I'm going to do my first dove season this fall but I don't know really how to hunt them. In my area they just like to sit on the fences till you walk by. the fences are right by the road so I can't walk along the road and shoot them as they fly off. Do you guys hunt with dogs or decoys? If there is a way I can hunt them without a dog or a decoy I would like to know.

Im going to try dove's this year too! but I have a dog!
my buddies say they just chill in a good area around tree's or a watering hole. and wait for them to come in. or you can walk fields and flush and shoot.

I have Brittany Spaniels but they are only good for dove hunting so I don't have to go after the down bird. Doves are not something a dog can really hunt they spook fast. I go out scout the area a week before season opens because the birds will stay in an area up to 10 days after the food source is gone ( a weat field harvested and plowed under) I look for good rosting trees, water and food. You also have to find the fly ways ( the area where they fly during migration) With that all said I get up early and go to my spot before sun rise and as the sun starts to come up the birds will start to fly towards the food source the time the start to fly will depend on how cold it is as the sun starts to warm them up the will start to take off. Then you will see that they seem to fly from every direction as the day starts to warm up the birds will seem to come from one directions and that is towards water and then rossting area where they will sit for the hotter part of the day then as it starts to cool off this system starts all over again. This is just how I find the dove I look for the trees find food source and water try to place my spot between the food and water and sit on a bucket up side down and wait. I live out here in Phoenix Arizona but have hunted Dove for years in California and now here in Arizona. I have been out hunting coyotes this year and have seen more White winged dove this year then ever before b ut this does not mean that they will be here come season time if it is a hot opening day the white wings will be here but if it get cool early this year the will migrate south quickly. Another hot spot to hunt Dove is on or near a dair farm if the farm will let you hunt on his land the dove are plentyful but to get a great season of dove it is nothing like the fast flying desert bird we had a few fly along side of the truck and staying right next to us going 45 miles per hour Hope this helps Just one hunters opinion but I can not recall a single day of not taking a limite home

That helps a bunch guys. Thanks for the info. My area consists of plowed fields so I figure they will be there to feed. But there is only about 1 tree for miles or so it seems. I think they like to roost on the fence more then that old dead tree. I'll definately take all this into consideration. Thanks.

Good luck do you have a good receipt for cooking the little bugs. I just use the breast wrap them in a 1/2 of piece of bacon and either bake them or Bar B Q them some times I fillet the breast meat off the bone and fry them in flour.

I didn't have a recipe. That sounds pretty good. I'll try it if I get any.

Try to fry them in flour with a little salt and pepper they are really good as grilled birds. As for huntin them we always find a good spot and disk it up and sew it with 60-70 lbs of wheat usually about 2 weeks before season opener so it will be legal.

We usally hunt them over cut corn fields or wheat fields, catching them coming to feed.

We sit in the back of the truck in between the milo field and the tank at our farm. The doves fly over and we just send the dogs out to pick em up!

Thanks for the info. I'll probably sit by the tree's and walk along the plowed parts of the field.

Just remeber when hunting with a dog especially a young one and there are a bunch of hunters shooting in a hot field the young dog or even an older dog will start to head swing real bad, meaning the dog will be turning and looking at every shot, good to an extent, but does cause problems especially if you are competitor in the games.

It is usually hot this time of year (dove hunting) - the excitement plus the heat is a recipe for heat stike in a dog or exercise indused collapse - be sure to have the dog hydrated - carry plenty of cool water - and give the dog time to relax - some people think being in the cover with a little shade will keep the dog cool - dogs do not sweat, heavy cover holds the heat in around the dog and a wet dog only makes it hotter so pooring water on a dog in this situation is not good - stake the dog out as every good steady dog will break in a dove shoot.

If you are hunting cover and there are no trees then clear an area out for the dog so it is not side by side with the cover venting the area around the dog.

Heat stroke or exercise indused collapse:

First signs of a dog heating up tong hanging out and swells
Very little sign of moisture in the dogs mouth
Rapid deap dry panting
Wobbly legs in the rear
Soon collapses in a seizure like manor unable to get up.

Cool down process
get he dog to stay still as dog naturally will try to get up.
turn the ears inside out
poor water on the ground and lay the dog on its belly in the small whole of water - offer the dog a mixture of 50% gatorade 50% water or natural dog hydrators sold on the market.

If close to a vet get the dog there as fast as possible - or if the truck is nearby crank the AC up - these are real situations that I have experienced in the hunt test and field trial worls and normal every day situations training - some dogs are more prone to having these episodes than others. Remeber they are bred to do what they love and do not know when to stop.

David

Well thanks for the info David but I don't own a dog. My dad hates them. He really just doesn't want to care for them. I'd like to get one and train it to find squirels or rabbits. But that won't happen till i'm out on my own. Thanks again though.

I found some dove decoys that are just a foam like material shaped and colored like a dove. They have a clothspin stuck to the bottom of them so you can stick them on a fence. Could you just stick a few on a fence, then sit and wait?

Sit in edge of the field and wait on them to feed. Fun shooting times.




Wrap the breast in bacon. Grill. Take off the bacon, eat the bacon, and feed the dove to the dog. Just not much of a dove eater.

Thanks for the info. I'll shoot a few and try them. If I don't like them then I won't hunt them anymore. I don't have a dog to feed them too.

the best luck ive had is around dumps where they dump old concrete and asphalt the place igo also has a little pond and and is surrounded by small trees the best recipe ive tried is wrapping the little breastin bacon and marinating in french dressing theyre mighty tasty little treats

well heres how i dove hunt. get about 5 guys stand on the back deck and about 2 hours before dark they are flying around like crazy its a hoot.

I found some old wood buildings that were mostly fallen down with old wood fences and a lot of big trees/bushes that the doves just LOVE. Drove past it while oryx hunting and they flew out from all over the place. Kinda a desert out there and the only buildings/water tank around. Haven't hunted there yet but September 1st is opening day and guess where I'll be!

Oh yeah, it'll be my first shots outa my BRAND NEW Benelli Super Nova also! Can't wait!

That sounds like a blast! Have fun

i hunt right next to our bass pond, over planted millet and a dead tree they like to land in and by a ceder tree they roost in