Dove Days

By Andrew McKean

Posted on Sep 20, 2010

httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo10013215791x.jpg — We Montanans don't have nearly as rich a tradition of hunting doves as our Southern brothers. Our birds just don't stick around very long once the September 1 opener arrives. A cold front typically pushes them south. But this year gentle weather has remained around long enough to chase the winged devils a few times. And there's nothing like taking the kids out in the back field for an evening shoot.

httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images2010092x_0.jpg — "Hollywood" Ellis McKean takes up his post at the base of a large cottonwood tree. His job: to keep an eye out to the left for incoming doves, and to shoot any collared doves he might see with his single-shot .410.

httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images2010093x_0.jpg — Twin brothers Ellis and Merlin McKean pose with our awesome yellow Lab, Willow. Because exotic collared doves aren't considered game animals, they can be shot without a hunting license. That means the 9-year-old twins — who won't reach legal hunting age here in Montana for another 3 years — can shoot them without consequence. The short story: we didn't see any collared doves.

httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images2010094x_1.jpg — I finally bag a bird after a few spectacular misses.

httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo10013215795x_0.jpg — Willow is ready for the next retrieve. One problem with our mild weather: we still have way too many mosquitoes, and most of them find prime habitat on Willow's muzzle.

httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images2010096x_1.jpg — Meanwhile, Iris McKean and her friend Meara Johnsrud show off a bird that Meara's dad Chris bagged. For the record, that was the only bird that Chris bagged.

httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images2010097x_0.jpg — The first pose is way too stoic for 6-year-old girls. Here, they goof it up.

httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images2010098x_0.jpg — I have only one rule when I take my kids hunting: They have to have fun. We take a break from doves to do some hay-bale jumping.

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httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images20100911x_0.jpg — Finally, the sun sets on another Montana afternoon. We've bagged a few doves, but more important, we've showed our kids that hunting is fun. They can't wait for next year. Willow and I can't wait for a killing frost to knock down these mosquitoes.

Summary

Hunting trophy big game is great, but sometimes it's the little moments in the outdoors that mean the most. I recently took my kids out to the dove field and got back to my hunting roots.

Andrew McKean

Hunting and Conservation Editor

Andrew McKean is Outdoor Life’s hunting and conservation editor, drilling into issues that affect wildlife, wildlands, and the people who care about them. He’s also OL’s optics editor, helping readers to make informed buying decisions.

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