When the birds and the lead are flying, there's nothing quite like it. Camo tape or finish on your shotgun helps hide gun movements. It shouldn't be. Just make sure not to scare them off to a new feeding spot. Before going to roost, they usually go to water again. In other words, successful dove hunters know how to analyze the flight patterns of birds, figuring out the spots where doves are most likely to fly by, as well as analyzing natural barriers and obstacles that might leave a wingshooter swatting at mosquitoes and little else. Pre-season scouting is important because dove hunting is a sitting game. Plant plenty of food, give ‘em a little water, provide grit, open ground, and a handful of places for the birds to sit. Nothing says it's time to begin hunting season like a good dove shoot. Water! Tree decoys should be placed as high as possible, back from the tips of limber branches. Doves also prefer a hump in an open field where they can keep an eye out for danger. Use several decoys along a fence wire, placing them one foot apart from one another. The basic ingredients for a good dove field are no secret. The Haydel’s Game Calls Dove Call is a helpful addition to your dove hunting kit. Wait for the perfect opportunity and you will find good game, ending up with a dove or two. Be courteous to all the other hunters. The following guide to dove hunting basics is sure to help as well. Since doves eat grit to help digest seeds, gravel sites offer another hunting site. In early season dove-hunts we are still experiencing summer temps. Watering sites are another key feature of dove hot spots. All shots should be at a 45-degree angle above the ground or higher. Also Read: 5 Things to do Before Dove Season. Choose a few sites and be sure to visit them often to ensure they are still viable hunting spots. Besides your hunting license and Migratory Bird Permit, all you really need to enjoy this great sport is a shotgun, some shotgun shells and a place to hunt. US / Global, Terms & Conditions Before they head back to roost for the night, they will return to the feeding area in the afternoon, and then the watering hole. … Points, ditches, borders between stubble and plowed ground, fence and tree lines, tall trees and other structure serve as reference points for flying doves, as well. All you need are the proper licenses, a shotgun, and a place to hunt. Most of the time, it seems difficult to hit a dove in the air. Doves' activity patterns may change due to adverse weather conditions, changes in feeding field conditions and other factors. Take a Kid Dove hunting is the gateway to a lifetime of wingshooting. Snacks are always a good idea too. Dove hunting has a long-standing tradition throughout Louisiana, especially on opening day. Visit them often. Lastly, apply camo grease paint across your face, too. Keep in mind that dogs do not perspire like us. If you have hunted birds before, you likely already have everything you need. When setting up on opening morning, find a shady spot that will give you and your dog refuge from direct sunlight. | Accessibility. Make sure you get ammo compatible with your gauge of gun. Dove hunting is one of the most laid back types of hunting. Like other shootings, shooting a dove requires a combination of skill, experience, patience, and the proper instruction. With a resume listing more than 3,500 magazine, newspaper and website articles about fishing, hunting, wildlife and conservation, Keith Sutton of Alexander, Ark., has established a reputation as one of the country’s best-known outdoor writers. Use the Right Rifle. Begin by scanning a likely site with binoculars. Where to hunt When you are looking at a potential dove hunting field consider these factors: Wind direction and flight path. Drop in the right spot. For many hunters, Labor Day weekend is synonymous with the soft coos of the mourning dove. When scouting these, try to determine when doves are entering and exiting, and examine each locale for types of "structure" doves orient to when flying. When you see doves, watch for several minutes. While a solo dove hunter can walk birds up for the occasional jump shot, this method can also be performed with three or four hunters. In 2011, Sutton, who has authored 12 books, was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a “Legendary Communicator.” Visit his website at www.catfishsutton.com. Doves use keen eyes from high vantage points to spot hunters. When hunting mourning doves, keep a dove decoy nearby, attached to a fence or stand. This high quality dove call almost perfectly replicates the soft cooing sound made by a mourning dove, allowing you to call and find more doves. Don’t be a skybuster—don’t take a long shot that is in another … Dove hunting in Florida consists of three phases. Birds may move to new locales, however, if hunting pressure is heavy for more than a day or so. These common birds are popular with hunters and they make excellent table fare (who doesn’t like dove breast with jalapenos, cream cheese and bacon? Observing hunting activity may thus prove useful in your search for a good shooting area. With shape sight and perched from a high vantage point, doves can spot you pretty easily. As you learn how to dove hunt, remember to be patient. Dove Hunting Come test your shooting skills on one of Dos Palmeras Ranch's action packed dove hunts. Open mid-field humps are preferred feeding sites because they provide a better view of approaching danger. The basic premise for dove hunting includes carrying a shotgun from a vehicle to a field, sit (bucket) or stand, wait for passing or decoying doves to fly close, and shoot. Plus, getting started with dove hunting is actually quite easy and great for beginner wingshooters. Three Day Dove Hunt - this dove hunt package includes 3 morning hunts and breakfast. Don’t forget your hat and some sunscreen! Most dove aficionados hunt fields of just-harvested grain crops. Here are some of the common dove habits to keep in mind when dove hunting: Doves typically visit a watering hole just after dawn and then feeding areas roughly midday, where they will linger a few hours in nearby perching, watering or graveling sites. From must-have hunting gear to scouting a field in camo, here is how to dove hunt and bring home good game. Another common occurrence on a dogs first dove hunt, especially if they haven’t picked up many dove is spitting out the bird. Use the natural materials nearby to conceal yourself even further. The coolers are full of soft drinks and a party-like atmosphere prevails. A lot less hassle than the waterfowl or deer hunting sport, although dove hunting does require that you have good shooting skills. They prefer eating on bare ground because their legs aren't strong enough to scratch through litter or long enough to clear many hurdles. Dove Hunting Basics: Tips to Get You Started, Dove Hunting Basics: Tips on Guns, Loads and Shooting, What Argentina Doves Taught Me About Wingshooting, Hunting Knife Buyer's Guide: What You Need to Know, What You Should Know About Ticks and Lyme Disease, A Guide to Choosing a Fishing Light Attractor, 6 Common Reasons Dove Hunters Miss the Shot, Shotgun and Gear Choices for Dove Hunting, Dove Hunting Basics: Tips on Guns, Loads and Shooting (video). Once you recognize a dove’s daily habits and know where to look, it’s time to scout the area to determine the best time to hunt. Fre Dove loves you! The feathers on a dove come out very easily and will fill a dog’s mouth, causing them to spit out the bird to try and clean all the feathers out of their mouth. Scout before 9 A.M. or after 3 P.M. when birds are more likely to be moving. ), but finding a good place to dove hunt can be a challenge. They loaf at perching, watering or graveling sites near the feeding area for an hour or two around noon, then return to the feeding area for the remainder of the afternoon. Do this by scouting prior to each hunt. A fine time to go dove shooting, this easy hunt also hones your marksman skills, preparing you for larger game–like larger turkey!–later in the season. You need a perfect strategy to hunt and hit a dove. But a great dove field has more. Group Dove Hunt - have the entire main food plot area to yourself or your group. Dove hunting is a great way to introduce young people to the outdoors and the activity of hunting. The dove shoot marks the beginning of hunting season here in the south and around the US. See more ideas about dove hunting, hunting, doves. A dip in perimeter timber may be a well-used travel lane. Understanding mourning dove habits will assist you in pinpointing game. Once you select a dove decoy, keep a few on the ground and situated on a fence or dead tree limb. Employ the tips and tactics you've learned here, and you're sure to enjoy the exciting, fast-paced wingshooting provided by America's favorite game birds. Like all game animals (and fish, too), critters just seem to be drawn … Made from durable acrylic, this call will be safe to use in all kinds of weather conditions. Fence decoys should be about a foot apart on the top strand of wire. In this Dove Hunting 101 video I discuss the "how to" of dove hunting for those that are beginners in the sport. You can purchase decoys — shell, full-body and even robo-dove decoys — from sporting-goods businesses, or create silhouettes from cardboard. The daily daily limit is 15 doves with a total possession limit of 45. Once you locate a feeding, watering or travel route, sit and wait for the doves to come to you. If you spot a few doves, wait long enough to see if more join. All rights reserved. The first phase opens towards the end of September and is open for several weeks and the second phase starts at the beginning of November. Dove hunting is very popular and in many areas “chimes in” the beginning of the fall hunting seasons. And where there are seeds, you will find doves. Decoys may improve your chances. Then, carefully manage the hunting pressure. Just a little bit of scouting to see where doves are concentrating and the right firearms will bring you success. 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