Rant about group hunts

With dove season in Texas opening only 45 days from now, I have been thinking about trying to put together a dove hunt for my retriever club (or church group, or whatever group I can interest).

<rant> Why does it seem that everyone I talk to wants to include tons of superfluous 'extras' for dove hunting? By that I mean 1-2 nights stay in a 'lodge', meals, etc. Is that what everyone does for dove hunting now?

I am looking for one thing, and only one thing - a place to go where I can shoot a limit of birds (assuming my skills are half-decent). I don't WANT to stay in a lodge. I don't EXPECT anyone to feed me. I sure don't want someone else to clean my birds and package them up.

Now don't get me wrong - I don't mind having the extras for hunting something that isn't right outside my back porch (eg. pheasants, geese, etc). But DOVES? Comeon! Doves are meant to be hunted after getting off work by grabbing the dog, a vest, the gun, and a box of shells. Quick. Easy. Hardly any thought. Isn't there a place for *just hunting* anymore? Or does it always have to be made into some sort of grand production? </rant>

Sign me 'frustrated in Texas'

'Chris Barnes' >wrote

With dove season in Texas opening only 45 days from now, I have been thinking about trying to put together a dove hunt for my retriever club (or church group, or whatever group I can interest). <rant> Why does it seem that everyone I talk to wants to include tons of superfluous 'extras' for dove hunting? By that I mean 1-2 nights stay in a 'lodge', meals, etc. Is that what everyone does for dove hunting now? Sign me 'frustrated in Texas' Chris

Chris , I just had this conversation with a customer this past Tuesday. He felt and I am now agreeing , that a lot of places are now going for the high income Dinks ( Dual Income no kids) type of folks. It seems as there are some now days that want to PAY for everything- Pay somebody to do handloads for them, so they can say they shoot custom handloads, and they do make that distinction. They only use custom hand tied flies, that THEY PAY SOMEBODY ELSE TO TIE?

I tie my own flies , make my own poppers and reload my own shells.

You used to be able to order a car or truck, now everything come with the max installed just like a lot of computers.

I have slept in the back of my truck and van a lot of times waiting for the morning and in college I couldn't imagine anything better than going out for doves after class and before Rugby practice.

I was always taught, 'If you ain't going to clean it, Don't shoot it'

Find a mineral springs on public land and go dove hunting. I don't know if you will shoot 45 birds, but you will get in some sport. Doves need mineral springs, and cluster around them.

You're obviously talking to the wrong people.

Not me. We just hunt the tanks and surrounding area on the place where I deer hunt every year.

I will not hunt with anyone not willing to clean their own game, period.

I used to do that a lot, without bothering with the dog, we'd just take off after work, drive 10 miles or less and start popping birds. Those days are gone (in that area anyway). However, technically I can hunt dove in my backyard now, but it's just not the same.

ridiculous aint it..... by the way, sign me and the boy up, we'll bring our own sandwiches and a couple gallons of gatorade, we'll sleep in the suburban thank you very much.

dave

seriously though, how bout a group hunt for the folks in this newsgroup. might be fun.

What kinda folk do you associate with? Most people I know excluding me won't take a day off work or drive very far to hunt dove. I enjoy dove hunting enough though that I will drive an hour to get to a good spot or take a day off work for a weekday opener. I thought I was crazy for doing those things. I couldn't imagine someone wanting to do what sounds like a typical 'guided' hunt for doves. Unless of course it was one of those hunts in Argentina for a 1000+ bird shoot.