Dove loads?

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

couldn't u use a waterfowl gun my 12 will soot any steel load.
But since I can hunt them with a pellet or BB maybe I take the BB pistol to the farm some day when I check to see that their in season.

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Your pellet pistol will likely not have the power to kill pigeons, but could be used to finish a wounded walker. A .177( 4.5mm) Air Rifle with an advertised velocity of 1200 to 1500 FPS( these speeds are obtained with light alloy pellets that will damaged your springer or piston rifle. Do NOT use them.)with a heavy lead pellet the velocity will drop to between 900 and 1000 FPS. If your shooting outside of buildings you could use a .22 or .25 Calibre, but inside they will punch holes in things that should not have holes.
For example a 1250 rate rifle with the standard 7.6 grain pellet will be around 900 to 1000. If you have a high velocity you use pellets up to 10.6 grains. Which now have the energy to put holes in things that should not have holes.

Always have a backstop that will stop the pellet on a miss or pass-thru. Yes you can get a pass-thru with a .177 rifle. Straight through the chest hit both lungs and the heart, but only ribs and a thin lay of muscle on both sides, no breast plate or spine.

Oh yes you can shoot them with your 12.

Pigeons can also be shot with lead.

Except you need about a dozen of them to equal even 1 grouse or 1 and 1/2 dozen doves.

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Originally Posted by Snowwalker

The breasts are twice the size of a Morning Dove. They are eating grain and seeds out of the livestock feed, corn, Soy Beans, Millet, Wheat or what ever is in the feed, field or silos around the farm, as well as berries and insects.

Worth it? I would rate them( and doves) above pheasants, grouse, and even ducks or geese. If there a steady supply of food, them will breed upto "SIX" times a year, as opposed to the others that breed only once per season.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

Except you need about a dozen of them to equal even 1 grouse or 1 and 1/2 dozen doves.

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The breast meat off a pigeon is as big or bigger then a grouse. Pigeons are long distance flyers, and they need a lot of muscle to do that.

Or maybe your fishing for an invite to come try hunting them.:goodstuff:

OK Maybe I give them a try I'm stopping by the farm later today I will take a look and see if there are many around. Do I clean them the same as a grouse?

Lebarons used to have non-tox target loads but it doesn't look like Cabela's does. I may have to make a trip to EPPS or even BPS. The closest I have is some blindside in #5.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

OK Maybe I give them a try I'm stopping by the farm later today I will take a look and see if there are many around. Do I clean them the same as a grouse?

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I have never had any luck with the stand on the wings and pulling the feet trick, like you can with grouse.

I pluck the feathers from the crop(neck) down to a couple inchs below the breast, and then up the sides to the wing pits.

Start under one wing and run a blade along the ribs( you will feel them between the breast and back) across the thin skin on the stomach and back up the other side of the bird. The cut will look like a big U. Now put your thumb under the breast and pull the feet with your other hand to tear the breast off the body. You will be left with a pair of wings( good to show the CO for IDing) and the breast in one hand and the rest in the other. I debone the breasts at home.

You could also just debone the breasts and take the meat, but there is no way for the CO to ID the bird.

Have fun.

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Originally Posted by kickingfrog

Lebarons used to have non-tox target loads but it doesn't look like Cabela's does. I may have to make a trip to EPPS or even BPS. The closest I have is some blindside in #5.

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Kent makes their "Upland Fasteel" 20 gauge 7/8 Oz steel loads in # 5, 6, and 7.

You may have to order it, or you may get lucky and catch the one pallet they bring in a year. They have just gotten one pallet of #6 per year in the past.

You can also look for steel target loads.

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Originally Posted by Snowwalker

I have never had any luck with the stand on the wings and pulling the feet trick, like you can with grouse.

I pluck the feathers from the crop(neck) down to a couple inchs below the breast, and then up the sides to the wing pits.

Start under one wing and run a blade along the ribs( you will feel them between the breast and back) across the thin skin on the stomach and back up the other side of the bird. The cut will look like a big U. Now put your thumb under the breast and pull the feet with your other hand to tear the breast off the body. You will be left with a pair of wings( good to show the CO for IDing) and the breast in one hand and the rest in the other. I debone the breasts at home.

You could also just debone the breasts and take the meat, but there is no way for the CO to ID the bird.

Have fun.

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After you have them breasted out , don't forget to remove the silver skin/membrane from those beasts.

Pigeons have to be the easiest bird to clean. With the bird on it's back in your hands take each thumb and just peel the breast skin back on each side exposing the breast. Then make a claw with three fingers and just rip the breast out. It works real easy, takes like 5 seconds.

Cheers