, uncrowded, plenty of birds, had a good time.
Second trip morning was bad. Field loaded with day hunters, and I mean crowded. Bad year for birds didn't help either.
Based on the Feb21 bird killer freeze, mourning dove counts may be still be low, but those that did survive can build back up quickly, so who knows.
I'll be after whitewings for the opener. Fingers crossed weather cooperates.

Thanks Dodge. I am probably going to go with low expectations. If it turns out great even better.

i won the draw on this hunt as well. hopeful to see how it goes. supposedly the outfitter usually puts out scouting reports but i have not seen anything this year yet.