Clay: Opening day hunt planned

Bill Green stood in front of me; his face about 12 inches from mine.

"When we goin' huntin'?" he asked.

"Well, the season opens next Monday," I said. "I'll call some friends to see who is being overrun with doves."

Bill has been after me for a couple years to find a farm with too many rock doves, which most of us refer to as pigeons.

"Many people think pigeons are dirty birds, but they hang out around the farms, eating grain, just like the mourning doves do," Bill said, convincing me the two birds should be considered equal, as far as edibility is concerned.

I called a few friends and found a spot for us to hunt on Sept. 1; north, toward Hartline.

"Do you have an excess of pigeons?" I asked my friend.

"Yes, would you please get up here and thin them a bit?" she said.

We actually could head up this weekend, as there is no season or limit on pigeons, which are also known as rock doves.

"Are there any Eurasian collared doves around?" I asked.

"Yes, there are some."

The no-season and no-limit rule goes for the collared doves as well, as they are an invasive species. These pigeon-sized birds are light brown to gray in color with a narrow black collar around the back of the neck.

"The mourning dove season opens next Monday," I said.

Pregnant pause.

I knew she considered the mourning doves as her pets, so I was a little concerned.

"Would you shoot me if I shot a mourning dove by mistake?"

"No, because I've done it myself," she said.

"Actually, I have a need for a photo of a pigeon, a collared dove and a mourning dove side by side, so shooting at least one mourning dove could be considered hunter education," I said.

Pregnant pause.

"Well, for the sake of hunter education you can shoot one," she said.

Actually I wouldn't shoot one if she hadn't given permission, but I was telling the truth about the need for a photo of the three birds side by side.

"What time do you get up?"

"We are early risers, so come up when you want."

"I would like to check your place out, before we start shooting." I said.

"Just don't shoot the wires or put a hole in anything," she said.

"Still, I would like to visit with you before we begin hunting," I said. "Shooting time is 5:45, how about we plan to arrive at 6?"

"We'll see you at 6 on Monday," she said.

Next Monday, Bill, who lives on the Rocky Acre Ranch in Ephrata, and I plan to meet in Wilson Creek at 5:30, switch to my Ram and head north, arriving at the hunting area by 6.

The licensing requirement for mourning dove is a small game license and a state migratory bird permit. The daily limit is 10 and the possession limit is 30.

The Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game Bird Hunting Regulation Pamphlet states, "It is unlawful to possess shot (either in shotshells or as loose shot for muzzleloading) other than nontoxic shot when hunting for waterfowl, coot, or snipe."

This means lead shot is legal to hunt mourning doves. My plan is to take the Circuit Judge shotgun, which shoots .410 ammo. The shells are placed in a cylinder holding five rounds.

However the hunting pamphlet also states, "It is unlawful to hunt: Game birds with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells."

The manufacturer supplies a plug which is inserted into the cylinder and covers two of the shell holes, making this shotgun capable of holding no more than three shells.

If we are successful and bag a few birds, such as a bunch of pigeons, several collard doves and one mourning dove, we will clean them and head for home.

The hunting pamphlet states, "Species identification requirement: No person shall transport within the United States any migratory game birds, except doves and band-tailed pigeons, unless the head or one fully feathered wing remains attached to each such bird at all times while being transported from the place where taken until they have arrived at the personal abode of the possessor or a migratory bird preservation facility."

The part stating "except doves" means we can clean the birds completely at the hunting site, place them on ice and take them home ready to cook.

We might pluck a few, but if we get tired pulling feathers, we will simply breast the birds.

Recipes using gently poached skinless dove breasts or using pigeon or dove breast ground into a rich filling for ravioli or jalapeño poppers come to mind.

The .243 rifle will be in the Ram, just in case we encounter a cougar or a bear during the day. Yes the chances are slim, but you never know.