John's Journal...

Enjoying a Dove Game – Any Number Can Hunt and Play

Day 2: Tradition Upheld – A Plantation-Style Dove Shoot at Sweet Apple Farms near Livingston, Alabama That Benefits the Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Editor’s Note: Dixie sportsmen are bringing-back the great old tradition of plantation dove shooting. The best part is that you don’t really need a plantation to try it. Much of our hunting today has become a sport for loners, with many of the social and the recreational values eliminated. There was wisdom in the old planters of yesteryear who chose to meet annually in the fall for a delicious meal, a dove shoot and a time of fellowship. A plantation-style dove shoot today may be just the remedy to put fellowship, friendship and people enjoying people back into the sport of hunting.

"The Heisman Spirit" by nationally-known artist Daniel Moore will be auctioned-off at the dove shoot, a 36 X 28.5 edition that Moore will personalize at the shoot. Each hunter in attendance at the dove shoot will receive an 8 X 10, artist-personalized, edition.

Click for Larger ViewToday, some sportsmen and landowners feel that plantation-style dove hunting still has a place in the present, with much of the old tradition and flavor intact. One such traditional, but highly-successful, dove hunt takes place each year at Sweet Apple Farms near Livingston, Alabama, to benefit the University of Alabama’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Click for Larger ViewThis year the shoot will take place on September 7, 2011. Each year an increasing number of companies, corporations and private individuals want to attend this hunt with their clients, friends and families. This opportunity allows outdoorsmen to take doves in the southern tradition. Like the planters of old, these folks discuss politics and business and socialize at the same time. Oftentimes as many birds are shot in the conversations among the hunters around the lunch table as there are on the field. Sweet Apple Farms carefully prepares its fields with grain crops.

After the hunt, you can enjoy these recipes to prepare your doves.

Creole Fried Doves

Doves prepared this way are so delicious, you can’t stop with eating just one.

Ingredients:

10 doves
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 cups pancake flour
Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning
Preparation:

Click for Larger ViewClean doves, singe, split down the back, and flatten. Season with Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning. Soak in a mixture of milk and egg. When ready to fry, dip the doves in pancake mix, and drop in deep fat cooking at 375 degrees. (We’ve finally found a foolproof deep fryer that costs less than $40 at Walmart made by GE. We’ve not overcooked anything in it, since it’s very true to its temperature gauge). When the browned doves float to the top of the oil, usually after about 10 minutes, remove, and drain on paper towels. The secret of having tender doves is quick frying.

Doves in Orange Sauce

Ingredients:

Click for Larger Veiw12 doves, cleaned and rinsed and then soaked overnight in salted water in the refrigerator. Then rinse again before preparing to rid the doves of the salt.
4 tablespoons butter
1-1/2-teaspoons salt
2 cups orange juice
Preparation:
Brown rinsed doves in butter in a heavy skillet. Add the salt and orange juice. Cover tightly. Bake at 325 degrees in oven for 1-1/2-hours.

For information on the University of Alabama’s FCA benefit dove hunt, go to www.bamafca.com.

Tomorrow: A Traditional Dove Shoot Lasts a Full Day, Including Recipes for After the Hunt


Check back each day this week for more about "Enjoying a Dove Game – Any Number Can Hunt and Play "

Day 1: Remembering the Dove Shoots of Yesterday
Day 2: Tradition Upheld – A Plantation-Style Dove Shoot at Sweet Apple Farms near Livingston, Alabama That Benefits the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Day 3: A Traditional Dove Shoot Lasts a Full Day, Including Recipes for After the Hunt
Day 4: The Value of Having a Good Retrieving Dog on Your Dove Shoot
Day 5: How to Plan an Old-Fashioned Dove Shoot

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Entry 629, Day 2