Dove hunting can be a great sport for people of all ages and for many when the season is ready to open (hunting seasons have different start dates depending upon where you hunt) their mind begin to wander and they can hardly wait for opening day.
You may be thinking that it is going to be expensive and truthfully it can be, but there are many ways that even on a shoestring budget your hunting trips can be very successful and quite a bit of fun. If you think this is something that you would like to try there are a few practical things that you can do in order to get started fairly easily.
Obviously you are going to need a gun for dove hunting although there are some more advanced or professional hunters that use a compound bow. There are several different options when it comes to shotguns including a pump action, an over and under and an automatic. When it comes to buying a shotgun the size really does matter; the lower the number the bigger the shell. The 12 gauge is most common with the next one being a 20 gauge and the larger the gauge then the bigger the kick.
Once you have decided on your gun of choice you need to decide where to hunt, which also depends upon the different hunting seasons. This really can depend on what you can and are able to spend; you can go from expensive guided hunting trips to a short day hunt. In Texas there are public land areas where you can go for about $50.00 and have access to thousands of prolific dove hunting acres. If you have some money to spend then you may want to consider renting an established lease, which usually range from about $350 up to about $1100 per gun. Don’t forget that you will also be sure to obtain a hunting license first.
You will also need a few other items such as shells, 8 shot dove hunting load is usually a good one to start with and a case, which is 10 boxes, is normally enough to get you started. You will want to get some kind of a bullet/bird bag and many prefer a camo three pouch style. You should invest in some camo clothes and depending on where your hunting trips take you or when the different hunting seasons starts will depend on what type you will need, such as if warmth is a consideration.
The sooner you start gather what you will need the less expensive everything will be as waiting until the last minute right before the season opens prices tend to go up.
