Mike Reed discusses the culture and traditions surrounding Southern dove shoots—the meal beforehand, field etiquette during the hunt, and the fun of gathering around tailgates at the end of the day. He talks about how good food, cold drinks, old guns, new dogs, stories from previous seasons, and the inevitable discussion about who shot well—and who didn't—all become part of the occasion.

A traditional Southern dove shoot brings friends and families together to celebrate hunting, dogs, food, drink, and the kick-off of another hunting season. A good shoot always has a social side! For many Southern hunters, the meal before or the party after the hunt can be as important as the shoot itself. A few don’t even bother to uncase their guns.

This episode discusses the things a guest can do to get invited back to a shoot in the future, as well as what behaviors to avoid. It touches on the role retrieving dogs can play and why it’s important that your dog is in good shape and the early-season heat is treated with respect. Mike also shares recipes for turning harvested birds into something worth gathering around the table to enjoy.

If you've attended dove shoots all your life, most of this will sound very familiar. If you've never attended a traditional Southern dove shoot, Mike explains why some people regard the first dove hunt of the season as a holiday celebration rather than simply another day in the field.

On YouTube, Mike includes a slideshow, mostly of pics from past shoots with his Labs and Drahthaars, as well as a buddy’s Griffon.

This episode's topics include southern dove hunting traditions, mourning dove hunting, plantation shoots, hunting safety tips, opening day dove shoots, sunflower & corn dove fields, dove hunting with retrievers, wingshooting & shotguns, dove hunting etiquette, motion decoys, Southern hunting culture, hunting camps & field gatherings, wild game cooking, dove recipes, grilling, and the traditions surrounding the beginning of hunting season.