[poppeye]

i live here in missouri and the doves are plentyful BUT i dont know quite how to hunt them do i stand, do i flush them?
ii am a beginner at dove huntion as you can tell!:p

[3pairs12]

I just kind of watch them to see if I can determine a flight pattern. A lot of times they follow tree lines so I like to set up there. Sometimes they fly from one side of the field to other side from tree line to tree line. I don't go shasing them unless its slow and know where they have been landing. With most everything else mornings and evenings seem to be best. Most important thing about dove hunting is have fun.

[Floppy_D]

Find some seed-bearing fields (sunflower, millet, etc) and start there. Better yet, a waterhole or lake with some small grit arond the shore (like you'd find on a dirt road). Watch tree lines/power lines around there for movement. The doves are going to feed and water a couple times a day, just find out when and where they do it.

[MCgunner]

Don't neglect gravel sources. They will flock to a gravel source for their craws, especially if it's isolated. Water holes in dry years are good spots sometimes. Evenings sitting between feeding areas and roosting areas is a good strategy. Just have to determine where they're flying, what they are doing, sorta like deer hunting, but you can actually SEE what they're doing and where they're going, don't have to rely on sign.

[Nathanael_Greene]

Some other suggestions:


Try to stay hidden. Dove have very good eyesight.
Bring along a folding chair; dove hunting can be...slow. A book and some water are handy, too.
Be prepared to miss a lot, until you get used to shooting them.
Resist the urge to fire that third round. If you haven't hit with the first two, that third one is almost certainly a miss as well.
Try to find someone to hang around with. You'll both learn from each other.
Have fun! Dove hunting is a live-action video game, and you get to eat the results.

[Savage Shooter]

Advice for a beginner
bring a comfortable seat
and lots and lots and lots of shells:D

[dagger dog]

Savage Shooters got a point.

I would say find the area they are in around 2-3 hours before dark, watch for them on power lines fences etc try to get a line where they congregate. Then scout where the nearest water supply is, it can be just a mud wallow, but doves are open area fliers so they will be around edges of crop fields fallow or standing (food) or wood lots (roosting areas). One thing for sure they will water before roosting . If you can stake out these known watering areas a couple hours before dark you should get some action.

Fallow fields with rye grass, bluestem, any of the natural small grained feed is dove food along with millet and corn from farmers fields. If you're lucky enough to jump and kill one or two pull open the craw and see what they have in there, a good clue on where to look for there food source. Can't stress the fact about the water though, they will water before roosting!