Begining dove hunting

[fabsroman]

You need to look for areas that have cut corn, cut wheat, or cut sunflowers. The doves love those crops. Standing corn isn't a terrible field to hunt, but it isn't the best either. As it gets closer to the end of November, I look for fields with long grass where the grass is producing seeds.

Essentially, what I always look for is a food source, a water source (e.g., small pond, cattle prints with water pooled in them), some gravel for their gizzards, and then a perching place (e.g., wires). If you can find where they are roosting for the night, you will be in great shape. The best roosting place I ever found was a grove of pine trees at the end of a big grass field where there was a pond right next to the pine trees. The doves would come into those pine trees 5 and 10 at a time. There was also a set of telephone wires going across the grass field right before the pond. I really miss that farm.

Try to figure out how the birds are flying. They usually tend to come into fields in a particular manner, and if you can figure that out you can put yourself in the right spot.

We are only allowed to hunt them here in Maryland from noon to sundown. So, I have no idea what you can expect in the morning. What I have found is that the action really starts to get going around 3:30 to 4:00 if you are around food/water. During the heat of the day they tend to stay still or roost in the trees in the shade. If you can find where they are roosting, that starts to heat up around 6:30.

[skeet]

Originally Posted by fabsroman

and then a perching place (e.g., wires). . There was also a set of telephone wires going across the grass field right before the pond. I really miss that farm..

HAHAHAHAHAHA
See Ol Fabs is teachin you bad stuff right from the start...Perching place, indeed.. If you ever saw Fabs shoot you'd understand why he misses that farm...Cause it's almost impossible to miss 'em when they are perched LOL

Actually Fabs shoots just fine.. I'm kinda teasing at his expence...But he is right. The conditions he states are really good for doves. However in a grain field environment I'd be in there by 1330 in a good sunflower patch we would usually be done in less than an hour. Shooting doves at a waterhole From 1600 hrs on would be good. In a field..take 2 boxes..in a waterhole situation bring 2 boxes..just in case. And at a roost...bring 2 boxes..just in case. First time at dovin I was 11. Took me 74 shells to kill 10.. I grew up from that point on.. Usually takes me about a box to get my limit now days. I shoot an old 1100 410 or an even much older Winchester M-42. Sometimes I use my ol M-12 in 28 ga...just for giggles. Love to shoot doves. Here in Wyoming we have some really large collared doves that have moved in..No limit and no season..Fly just like mourning or white winged doves....except almost as big as a pigeon. 410 ain't quite 'nuff for 'em. I use a 20 I take at least...2 boxes just in case

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Thanks for the replies so far......all help is welcome.

.bring 2 boxes..just in case.

How's about I bring a case, just in case...

[fabsroman]

Originally Posted by Mr. 16 gauge

Thanks for the replies so far......all help is welcome.



How's about I bring a case, just in case...

Yeah, I was going to tell you that Skeet was being really good about your shooting ability. The average number of shells shot per hunter per dove killed is just over 4 shells. So, if you are an average shot, you should be able to get the job done with a 12 bird limit in just over 2 boxes of shells. Me, I have seen some guys go through 4 and 5 boxes of shells and still not get their limit.

It also depends on how the doves are acting. If they are flying by you after being shot at in the field, they will be hauling, diving, and dodging already, which makes things a lot tougher. If you are the only one that will be hunting the field, which I prefer with a few exceptions (e.g., father, brothers, and a couple other guys I hunt with), then you will be in much better shape. What I really hate is when birds are heading right for me, they are within 20 yards of me, and some idiot 50+ yards away just has to shoot at them. The birds start their "dance" at that point, and the idiot rarely, if ever, hits the birds.

Me, I always bring 4 boxes of shells for me, take 2 out in the field with me, and leave the other 2 in the car just in case I have a senior moment a la Skeet LOL and cannot shoot all too well that day. The best I have ever done is 12 birds in 20 shells, but I almost always use a 12 gauge.