Air Gun Home :: View topic

Rogerflat · Silver Status Member

I decided to get the Gamo Shadow 1000 out from under the bed and sight her in this morning. A half a dozen shots later she was right where I wanted her. Figuring I'd get a shot at some doves later, I set her by the window just in case.

Later in the afternoon I got my chance. A dove landed only 6 yards outside the window. I took aim on it and fired. It was fatally wounded, but I decided to just keep the crosshairs on it and watch it to make sure. To my surprise I see another dove fly right into my sight picture. This is rare, although not uncommon behavior among doves. I think its partner was far enough away at the time it was shot that it wasn't spooked by the noise. It probably saw its fallen comrade and came in to assist it. Big mistake.

Since I intended on making a meal of what I shot, I figured two is better than one. I quickly reloaded and drew a bead on dove #2. I fired, and it was a solid hit, but it flopped around and landed a little closer to me facing me. I decided to go for a finishing head shot and reloaded since it was still alive. I shot and it flipped again, but I assumed it was dead.

I went out to collect the kills armed only with my skinning knife. Unfortunately,the last dove was still alive. I don't know how. The shot must have missed its head. I didn't know how to finish it so I stepped on its wings and cut its head off with my knife. I am a seasoned hunter but I was surpised that its head and body kept moving even after the decapitation, it was little disconcerting. I felt bad, but it was the fastest and most humane way to finish it that I could think of at the time.

I'll be cooking them up for lunch tomorrow. Despite that strange scenario, it was a good days hunt.

cw · Banned

I didn't realize pigeons are edible.
What do they taste like?

23ib0d0n · Moderator

Pigeons are a species of dove {family Columbidae} and taste of the meat is contingent upon diet . . . Shocked

Rogerflat · Silver Status Member

I've heard that pigeons are edible, but I'd never eat the filthy b@st@rds. mourning doves are a more fastidious bird and are much cleaner than pigeons. I've acquired a taste for them and the flavor and texture is a cross between chicken and turkey. It's a unique taste and its a nice break from the standard chicken and beef that most people consume as their protein staples.

The outdoorsman · Veteran Member

Leopard_125 · Member

Rogerflat · Silver Status Member

Big up, to all my haters.

The outdoorsman · Veteran Member

Rogerflat · Silver Status Member

I think Leopard_125 is just trolling. But Outdoorsman's comment was hardly complimentary as well. And to address his comment, I'm not sure how to break a doves neck. Its head retracts into its plummage much like a turtle's. And I wouldn't want to grab its head as injured animals tend to bite and claw. Picking it up and whipping its body by its head is no less brutal than drawing a knife cleanly across the back of its neck severing its head.

I did once see my dad stand on a goose's head and kick it in the neck until it was dead. So I know that technique works on larger animals. However, it used its wing elbows to bang the crap out of his shins while he was doing it. Left him with a few bruises if I recall.

The outdoorsman · Veteran Member

sorry that i did not explain that right roger, im not saying that you shouldn't cut off its head i was just giving another way to finish off a wounded animal.
in more detail :
place one foot on the birds back , with enough pressure to keep it from moving then take one hand and curl your fingers as if you were doing air "quotes" place this around the back of the birds head with its beak in between your fingers, twist till a snap occurs

2 other ways are:

a sharp wrap on the back of the head

i have even seen a Karate chop to the back of the neck Shocked

Rogerflat · Silver Status Member