Texas Wing Shooting

I have been mulling over what to post and it would seem that an explanation of Dove hunting would add nicely to my blog.
So what type of bird is found on a Texas Dove hunt? There are 3 major types that are seen statewide. First and most prevalent is the Mourning Dove. A smallish fawn colored bird with black at the wing and tail tips. Next is the Mourning Dove's larger cousin the White Wing Dove. This bird is the same shape and general color as the Mourning Dove but overall slightly larger. As the name suggests it has white patches on the leading edge of the wing closest to the body. Lastly we have a newcomer which is actually an invasive species from Africa I believe. Known as the EurAsian collared dove. This bird has the fawn coloring but in a lighter hue. and a distinctive black ring the almost encircles the neck. This bird is larger still and approaches the size of a pigeon. Dove of these variety have some preferences for food which makes finding a good spot to hunt easier. Dove seem to thrive on wild Sunflower, and seem to engorge themselves on it's seed in the morning. As the day progresses they move to roost in a shady spot and late in the afternoon come to water.
The Texas season for these birds begins on the first day of September. Shooting begins at sun up and is quite a thing to behold. If a good spot has been selected and enough guns are present. the sky will teem with their small bodies like miniature fighter planes buzzing all about. Maneuvering and darting quickly they are indeed quite a hard target.
I have always tried to put any game I harvest on the table. The thing that puzzles me is that for the expense and effort the Dove is almost not worth the effort. The only part of the bird that is big enough for any yield is the breast. As with many birds the Dove has all dark muscle which is somewhat hard to make palatable. The most popular method of cooking is to take 2 breast halves and season with salt pepper and garlic and place a fressh jalapeno slice between and wrap with bacon and secure with a toothpick. then grill over mesquite wood. This is quite tasty but a full limit of birds can be consumed as a snack.
My estimation is as with most hunting sports it is the gathering of friends and family makes the hunt worthwhile. I was started on the path of wingshooting at a young age. I can still remember chasing down my fathers birds and being too small to handle a shotgun. In later years I was given a single shot .410 which was quite ineffective but which I enjoyed nonetheless. I think about the time I started high school I got a birthday present of a new Remington 1100 12 gauge. I still use that same gun to this day.
So why do we do it? Why waste time driving all over the state trying to knock down an almost worthless bird. I would suspect that for most just like myself it is a part of who we are, a piece of our heritage. A gathering for the beginning of the fall harvest. A time to share our love of the hunt.