Dove loads?

[kickingfrog]

What says the group about 20 gauge dove loads? If lead was an option I'd use 7.5 or 8's maybe 6's. I'm not seeing a lot of choices for 20 gauge non-tox besides duck loads.

[Snowwalker]

What says the group about 20 gauge dove loads? If lead was an option I'd use 7.5 or 8's maybe 6's. I'm not seeing a lot of choices for 20 gauge non-tox besides duck loads.

You should be able to find #6 or 7 steel target loads.

[greatwhite]

From what I have gather from your posts and success over the years why not use a pellet gun with steel shots. You seem to be capable of the distance. Unless they are out of range for a pellet shot, I know around my house in the morning they are stiiting on the clothesline. Just seems to me that a shotgun is over kill and the amount of meat is less than the value of the shot.

What says the group about 20 gauge dove loads? If lead was an option I'd use 7.5 or 8's maybe 6's. I'm not seeing a lot of choices for 20 gauge non-tox besides duck loads.

[punkrockerpj]

From what I have gather from your posts and success over the years why not use a pellet gun with steel shots. You seem to be capable of the distance. Unless they are out of range for a pellet shot, I know around my house in the morning they are stiiting on the clothesline. Just seems to me that a shotgun is over kill and the amount of meat is less than the value of the shot.

i think i remember going down that road with my 22 pellet rifle... something about not being able to use a single projectile had me euchured... has this changed? it'd be alot of fun with the pellet rifle...

[Snowwalker]

i think i remember going down that road with my 22 pellet rifle... something about not being able to use a single projectile had me euchured... has this changed? it'd be alot of fun with the pellet rifle...

Doves .....no pellet gun.
Pigeons.....shoot away.

[greatwhite]

Oh sorry guy's didn't realize u could not use a single projectile. Wow thats crap. Shotgun just seems over kill

[greatwhite]

Are pigeons really worth the time? What do they taste like? Don't see many around here but I do see the odd one at the farm I use to work at and usually they are white

Doves .....no pellet gun.
Pigeons.....shoot away.

[smitty55]

Pigeons are great eating. I used to do a lot of shooting for them at different farms. We even had a taxidermist in the group who did up some decoys that were great. The meat is all dark, with the filets a shade of pink. Roasting bags, clay bakers or a slow cooker work best to keep the meat moist. A couple of strips of bacon help as well.
Btw you can't get steel pellets, they would not be barrel friendly at all. Alloy pellets are available but they tend to be light and are unstable at any decent speed.

Cheers

[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.

Pigeons are great eating. I used to do a lot of shooting for them at different farms. We even had a taxidermist in the group who did up some decoys that were great. The meat is all dark, with the filets a shade of pink. Roasting bags, clay bakers or a slow cooker work best to keep the meat moist. A couple of strips of bacon help as well.
Btw you can't get steel pellets, they would not be barrel friendly at all. Alloy pellets are available but they tend to be light and are unstable at any decent speed.

Cheers

[Snowwalker]

Are pigeons really worth the time? What do they taste like? Don't see many around here but I do see the odd one at the farm I use to work at and usually they are white

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.