Hunting Season is On – That’s How This Man Sees It With Gary McCoy

Isaac?  Wasn’t he the bartender on “The Love Boat?”  Course he was.  He’s not the “Grinch Who Came To Steal Dove Season.”  I just don’t believe that even flood water and gale winds could dampen our life long tradition of the dove hunt.  See, dove season in Northwest Louisiana signals every red blooded, camo wearing, snuff dipping, pick up truck driving, shotgun toting, Southern-by-the-grace-of-God, hairy legged boy, that it’s time to drag out the barbecue pit, the 12 gauge and a case of Number 8′s!  Since season doesn’t actually open until 12 Noon Saturday, the annual “Gathering of the Guys” and “Lunch in the Field” brings out some of the best barbecuers, fish fryers and dutch oven chefs ever known to whip up a batch of jambalaya, gumbo or red beans and rice!  Let the games begin.  We’ll sit around pick up trucks, tell lies and a lot of guys will drag out the trap throwers and clay pigeons to kill time while waiting on the birds.  Course, when the birds begin to take flight, it doesn’t take bionic hearing to pick up on language stout enough to make a sailor blush.  And it’s never the hunter’s fault their shot missed its mark.  It was that &*^% gun or that idiot on the other end of the field that made the bird flair.  I’ve hunted this way my entire life and have yet to hear one signal hunter holler out to the rest of the field, “Hey, all my fault.  I’m just a terrible shot.”  That kind of self imposed ego wound just doesn’t happen here in God’s Country.  When it comes to dove season though, you have to be extremely legal.  Game wardens love dove season. I’m living proof of the joy they can derive from playing G.I. Joe in a dove field for an entire afternoon in 90 degree weather.  They love idiots and that’s where God blessed me, but that’s a different story. Remember these simple rules.  Ask and Inspect!  Ask any of the parties hunting and the land owner if any bait has been placed in the field.  If somebody fesses up, get the heck out of there.  Don’t even load your gun.  If no one owns up to the action, then inspect the field.  If you find any sign of bait, repeat the previously described actions.  Game wardens don’t have a sense of humor….ever!   In most cases, they were the last ones picked for the kick ball game on the school yard. So now, they’re the team captains and they make all the rules.  So play by ‘em.  Or get out your check book and prepare to spend a day with the Federal Magistrate.  Trust me, that’s about as fun as hemorrhoid surgery.  Most of all, have fun.  Enjoy the day and get home early.  LSU plays Saturday night.  Oh, and take a kid with you.  That’s the only way to keep the tradition alive.  Course, that’s just how this man sees it.