Yesterday before I had to go to work, there were ring neck dove all over my backyard. I just received some 200 grain small game tips and I really wanted to try one. I know they aren't made for birds. I didn't think I was going to hit it at 20 yards, but BOOM. Feathers everywhere. I spent a half hour looking for the dove and came to the conclusion that it was gone. This morning, I went in my backyard, looked down at our wood working bench, and shockingly, it was laying right where I shot from. My first question, can I still pluck the breast or is it spoiled by now? I would hate to waste meat. My second question....how the heck did it die where I shot from? It's decapitated with the spinal cord ripped out, pretty brutal. But, the breast is still in okay condition.
No And.. don't shoot at something you don't intend to kill or have time to deal with. It's just a bird, toss it to a cat or something. As a migratory bird, you actually broke a game law by killing it and would make it worse by cleaning and eating it.
It's been about 75-90 degrees. Nobody could have found it and put it there, my backyard is locked and fenced off. Eurasion Collared Doves, or ring necks are year round in CA because they're an invasive species.
I did my best to find it and I do eat them. I"m pretty sure I didn't break any laws. On the CA Fish & Game website it says you can take them all year.
I'm in the midwest, never heard of an all year dove allowance but you know your state game laws better than I do. I wasn't concerned about it, it's just a bird as I said I'd toss it to a cat...I definitely wouldn't eat it.
Yep. Eurasians are open all year here with no bag limit. You can get a thousand a day. It really helps fill in the off season.
I hit a ground squirrel once at 30 yards with a rubber blunt. same thing. i couldnt find it. On my way back down the trail later that day. i looked up in the trees and there was pieces of it everywhere. last time i shot a ground squirrel.
Riverside. it has been to hot. i wouldnt. if you were up near me you would have been fine. it was 32 degrees last night.
My draw weight is 60lbs and those small game tips do some real damage! It almost seems like too much for a rabbit or squirrel. After seeing the aftermath with the dove, I could only imagine what that squirrel looked like haha.
regarding edibility of that bird. here is an interesting article on aging birds. Hanging Pheasants and Game Birds If you really wanted to eat it and the breast meat smelled OK, what the heck. seems to me that's how we'll find out if the deer we had to leave over night is OK...by the smell.
Hmm that was an interesting article. I didn't know people aged game birds. i ended up having to throw it away because of the heat. Plus, it was severely damaged.
Yep sounds good. Come shoot in the june competition at riverside archery. Ill be there shooting. just look for the big dude with faded tattoos and a blacked out bowtech boss. Also if you want to hunt D-14 zone. I would be happy to show you most of the areas that have lots and lots of deer. I decided agains feeding the deer though. Turns out Cali has a law against knowingly feeding deer.
I'd love to see your deer areas! I don't really know any around here. My dad has an old school Hoyt and I have a newer Hoyt. Isn't it pretty hard to get a tag for D14? Now I really have to meet you!
