Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Biologist Landon Cook will discuss dove hunting in general as well as the recently-released “Dove Lethality Study” conducted by TPWD in Brown, Coleman and McCulloch counties comparing lead versus steel shot. In addition, BSA Longhorn Council’s Jeff Peters will be presenting ‘Venomous Snakes in Texas’. Live specimens will be on hand. Bring a camera, a king snake might be hungry!
Randy Spradlin, TPWD West Texas Hunter Education Specialist, will discuss shooting and shooting techniques as we all prepare for the upcoming dove hunting season that kicks off on September 1. He will touch on judging distances (subtending) and shot patterning, too.
Bring your shotgun, eye and hearing protection with a box (or more) of your dove hunting ammunition of choice. In flight sight picture, effective shot patterning and sporting clays shooting will happen after the retriever presentation at the lake. Taylor County Game Wardens have prepared a game laws presentation.
Members of the Lonesome Dove Hunting Retriever Club are conducting a retrieving demonstration with dogs of various skill levels and training from puppies to finished hunt test and field trial champions. Attending volunteer hunter education instructors will receive 25 workshop incentive points.
Whether you hunt private land or public dove hunting lands offered by TPWD, this event will be educational and informative. The Dove Hunting 101 event will take place on Saturday, August 8, 2015 from 8 AM to 2:30 PM at Abilene State Park, 150 Park Rd 32, Tuscola, TX 79562. Pre-registration is required. For more information, email TPWD’s West Texas Hunter Education Specialist, Randy Spradlin at randy.spradlin@tpwd.texas.gov or by calling 512-923-3509.