Mount Pleasant Magazine Nov/Dec 2017

81 www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.ILoveMountPleasant.com | www.BestofMP.com feature T he faint smell of gun oil and a little gunpowder put a smile on my face as I gathered and packed my gear for the opening day of dove season. Three months had passed since I had last opened the gun cabinet. A little inshore fishing, trips to the beach and time spent on a Lowcountry dock with friends and family had occupied the long, hot summer. It was still hot, but it was time to get back in the field and knock the rust off the shooting skills. Many a young man has had his friendship and personal loyalty tested with the approach of Labor Day. The choice between wedding invitations and invites to opening day dove shoots presents quite the dilemma for the avid sportsman. Fortunately, early dove shoots take place in the mid-afternoon, so the die-hard can leave the reception of a noon wedding and be in the field in time to take a crack at a few birds. Evening weddings can expect groomsmen to slide into the church parking lot while changing into a tuxedo with expert precision. THE CAMARADERIE There are deeply rewarding social aspects to hunting in general. Whether enjoying an evening sit in a deer stand or time spent in a duck blind on a frozen winter morning with a buddy, the camaraderie found in hunting is special. Dove hunting offers the same – with a twist. The aforementioned endeavors require stealth and silence. Dove hunting is more forgiving. While concealment on the edge of a sunflower field is important during a dove shoot, I cannot tell you how many times I have visited with a neighboring shooter in the field. BY MICHAEL M. COCHRAN Photos by Michael M. Cochran DoveHunting: AHandbook