....doves??

I can sort of understand the 3-shot plug law for waterfowl because there are times where people flock shoot them and even with 3 shoots kill or knock down a pile of them, sometimes over the daily limits of certain species. However, that law is also well over a 100 years old and came out of the old market hunting days. Do such laws ever get reviewed to see if they are still good to have on the books and enforced...? I doubt it.

The 3-shot for doves is the one I don't get because most states that have a season have decent daily limits (its 15 here in South Dakota) and doves don't pile up to be easily flock shot so the chances of going over one's limit in 3 shots would be extremely rare. I've heard it somehow also linked to "treaties" (treaties with a narco-controlled nation are sort of ironic in my opinion) with Canada and Mexico given the doves are migratory and can cross international borders. I don't know and really don't care. I think the law is anarchic and a PIA. Just something for the Administrative State to make money on.

Anyway, enjoy your dove season, if you "get" to have one. I think most states start Sept 1.

I think doves got caught up in the migratory bird deal between states. Lumped in with ducks and geese technically. It’s just not in governments nature to give up control on something that’s dropped in their lap…… IMO

Not that it really affects me since I normally don’t get off that many shots anyhow, but up north we face a different scenario. If you are hunting ruffed grouse, and shoot at a woodcock you better have a plugged gun since they are migratory. Just to be safe I never remove the plugs from my shotguns. In Michigan all the small game seasons are concurrent with each other. Woodcock is the only one requiring the 3 shot plug, with the exception of waterfowl.

Just another reason to write a ticket since F & G has so much money invested in managing doves.

Worst part about doves is that 90 percent have migrated through here before Sept 1st.

migratory rules and states with a 3 shot plug for everything are never going to give it up.

a dowel rod cut to the right length that easily fits in the hole in your mag tube spring retainer or thread hole , point the end so when you want it out you can shake it out easy.

it rattles a touch but easy in easy out

since you still have to unscrew the cap or barrel nut it requires disassembly , they don't say it has to be difficult just has to require disassembly

In Mo,. any shotgun used for hunting must be plugged for a 3 shell max, except for Deer with slugs, and under any special order reg's, like some species of Geese. Rifles have a shell limit too.

It is a stupid law. But to make sure I don't get a ticket I just never take the plugs out of any of my shotguns.

I thought it was just a suggestion

I hunted doves for almost 40 years in California and had lots of good shooting. I never remember a plugged gun being a problem, and often would hunt with a smaller gauge O/U. The limit was always 12 or 10 over the years, so even reloading a pump or a semi was not an issue.

In Argentina, with no plugs or even an extended mag if you wanted, you can easily end up having a shell bill larger than the cost of airfare and the acommodations.

I could see it for depredation snow goose hunting, but with the average US dove limit, I'd rather enjoy the shooting for a longer time and as you say there isn't much flock shooting for doves... not even on a good day in Argentina.

For me it was always easier to keep my semis/pumps plugged so I didn't need to worry about using them in duck season.

Pete

I’d focus on chokes before plugs to get more birds, I see guys dumping shots before the birds are in the chokes effective range. The old saying if you can’t hit them with 3 then 5 shots won’t matter.

12 gauge muzzle loader. Shot doves with it last year. Loads of fun. Son and grandsons got more shots than me due to reloading time but didn’t have more fun. Plug aint a problem

Beautiful gun!! Kinda dicey reloading after a single shot I would imagine, with other barrel live. Is there a way to keep clear of loaded barrel or do you just take cap off?

Years ago, when I was a kid and thinking of buying a double muzzle loader for geese my uncle looked at me funny and said “ lot of blind guys named lefty out there that thought they’d like one too”. He is an absolute gun nut so that surprised me, enough that I passed. Always wanted one though.

I take the cap off and keep it pointed away from my face. Quick tap with the ram rod to make sure the load is still down firm. So far it always has been. When birds are coming in good I just wait so as not to be reloading. Often I get two shots. Pheasants I often have to load one barrel.

People resist change.

This is exactly right.

The law was also based on the extinction of Passenger Pigeon in 1914. The MBTA was made in 1918.

In KY a plug is required when hunting anything other than big game.

In Illinois you even need a plug in your shotgun for the big game season

I've often wondered how that would work for a revolver.

Many game laws are hold overs from decades ago. Think of draw poundage for traditional bows. Many states still use 45lb minimum. Not needed with more modern trad equipment.