2016 Dove Shoots

 September 1st Thursday

September 4th Sunday

September 10th Saturday

  This year D&H is having three shoots at our dove fields in Harrison County, KY.  The farm is family run and the fields are not commercially hunted.  Our fields have perfect habitat for Mourning Doves: rolling hills and abundant crops grown in fertile soil that are surrounded by hardwood forests.

We have expanded our plantings again this year and have many fields to shoot.  Our farmer planted more sunflowers and buckwheat this year.  The rain has been hitting the fields just as we want it and the fields look good.  We are going for a strong showing of sunflowers and buckwheat this year along with the normal food plots.  The farm also has available really nice roosting sites. 

This is a wild bird shoot, so there are no guarantees as to the number of birds that will be present.  We are doing everything we can to ensure a lot of great food plots and ideal habitat to attract and hold birds.

Dove shooting…it can be fast!  Lots of talking in the field; calling out to your neighbor…

“Look behind you! Four coming in from the fencerow! Six coming in from the watering hole! Behind you! Behind you! What? Oh, behind me?” 

"Luke you got the lucky spot.  I know it can’t be your shootin’ skills. Let me in there!” 

“Hey Alan, you got any shells? How ‘bout a handful?”

photos from the dove fields

I have been shooting since Tuesday and here are some of the great fields I have been lucky enough to shoot in Kentucky this week.  I do not know if you can tell by these photos, but it is HOT in the dove fields this year.  You are lucky if you can have shade and a good shooting spot.  That doesn't always work out.  I am thinkning about wearing a Patagonia A/C shirt today.  I might get laughed out of the field, but the A/C is the best shirt I have ever worn in super hot conditions.

this dog ain't dumb.  it is HOT and he knows how to deal with it!

doves on the grill

Monday night we threw 35 doves on the grill.  We did a quick sauce to brush on: olive oil, garlic, pepper and onion salt.  Zand made some cornmeal biscuits and we had our favorite honey from Cynthiana.  Finger-licking good!

I brought leftovers to the shop on Tuesday and I think I liked them better the next day cold. 

a week in the dove fields of Kentucky

I just got back last night from a week of dove shooting in Kentucky.  Lots of shooting, good food and good times with friends.

dove fields in Kentucky

D&H had a good shoot on opening day and then I shot at a friend's shoot outside of Paris on Tuesday.  Yesterday we went to a field in Shelby County around noon to do some work.  My friend cut another couple of rows of sunflowers and I flipped heads with a tobacco stake.  This allows the birds to get to the seeds and the seeds won't rot out when it rains.  The heads on these sunflower plants are huge and the birds can't flip them over if they are facing down.
After spending some time working under the hot Kentucky sun, we headed to a shoot in another part of Shelby County 

more photos from the D&H Opening Day Dove Shoot

September 1st Dove Shoot Report

       We had a great dove shoot at Shags Run yesterday. It was some of the most consistent shooting I have ever seen there. We started shooting around 2:00 and from beginning to end everyone had shots. Billy's fields were in great shape full of sunflowers, milo, sorghum, and Egyptian wheat.

Favorite Dove hunting Accessories

     With all the dove talk in the air, we are getting pretty excited for September 1st.  I just spoke to the owner of Shags Run today and he mentioned seeing many birds on the property.  His sunflowers are almost mature and the birds are loving them.  He also planted additional ground for dove hunts this year.
     Here are a few of my favorite dove hunting accessories:


 Filson Shooting Bag
    I just got one of these a few years ago after seeing many of my friends use it.  This bag is perfect for those hot dove days when a shooting vest is just too heavy.  Both side pockets hold more shells than a dove shooter will ever need.  The lined rear pocket is perfect for carrying a limit of doves out of the field and can be wiped out easily afterward.  They get better looking with age and use.