I'm dove hunting saturday for the first time on private land, what should I add to my checklist, any tips?

Shotgun (12 gauge)
#8 Shells
Shotgun Plug
Chokes
License w/ HIP
What is this type1&type2 people are talking about?
Camo Gear
Ice & Ice Chest


So I'll be wearing all my camo, probably sitting on a field. I'll be hand retrieving, no dog.
How far away do you put decoys?
Do you stand up to shoot or stay seated?
Anyone shoot from a stool or chair?
How long will bird be okay out of the ice chest?

Hearing protection. Ear muffs the best.

Put dekes 20 to 30 yards out off to the side. Dove have runways so your buddies mojos 60 yards away pulls birds directly in front of you as well.

I shoot all ways. Sitting, standging, bird in hand, one in the mouth and still shooting. I had plenty of suicide doves fly 10 yards from me while standing or walking around in the field.

Bird out of the ice chest, 4 or 5 hours is fine in the shade. Just keep off the ground away from bugs. i have never used an ice chest and will shoot some at 3 and clean at 8 with no issue ever in 90 degrees. But if you do lug an ice chest close by, stick them in a plastic bag in the ice chest if you want.

Don't take it all so seriously...just have fun. Shoot some sitting, if that doesn't work stand up. Decoys as far as you're comfortable shooting. Kick back relax and burn some shells. That's what it's all about. Go get'm....

i carry 2 chokes ic/mod,i put decoy's at 30 yrds so you get a good pattern,i stand most of the time but carry a stool,i leave birds out for 3hrs with no problems but wouldn't be opposed to throwing them in a grocery bag and in the cooler if it's close...dont forget sunscreen and lot's of water

That's right have fun....

Get a dog or two (got to love those labs)

if you're hunting with several people, take a copy of the Wildlife Resource document, so in case your buddies decide to give you their birds. It's happened Tuesday where 4 guys from my group field cleaned all their birds, placed them in 1 bag ( 20 breast ). gamewarden showed up and wrote a ticket. he was cool, and only wrote 1 ticket, but he could have written each of them a ticket. Also, if there's more the 15, you have to leave the wings on.

I always bring a roll of toilet paper any time I am hunting.

I think the buckets with the rotating lid work great cause you shoot more angles sitting down. But they are a little more sluggish to carry than a stool with a shoulder strap if you are walking far.

Make sure and keep your eye on your downed bird mark. They are easy to loose if you start looking around.

And a tent if you plan on camping out.

i agree gotta love those lads i have two they are amazing working dogs

yea since i've never dove hunted before i havent trained my lab to do so. :-) you better bet the minute I get back we'll hit the field though

[quote=Txduckman]Hearing protection. Ear muffs the best[quote]
Fuzzy ones?

fuzzy and pink, thats what you wear right guy? ill see you out there saturday yes?

Haven't seen this one on any list yet...Trashbags. Always leave it cleaner than you found it.

I hunt in style. No one ever sets up too close to me.

Thanks Scott, I wish I would have seen this before I left 3 tents at home. Now I have a 4th to go with them.

My wife text me to see how it was going, i text back, saying "I can't hit sh*t!"

she texted back
"DRINK A BEER"

It worked

cool wife

One other thing I like having, are some metal washers tied to about a 2 -3 ft piece of bright orange wrap. No dog. No problem. You can sling these washers one helluva distance marking where your bird went down.

im new to dove hunting and wanted to know what kind of license i need besides the state hunting fishing combo to hunt on public land

A Texas hunting license with HIP certification. It's really not any sort of certification, but a little (free) tag that says you are reporting what you kill when you purchase the next year's license.

YOu will also need to purchaces your type 2 permit for 48.00. quote=shaveman]im new to dove hunting and wanted to know what kind of license i need besides the state hunting fishing combo to hunt on public land [/quote]

I always throw in a bright bandana to mark where I THOUGHT I saw the bird drop, before I start searching if I don't immediately see the bird.

They sell these at Academy... 25 cents for 2 of them-- doesn't seem like a bad deal.