When doves start forming groups?

[Sniper66]

A week or so ago..that would be around July 20...I was driving past some power lines and saw a group of about 50 doves...that's here in NE Kansas. Doves grouping up to me always signals that cooler weather is not far behind and dove season followed by migration is not far off. Does that seem a little early to you? Especially since we've had such unrelenting hot weather this summer. Do the doves know something we don't? Cicadas are getting very noisy too. I can smell it in the air. Can you?

 

[troy fairweather]

A week or so ago..that would be around July 20...I was driving past some power lines and saw a group of about 50 doves...that's here in NE Kansas. Doves grouping up to me always signals that cooler weather is not far behind and dove season followed by migration is not far off. Does that seem a little early to you? Especially since we've had such unrelenting hot weather this summer. Do the doves know something we don't? Cicadas are getting very noisy too. I can smell it in the air. Can you?

it could have just been a storm front making them act that way. lots of rain this half off July. they do that all the time all most of the year here in new york . i think because we cant hunt them.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Could be someone had harvested a field nearby and the birds had been eating in it.
Though, now that I think about it, I haven't seen as many singles and pairs around here the past few days..?

 

[MCgunner]

I don't know about "cooler weather coming". ROFL But, I'm sure ready to shoot some birds. Molly the wonder dog is ready, too, but she doesn't do real well when temps are near 100. Hope it stays down in the lower nineties in another month. We'll hunt the tanks, though, so she can take a dip once in a while when she gets over-heated. She DOES love to hunt and sometimes don't know when to take a break in the shade.

 

[Bayourambler]

I’ve noticed the doves here are done raising and saw a few bunches lately in Louisiana. We have been lucky the past 10 days or so, we got a couple of (cold ) fronts lately.. Heck we had a few mornings in the mid 60’s!! Very rare for this time of year.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I’ve noticed the doves here are done raising and saw a few bunches lately in Louisiana. We have been lucky the past 10 days or so, we got a couple of (cold ) fronts lately.. Heck we had a few mornings in the mid 60’s!! Very rare for this time of year.

Same here. Oklahoma is usually hell, but it's comfortable now.
I haven't seen any dove besides my yard birds.

 

[nigelmore]

Maybe they are signalling something bad and that they want to feel safer when they stay in group. I suggest not to hunt during bad weather.

 

[LNF150]

Considering the crazy dry, hot weather early, then heavy rains later on I think we have had an incredible hatch this nesting season. This morning going out to shoot some reload there were tons of doves on the powerlines along the gravel roads. We have a really good crop of 'weeds' that are going to seed from the drought period to the rains, plenty of food for them.

Overall, I think most of the doves I'm seeing are the young of this year that have formed flocks of their own with some adults mixed in. If we don't get a cold snap or Biblical down pour or both before sept 1st then this will be an outstanding opener.

 

[MCgunner]

We have a mini drought going on at the moment. This will push the birds to water in the evening and the tanks are always good on years like this. I'm starting to get a little excited. Last year I couldn't see the danged things coming, cataracts were bad. My eyes were fixed in December, have bionic eyes now. I see better than ever. I have my awesome CZ O/U Redhead Delux in 20 gauge, a gun that fits me like a well tailored Tux, and I'm ready to burn some nitrocellulose.

 

[SoonerMedic]

Same here. Oklahoma is usually hell, but it's comfortable now.
I haven't seen any dove besides my yard birds.

I saw a few groups of 8-10 recently in the Ardmore area a week or so ago. Hopefully that is a great sign of things to come! I'm chomping at the bit for Sept 1! My wife is working for a research company which allows her to hunt nearly all of their farms. Several thousand (at least 15,000 if not over 20) acres to choose from. She got a little tip from one of her coworkers who said that they will be cutting one of the farms right around the end of the month which grows dove bait. Not specifically for dove, but they will certainly be happy fat birds after they run the tractor and in turn I hope they make me happy and fat after. I just want one day where we take home 40+ birds a piece! I don't think 10 eurasians per shooter is unrealistic? Hopefully her employer will allow a close friend to tag along with us as he has never hunted dove. Might need to persuade him to buy a manual clay slinger to practice.

 

[red rick]

I got invited too a big dove hunt yesterday , September 7th . I am looking forward to it . This hunt is put on for handicapped hunters and I get more out of it being around the hunters than they do , I think . I will not even call them handicapped because they sure know how to keep going on in life , with great attitudes . I have been on deer hunts with them before , and the organization does not let us shoot deer , we assist the hunter , I don't know about the doves .

This has been one of the rainiest years that we have ever had in my area and the corn is tall , but I have not seen many doves yet .