Dove Hunting Season Hot Spots

There are two types of people in this country – those who have been dove hunting and those who haven’t. If you fall into the latter category, you’re definitely missing out, at least according to Hayden Outdoors Director of Marketing Dan Brunk and broker Heath Thompson. These boys – or men, really, but to listen to them talk about dove hunting season evokes a fever pitch-level of enthusiasm typically reserved for our youth – know their birds and how to hunt them on both public and private hunting property. And they love to share their knowledge of the sport. In fact, Heath believes it’s one of the most social field activities out there. “Dove hunting is one of those sports where you can holler at each other, jab each other. It’s vocal. It’s loud. There’s no other sport where you can take 30 to 50 people and put them in a field and watch every one of them have a good time.”

Dove hunting is great for beginners and families, too – both Dan and Heath say some of their earliest memories are shooting birds with their dads, siblings, and cousins. Days in the field or rolling foothills are followed by cleaning and cooking the birds, drinking some refreshments, hanging out with everyone. Says Dan, “It’s a great tradition and just a great time. There are family traditions, but dove hunting is the one event everyone comes to. Anyone can do it so everyone comes together. Seeing people you don’t see but a couple times a year – that’s the most memorable part.”

Dan and Heath imparted their extensive knowledge and wisdom of the sport. Here are some of their dove hunting tips, tricks, and hot spots.

heath thompson dove hunting — Heath Thompson relaxing during a successful dove hunt. Photo courtesy of Heath Thompson.

Essential Gear for Dove Hunting

Before you step into the field, make sure you have the proper hunting license for doves if one is required. Additionally, you’ll need the following for a successful dove hunt:

Ammunition – You can go through a lot of shells when you’re dove hunting, so make sure to bring plenty. “You need to carry as many shells as possible if you’re going for a walk or sitting on a bucket,” Dan says. “The last thing you want to do is run out of ammo., after all these birds are tough to shoot!”
Clothing – Camo is great, but if required in your state, make sure you’re wearing the right amount of orange to make yourself visible to other hunters. Also prepare for the day’s weather. If you’re going to be spending hours in a blind or out in the field, wear light, breathable clothing that can double as sun protection. Dove have incredible eyesight, so everything beyond your orange should blend well with the surroundings.
Eyewear – Eye protection is an essential part of hunting. Choose a pair of glasses that provide adequate coverage.
Footwear – If you’re going for a walk, choose the right shoes or boots for the job. Look for sturdy soles and ample ankle support that will fare well over uneven ground.
Water, Drinks and Snacks – Hot September days means you’ll need to pack water and some jerky or snacks to hold you over until lunch.

A Note on Guns

Both Dan and Heath remember their first dove hunting firearms fondly. “I had a .410 hammer cock single shot shotgun,” says Dan. Heath switched over to an over-under Winchester 20 gauge when he was about seven- or eight-years old. “It was like a safari every day out there. You’d go out and shoot a bunch of stuff and come back with a sack full.” A scattergun is the best option for dove hunting. Says Heath, “I always recommend a 12 gauge – you’ll shoot a squarer pattern. There have been studies that show anything a 20 gauge can do, a 12 gauge can do better. You want a bigger, more square pattern.” Dan chimes in, “I would recommend women and younger hunters shoot a softer-kicking 12 gauge instead of a pump gun if they can afford it, something that’s a semi-automatic. After the single shot, I moved to a pump 20, then to a 12 gauge.”

Understanding Dove Behavior

Migratory habits

Dan notes doves are a migratory bird, “You can hunt them coast to coast.” This also means your time to harvest doves can be very limited. Heath continues, “A dove is the worst roosting animal God ever created, so during a really wet summer, your young and native birds won’t be as plentiful. You’re waiting on the migratory birds, which means you have to wait until the first cold snap up north when the birds start to head south.” In northern parts of the country, doves will migrate after the first freeze and they’ll continue south at a pretty quick clip. Heath and Dan put forth this rule of thumb: if you see doves that day, you shoot them that day (within season) because you don’t know how long they’ll stick around.

Feeding habits and preferred habitats

dove hunting sunflower field side-by-side — Sunflower seeds are a favorite food source for doves, especially after harvest (right). Photos courtesy of Heath Thompson.

Doves subsist almost entirely on a variety of seeds and grains. Favorites include sunflowers, peanuts, sesame, corn, pigweed, ragweed, hemp, wheat, foxtail, and millet. Heath chimes in “Dove hunting is best in ag fields that have been harvested or prepared for doves.” Occasionally they will feast on berries, fruits, or some greens. Doves also like grit. In order to survive, they need to have grit in their craw to digest their food, hence sandy rings, open fields, and rolling foothills with sandy soil. In the West, Dan has hunted dove near almond orchards or pasture ground where plenty of dove weed grows.

Fields full of Dove Weed on the West coast provide excellent attractants for dove.

Selecting a Perfect Hunting Location

Where you choose to hunt depends on what kind of land you have access to. Heath notes doves like to see their feet, which means they favor more open, recently harvested land, watering holes, canals, or orchards. “If I’m dove hunting on private land, I want to be on top of a sandy hill where I can see the ground with plenty of seeds. On public land, I’m looking for Texas millet or a water hole with a sandy ring around it.” When scouting dove hunting locations, keep an eye out for popular perching spots – the place where doves sit just before they land. In hunting areas with trees, doves will opt for tall stands with sparse coverage. As well as you can, monitor the birds’ flight patterns and behavior. Watch for early birds – the birds that fly over a spot before the rest of the flock arrives. These can be key indicators for when it’s time to shoot.

As both Dan and Heath mention, finding higher ground, even if it’s just slight elevation, can be to your benefit. Dirt and freshly plowed land are also enticing to doves – any habitat that provides seeds and a relatively clear line of sight for the birds. “I’ve walked dirt roads, railroad tracks and canals and filled my limit…the sandy soils and nearby water make these for hot spots if you’re looking for a walking hunt,” says Brunk.

Hunting Seasons and Regulations

Dove hunting is a federal season, and September 1st kicks it off. Make sure to check your state regulations – some states offer early and late dove hunting seasons as well. In addition to a regular hunting license, dove hunters also need to participate in the Harvest Information Program (HIP), which might require buying an additional permit or stamp for hunting migratory birds. Make sure you’re hunting doves in a designated and safe area. Don’t ever shoot the birds off power lines or other common use infrastructure.

These wily migratory birds are small and can be hard to hit but easy to injure. Heath says, “Don’t shoot a dove until you can see its eyes. If you can look up and see its eyes, then you can shoot. If not, it’s too far away.”

A pair of hunters walking after a successful dove hunt — Dove Hunting is a great activity to share with young hunters.

Preparing for the Hunt

Getting ready for your dove hunt requires gathering your gear, gun, and ammunition. You’ll also want to come up with a plan with your hunting party, deciding how early in the morning you’ll head into the field, foothills, or orchard. If you can, consider setting up your hunting area the day before. Some people even build shooting blinds above the treeline. Pack plenty of food and water for a day in the field.

Safety precautions and first aid:

Heath and Dan both stress the importance of hunter safety, especially when participating in a sport as social as dove hunting. Here are a few of their tips:

Give everyone plenty of space. Heath relies on this rule when planting his dove hunting fields: “I want everyone at least 70 yards apart, so I place a flag at 70-yard intervals. As the rule goes, if you get shot by a shotgun at 40 yards, you’re going to the doctor. At 15 yards, you’re going to the hospital. At 70 yards, you’re just gonna cuss.”
Children shooting doves should have an improved cylinder, and hunters should always be mindful to never let the end of their barrel get below their head.
Again, wear adequate eye protection and hunter’s orange if regquired.
Have a first aid kit handy, and make sure everyone in the group is familiar with the nearest medical facility.

Techniques for a Successful Hunt

There are a variety of tactics you can use to up your dove hunting game and increase your odds. Some people use decoys, although this technique wasn’t available to the boys back in the day, as Dan says. “We didn’t have any decoys growing up. Now, you can put a couple of MOJO decoys in a grave pasture and the doves are attracted to it.” Try elevating your decoy slightly for better visibility and attractiveness. Game bird calls are another way to draw doves in, but consider using these more sparingly in heavily birded areas as they can also attract other birds, some of which might be threatened or endangered.

a row of doves after a successful hunt — A row of doves after a successful hunt. Photo courtesy of Heath Thompson.

Other tips for improving your odds include:

Use an improved cylinder choke tube to hone your pattern.
Look for corner spots in a field, a point at which the field abuts another parcel of land or water, or a fence line. This will often be a place where birds enter the property.
Position yourself to the left or right of their flight pattern to allow for crossing shots.
Mark your birds with a visual cue that will help guide you to where the bird fell. This helps ensure you are able to recover your doves.
If this is your first time out this season, clean your gun before you go.
Go for one bird at a time. Finding multiple birds once they’ve fallen can be tricky and time consuming.
Shoot high. Going low in a crowded field can be dangerous for bird dogs and other hunters.

Conclusion

One conversation with two avid dove hunters and it’s clear this isn’t just a sport; it’s a lifelong love. It’s a fellowship. For many, it’s their first experience hunting. After that, it’s some of the best times they’ve ever had in the field. Heath thinks back. “I remember the first dove hunt I ever went on. My daddy took me and it was foggy early in the morning. I wasn’t big enough to shoot a gun yet, but I could tell what was going on.” Over on the West coast, Dan remembers early mornings with his dad and brothers. The tradition still stands, decades later. “I’m in Colorado now, but every September 1st, family and friends post up on my brother’s 40 acres and wait for the birds to come in. Every hunter has that picture somewhere in their house – family, friends, a dog and some birds.”