Menu
On September 2, 2024, Three Rivers Land Trust held its 5th Dove Hunt. The annual opener on Labor Day weekend marks the informal end to summer and the beginning of the fall hunting season. Approximately 120 hunters made their way down the long, dead-end road in southern Davie County well before daylight to take part in this annual tradition.
The morning gathering was a complete melting pot of Americana, a diverse gathering of hunters from all across North Carolina, united by a common love of the outdoors, conservation, and the everyday bird prized by hunters for its surprisingly delicious taste – the mourning dove. The hunters made their way to the field in the predawn hours with great anticipation as to what the day may hold. Would there be any birds or would it be a slow day with little action?
The answer soon came as morning broke over the stubble of the cut corn field conserved by Three Rivers Land Trust. Shots began to ring out as the doves flew to the field to feed. With these game birds zipping through the air, each hunter grew more excited as the action heated. The silhouette of the birds was cast perfectly over the gray morning sky. In no time at all, the participants’ daily bag limits were being reached.
This day was especially significant for a grandfather and grandson who traveled from Asheville, North Carolina to take part in the hunt. Below is how grandfather Bill described his day with his young grandson, Conner.
“Conner is eight years old, and he has been looking forward to this trip for some time. He has lived with us since he was eight months old, and his father is deceased. He is a good boy with a great heart, and in preparation for this trip I got him a new 870 in 20 gauge that he was very proud of, mostly because it was his first gun and that I trusted him enough to handle it safely in the field. He has been on a few duck hunts with me over the last two years, but this was his first with his own gun. Needless to say, but this was the big first test for him. We had a great hunt and he was very attentive to his shooting and safe handling skills. I was glad to see how important it was for him to do the right things in the field.”
“Yesterday became more than a dove hunt for us. Toward the end of the day, it was hot, and hard to find shade where we were. He hung in there despite the heat and discomfort until a little after five, and I decided to head in. He started to cry a bit, fought it back, and wouldn’t tell me why until we got to the car. Sitting in the air conditioned car, sweaty and slimy from sun lotion and bug spray, with everything packed up and ready to head back to the mountains, he started fighting back tears again. I asked him why, and this is what he said. ‘Do you ever get sad because a day ends that you never want it to? I don’t want to leave this place. It was the best day of my life.’”
“For me, I am one grateful grandfather who with the help of some good people who prepared a dove field, made possible some memories for a lifetime.”
“Suddenly I was fighting back a few tears myself, and realized that many years ago in a field with my own dad, were days that I didn’t want to end. We crossed a few thresholds yesterday. One, it was another step toward manhood for a boy who has great potential. Another, it was a step toward understanding that life is about relationships and the times you share with those you love. And finally, it was another step towards understanding that glimpses of heaven on earth are real and the places you find them can catch you by surprise – even in a dove field, despite how uncomfortable the weather may be.
Times like this are near impossible to describe with words, but the heart knows what it discerns. Such was the case with Conner. I cannot express my thankfulness to Three Rivers Land Trust enough for the chance to spend a day with Conner in the field. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all the staff for what you do. It makes possible days like yesterday that was likely multiplied many times in the lives and families of others who were there.
For me, I am one grateful grandfather who with the help of some good people who prepared a dove field, made possible some memories for a lifetime – and helped an eight year old kid get a glimpse of heaven on earth.”
As it goes, the event itself is never what’s important. The real magic comes from the special moments an event can inspire, and the fond memories which remain long after the day has ended. Bill and Conner’s story is why events like the Dove Hunt happen, and it proves that participating in local conservation can be fun, exciting, touching, and memorable.
If you would like to learn more about hunting and conservation, reach out to us at Three Rivers Land Trust. Our hope is that more kids like Conner will come to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, spending time afield with loved ones, the importance of conservation, and the desire for perfect days that never end.
Stay Connected
Sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date on news, events, and all things local conservation.
Connected to the Land.
Committed to Conservation.
CAMPFIRE CONVERSATIONS PODCAST
New episodes twice a month. Listen on all platforms.
