Openning Day! Got 9 dove on a public hunting field...

[SteveM]

I arrived "early" (before dawn), and had to park on the entrance lane to the parking lot! Lots of folks already staking out a spot. I got 9, but was hampered retrieving birds in thick, high grass as dove winged right over me. Texas Parks & Wildlife has done a good job keeping the heavily-used Granger Wildlife Management Area a worthy hunting field with good plantings of sunflowers. You can blame your gun or your bad aim, but there were plenty of birds at Granger! Huge banana spiders and truly colorful ticks, too. The little town of Granger (1,000 pop) was the set for the re-make of "True Grit" during the summer.

By 11 a.m., the temp was getting to me, despite drinking almost a gallon of water. And the little town does not really offer a sit-down restaurant or cafe where you can cool off, so back to Austin, an hour away.

Good news! A "cool front" will pass through today and Friday, and the temps will plunge to the low 90s by Friday and Saturday!
I am really happy with my improved cylinder .12 ga. Rem. 870. IC is the way to go, even for fairly long shots. The stock screw-in choke from Remington patterns nicely. Do pattern your shotgun and see what works best.

Happy hunting!