| By Vernon Robison Moapa Valley Progress Submitted September 10, 2008
Moapa Valley sportsmen took to the fields last week with shotguns in hand for the annual Dove Hunt. Opening day for the hunt was on Monday, September 1. The wide open spaces surrounding the Moapa Valley were well stocked with doves and hunters alike on the morning of the Labor Day opening. Many local hunters reported that they had been able to quickly take their daily limit that morning. For many local families the dove hunt is |
 Lon Dalley, with skilled hunting dog Mitzi, headed into the Logandale hills on Saturday morning to hunt dove. |
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| a long-standing tradition passed down through generations from father to son; and, at times, even to daughters.
Members of the local Dalley family returned again to the hunt on Saturday, September 6. Overton resident Bevan Dalley, with sons Lon and Kyle, stationed themselves among the hills behind the Logandale residence of cousin Lindsey Dalley. Lon brought along his three young sons: Nathan, Colson and Easton; and Lindsey was backed up by his two daughters, Trina and Rachel. Sadly, the girls had to leave off hunting a bit early to travel into Las Vegas for a ballet dance class. |
 A Dalley hunting party gathers for a photo during Saturday morning’s Dove hunt. |
The family group clearly enjoyed engaging in this activity together. They shared a lot of light humor as they hunted. At one point, as a group of doves flew overhead, a couple of the hunters sent a volley of shots up at the birds. But none of the shots hit their mark. “Well you can tell just how dangerous we are,” commented Bevan.
Still, the group exhibited considerable skill in hitting these small birds which darted quickly across the sky. The dove is not an easy target to hit. Scientists studying the dove have clocked it flying at well over 50 miles per hour. What’s more, the bird is able to change directions in the air with astonishing facility. Predicting the dove’s flight path is, to say the least, a challenge. Hunting in the early morning on Saturday between about 6:00 and 8:00, the Dalley group bagged about two dozen birds altogether. |
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Not everyone in the group got their limit that morning. But it was obvious that it was not for lack of skill. The hunting party was undoubtedly slowed down significantly by the Progress photographer that was following them around; also, no doubt, by their having to prevent from shooting him.
Dove hunting season continues until September 30. But the first few days are often considered the best. In early September, many of the birds showing up in the Moapa Valley have migrated away from cooler temperatures in Lincoln County. As the local temperatures cool down throughout the month of September, the birds tend to pack up and head south. |
