-Captain Mark W. Gore

As a boy I recall walking the pasture behind our farm in Brooksville, Florida with my father. Doves would come to roost near a clump of old oak trees in the late afternoon. We would sit on the edge of a hill while my father would fire shots from his shotgun as I went to gather the birds. This was my first hunt and it was the first time I learned what taking the life of an animal was truly all about.

The first Dove that I went to retrieve was lying there in the tall grass and looking at me with its little black eyes. I turned away for only a second and yelled to my Dad that he was still alive and as I turned to pick it up, the dove went to sleep in my hands. My father saw the sadness in my eyes as I placed the Dove in Dad's oversized vest that I was wearing. My father put his arm around me and told me that the Dove gave his life to us as a gift and that you should never take the life of an animal unless you intend to respect that animal and eat it. This was my first experience learning what being a great sportsman was all about. This was as my grandfather had taught him that now he was passing along to me.

I will never forget that quiet afternoon with my father because he worked hard and the moments we got to spend together were very special. He was passing on a tradition of hunting that my family had done for generations. I have been shooting dove, quail, squirrel and other small game with my father for years. I was very fortunate to have grown up in a family that had hunting and fishing as a tradition. I truly believe that our way of life helped to develop a bond between kids and their fathers that is beyond all other things in life. My father was like most young fathers, working hard to provide us a home and a good family life. During my childhood I really learned a lot from him and about him while we hunted and fished together.

This fall season I got a special treat that would really take me down memory lane. I recently got one of those phone calls that just makes you want to jump up and down. My son Holden and I were invited to spend the afternoon hunting with a good buddy of mine, Tommy Mathews, on his family dove hunt in Plant City, Florida. I was truly excited to have the opportunity to share with my son what I had shared with my father on a Florida Dove hunt. My son and I have been hunting many times before, but it has all been for larger game that takes more patience. We usually have to spend hours in a blind or stand without a lot of conversation, for fear of spooking the game.

This hunt would give my son more freedom and the time for us to talk and just hang out while we waited for the Doves to come into range. My son also got to share his first hunt along with our Black Lab Savannah. She is three years old and this was her first Dove hunt. We arrived at the field to have an early supper with some of the old timers that had been hunting doves for years. My son got the chance to see what this type of hunting was all about. We had a great time sitting around telling stories and hearing about great Dove hunts from the past. My son was truly excited as we headed to the field with Savannah leading the way.

Holden knows how much I like to hunt and his eagerness to be a part of this hunt brings a smile to my face. It is important to me to spend time with him watching football, fishing or just being in the woods in order to help him learn his way in life. Showing him what my father showed me is my way of passing this love back to him so that this family tradition continues.

As shots rang out from across the field, I knew the Doves were on the move. Because it was her first hunt, Savannah became startled but I consoled her and she settled in well. My Remington 12-gauge semi-auto continued to eat shells all afternoon long. While Holden was looking for birds I started shooting first and then we would trade off. We each tried our best to hit the fast flying targets and we went through two boxes of shells in only an hour. By this time we had dropped only a few birds around us. I knew that I probably should have changed the choke, but we had little time to do so. The plan worked to perfection for the old timers and we had great shooting opportunities but did not connect as often as we wanted.

In conclusion, my dove season started with great anticipation and high expectations only to see those hopes washed away as a result of years without dove hunting experience. It brought a big laugh for both my son and I as we joked about getting whopped. That dove hunt with my boy and our dog was one of the most enjoyable days afield I have had in a while. Watching my boy grow into a man in front of my eyes is one of the things I love the most about being a dad. Watching he and our dog learning together and retrieving the Doves was a bonding moment for all of us.

Dove hunting is a great way to introduce your children to the sport and lifestyle of hunting. Dove shoots are held throughout Florida every fall. While some kids get bored sitting quietly in a tree stand waiting for deer or wild hog, a dove shoot where they can talk, eat great food and be able to move about really helps to keep them interested. There are many opportunities at dove shoots for kids to learn about sportsmanship, nature and where their food comes from.

Because doves are as common as pigeons in some neighborhoods and city settings, it is easy to forget that doves have long been hunted as food. They can be found throughout the United States and their populations are estimated to be in the hundreds of millions. Doves are extremely active reproductively and, therefore, are a sustainable and plentiful resource. Each dove will provide about a ½ person sized serving of breast meat. A family of four might need anywhere from four to eight birds to make a meal, depending on appetites.

Many hunters pull the breast meat from the birds at their meet-up location, which makes cleanup easier than it might be at home. You can also pick the bird clean, removing every bit of the meat once you pluck it. This task can be extremely tedious since the birds are small.

Whether you get invited to a friend's Dove field or try your luck on your own, you can make bringing home your next meal a family event that you and your children will always remember. The following is great recipe that keeps the small dark meat of the Dove moist.

Remember getting outdoors with your kids can be one of the most memorable times of both your lives. Take the time to spend precious moments with your kids, they grow up so fast and before you know it they will be gone. Have a safe and enjoyable hunting season!

Capt. Mark W. Gore is an outdoor writer, guide & speaker from Tampa Bay. He owns Guide Headquarters offering fishing charters & outdoor communications. Contact him by phone at: 813.434.5504 by email at: mgore2@tampabay.rr.com or visit www.captainmarkgore.com