It’s almost here!! Even gonna take the day off. Good local population of Doves this year. Best part is the Eurasian Collard Dove population is getting bigger. Bigger birds and no limit, makes me hungry already.
Its the first here as well but if it dosent stop raining it will be some tuff hunting as they can water anywwhere they want to right now and hunting ponds will be marginal at best.I also dont see to many cut sunflower fields or any other grain fields for that matter happening as we just cant get all the way dried out on the other hand though teal season isnt to far off and that may be awesome this season given are current conditions.
Well it came and the feathers really flew. Of course some of them are still flyin’. If ya hit ‘em all, yer buddies won’t hunt with ya anymore. Between the 5 of us, we managed to take home 48 birds. Of course I won’t mention the number of caps popped to get them. About a third of the take were the bigger Eurasian Collered Doves. This means we really didn’t get our limits of ten each, because the ECD’s don’t have a limit in Cal. But who cares. It was a great day with lots of action. One of my daughters managed to take more than she ever has in one sitting. Daddy’s proud of her! Can’t wait to make some more feathers fly, maybe this weekend.
This really is a great time of the year and it’s good to see that some folks are already letting their gun “bark”. Any pictures to go along with your post?
Don’t know the best, but I have my favorites. Cover them with anything that will help keep moisture in (can of creamed soup, etc…). I like to lightly brown the breasts in olive oil (or butter) with fresh garlic and onions. Arrange them breast up in a Dutch oven (or similar covered dish) and mix the drippings with a pint of sour cream. Coat the tops of the birds with the slurry, sprinkle with Paprika, cover and bake 20 - 30 min @ 350 deg. This works well with most game birds (not water fowl). Another way to keep them moist and add flavor is after browning, wrap them in bacon and then bake. If you use enough bacon, they won’t need covered and the bacon will “crisp” up some.
I cook a lot of things this way, It’s my all time favorite! Rub them down with your favorite seasoning (I use Uncle Earnies rib and pork rub), wrap them in Farmland maple and brown sugar bacon, put a toothpick (water soaked) through them, stick a hot pepper (jalepeno, etc) through them, Just a few minutes before they are done stick a piece of pepper cheese on the toothpick. Make sure you cook them over a charcoal grill, it really adds the flavor. I do this with all upland game and even deer. It’s my absolute favorite! I need to get something killed just so I can go cook them!
More feathers a flyin’! WX was cool, o’cast and windy for Sunday. Not the best for dove. Knowin’ the end if the first season split is the 15th, had to go any way. Well… most of the same guys got together plus a fresh one and we managed to take home over 70 birds between the 6 of us. The morning take was all ECD’s, the eve hunt was mostly Mournings. Great day despite the WX. Had some for supper last night, may need to go get more when the 2nd season opens.
