When the pair of dove came back to nest on my patio speaker for the 4th time this spring/summer I knew I had to get a specialist on to discuss what I was witnessing. Yes, they come back every season and nest in the same spot, but this was the first time they nested more than once. Perhaps it’s their offspring that are coming back year after year to nest there? All questions that are suited for Texas Parks and Wildlife Webless Migratory Bird Specialist (I just call him or Dove Program Leader) Owen Fitzsimmons.

We talk all things dove biology as well as dove numbers in Texas for both mourning and white wing population trends. Also, how many dove do Texas hunters kill annually? What about lead vs steel shot studies on dove lethality? All that and much more with Owen.

Next we check in with United States Army First Lieutenant Amber English who recently returned home after competing for team USA at the Tokyo Olympics. Amber set a new Olympic record en route to bringing homeĀ  the Gold Medal for Team USA Shooting. We discuss her background growing up in a shooting family, her early days hunting in Colorado with her dad and the strict training regimen that resulted in her Olympic success. Of course I’ll also ask her how many shells she plans to take into the field opening day of dove season…