Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-07-22
GOOD SPORT IS
DOVE SHOOTING.
Summer Pastime Which Will Take
The Starch Out of Ambi-
tiOus Marksman.
SOME HINTS TO THE GUNNER.
Hour on 4 Fast Flight Is a Great
Remedy to Reduce Swelled
Heads,

sportsmen who are not pot hunters and
love shooting in the highest ssense Of the
word will find plenty TO test their SKIN
In the game qualities of the dove Cum
ners In general stand ready TO accord
full credit to these swift winged gray
birds for being among the most difficult
Of all feathered marks 20 hit when In full
fight--the only way a real sportsman ever
shoots them.
Right now a man can have all the sport
Of this kind he wants along the foothills
between Pennington and the mouth Of
Weber canyon. Davis county seems 10 be
alive with them, at least II was few
days ago when the trip was taken by
three Salt Lakers.
Coming down out Of a canyons mouth
with wings whistling merry cadence
as his trim body flashes through the
air, lodging hlther and thither-play-
ing all the tricks Of the scared snlpe,
quick must be the hand, accurate the
eye-.instantanoous the judgment that
turns an adult dove over dsad IN mo
air Quail are comparatively duifer s
marks; teal I'm range are not bit more
trying to the crack shot than are these
cratic, sky-rocket-ike lllers. Let the ay-
erage trigger knight speculate on nus
ability until mentally sclf-satshed with
It; when his hat no longer fts HE him
TO the little point In the hills where two
canyons branch together and cure Will
be speedily effected. There are places IN
this county where an average Of one dead
bird TO i've shells Is not at all disgrace
fu; In fact, most shooters rank enough
to admit 1t will chalk up an average or
not better than one dove TO the three
shots In scoring a limit bag.
The luxurious ease and solid comfort OF
doveshootlng specially adapt II TO the hot
summer months The gun, light, loose
clothing. something cool 20 drink, and
lunch are the requisites Flights change
some from year TO year but he Is poor
hunter indeed who long before the OPEN
ing day has not staked out at least one
convenient pass where the limit can
be had the first two or three days at
least. Sometimes one drops onto that rar-
est of dove hunters treasures an all day
fight where from o'clock In the morning
TIL 4 o'clock In the afternon the birds
are swinging past at intervals looking
for a shady roOst during the heat Such
are usually found on low hills with water
courses at their base and scattering
growth Of live oak around their SUBMITS
Usually the sportsman who locates n
good afternoon movement oil the birds feels
he has done quite well enough, the mid
day affords opportunity for an al fresco
sicsta which Is of itself "A pleasure not
always unmixed, particularly II there be
ants and bugs.
A light gun OF l6 gauge and small fac.
tory loads are efficient enough for tho
dov eshooter as the game does not pos
sess the tenacity Of life so characteristic
Of the densely-feathered ducks Not that
a tough old male bird will not sometime
take quite a maulng but IN most cases
the shot who ccnters his marks In work
manlikc style will have no cripples 10
chase. No. S shot chilled and an ounce
and an eighth, by measure, backed by a
S-drama load OF bulk nitro powder, such as
Dupont or It's equivalent I'm Ballistite
lnfallible or some other Of the dencs nj
tro In second quality shells, makes an
effective load, though there be those for
whom the best Is none too good. aud
whose dove ammunition Is prepared with
the same care as their duck shells
Laying down prescriptions for leading
doves In flight Is about as likely 10 prove
satisfactory as treating toothache by
mail but in general II Is safe tu say 10
doves are shot behind for every one that
is overled. The dove travels at two
speeds When In fun flight from water
TO feeding place, he swings along better
than a mile-a-minute gait, When not
frightened. and merely cruising about
over the fields In an aimess way looking
for food, loafs along at hardly half that
speed
Jumped doves are easy enough TO hit
but the flight game Is another story on
level ground II Is hard enough but IN
canyon mouth, where turns are abrupt,
the birds not only dodge much more, but
seem to 60 about twice as fast Coming
up 40 or 70 yards on at the side or over
head, they give the duck shot a chance
for the exercise Of his highest art. one
who handles is gun slowly often is forced
to lead the far ones 10 feet, while the
snappy shoot -on-the- wing" marksmen
have to pass well beyond the birds bill
before feeling sure Of hitting him I'm the
middle
Concealment IL Of less moment than
keeping quiet on flight, Doves are shy
and like most game birds fear motion
more than the still figure Of reclining
man, When possible few boughs may be
arranged around ones stand II It be
rather open Uusually shooter can stand
In the edge OF cover without attracting
attention, or can lie close TO water and
secure passing shots. 10 IS q mistake
to run out after every bird dropped, as
one invariably misses shots by SO doing
Perhaps ono OF the chief Joys of dove
shooting ls tho size Of party that can
enjoy II. Some flights are wide enough
to comfortably accommodate ~ gunners
and give all good sport