Does anyone here have tips for a new dove hunter?

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Tortuga

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Friends,

So I've been hunting most of my life. I grew up very rural but it seems like most people just hunt deer. I've branched out and honestly always loved hunting small game growing up, but it seems like I'm the only one in the neighborhood hunting dove. That said, I'm not really sure how to do it.

I've done my homework and went online to find the nearest gameland that was a "managed dove" area. I went there and heard some shots in the distance, but didn't see any dove. I wandered around the field for a few hours but only saw woodpecker and finch. I went home (ironically passing probably 10 doves on the powerlines in town) and did some reading to find that a lot of people use decoys, but I didn't see anyone using them out where I was.

I've hit the books and watched probably 3 hours worth of youtube videos on dove, but I just don't seem to see any. I'm sure there's something I'm doing wrong. I know what they sound like, look like, and even see them regularly in town. I just never see any in the woods. I've even tried hunting near powerlines -- nothing!

Anything I should be looking for?

Is it possible without decoys?



I'd really love some delicious birds in my freezer!
 
Don't move around. Pick a spot and wait (bring a stool or bucket to sit on) wear camo, they will be most active in the morning and evening, just like deer.
 
George P said:
Don't move around. Pick a spot and wait (bring a stool or bucket to sit on) wear camo, they will be most active in the morning and evening, just like deer.
Click to expand...

Does it need to be a spot where I'm hidden or can it be in the open? I was up at 5:00 AM last time and in the woods before sun up. I didn't even hear any doves :(
 
Find a good spot in the field and wait for them. They like to gather before feeding so dead trees and power lines are good. They also tend to fly along fences, tree lines and other features so being near those helps. Otherwise they’re really hard to predict. Decoys work some days and not others.
 
I have no clue what part of the country you’re in. I hunted doves from the edges of sunflower fields in the Dakota's. No shortage of birds and the occasional covey of Hungarian Partridge were a bonus.

I preferred to hunt them with a 20 gauge with a straight English stock. To me that style of stock just flies to the shoulder. Same gun I use for grouse. Never used decoys or a call. Usually carried a couple boxes of dove loads in the vest.

Good luck....dove hunting can be fast and furious when the birds are cooperating.
 
A dead tree alone in a pasture is a dove magnet. A water hole with a sloped bank at evening time works well. Weeded pastures, harvested grain or bean fields are going to hot spots. Dove are hard to hit so don't kick yourself if you have a miss. I used to look for a particular shot, to up my averages. Now I bring lots of shells and shoot at every bird that comes over. I use a dog for retrieving. Sitting still next to a fence post is about all the cover you need, though I do notice the dove flair further out if I am not wearing camo, but then again I have shot many dove while sitting on a tailgate. Multiple hunters keep the birds moving around so don't skip over a place where other hunters are hunting.
 
1. Camo up and don't move around 2. take a sharpy and write the word LEAD between your watch band and thumb 3. buy lots of ammo 4. visually follow any birds you hit all the way to the ground- they can be hard to locate when dead 5. have fun with it
 
There has to be something to draw them to an area. Feed or water. Without either you won’t see any birds. You don’t need to be at the feed/water, just on a path to them. And they will follow a tree or fence line if there is one. Camo helps a lot and I stay in the shadow of a bush to break up the outline of my legs/body. I sit on a stool to limit my movement and wait until they are in range before standing. Sometimes I shoot from the stool.

Last weekend I went to a spot close to home where I normally see very few birds but heard shooting 3/4 of a mile away close to what is normally a dry water catchment. There was water in that catchment so I moved closer to that water and set up along a dry wash a 1/4 mile from the water. I ended up close enough to see dozens of birds and not interfere with the hunters that were shooting. I went from seeing two birds that were out of range in an hour to harvesting 9 birds in an hour and a half.

If they see you they will avoid you.
 
birdshot8's said:
. A water hole with a sloped bank at evening time works well. .
Click to expand...

This is the gold standard for hunting doves in Oklahoma. Improved cylinder or modified choke with 7 1/2 shot has always been my favorite. Fast flying doves need a good lead. Watch as the dove falls and go straight to the dead bird before you loose track of it's location.
 
Go get permission at a farm with cornfields and tree lines, ask the farmer if he needs any help to show appreciation.

Also find an area with pine trees they roost in them during the night.

All you need is a gun and lots shells shells and a bag to keep the birds in.
 
It would help if you could hunt a fresh cut corn field or seeded food plot . The Mojo decoys work pretty good and like others have said you have to stay still until they are close . As far as hitting them , i can’t help you , because I can’t hit them either .

I went last Saturday with a disabled hunters group and had a blast . I almost shot 3 boxes of shells and only got enough birds to feed me . I cooked them on the grill last night . Boy they were good .

106F35D9-6BCC-491F-A327-9A7116988BFE.jpeg
 
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