Each August the temperatures of summer begin to cool in preparation for fall and the hunting seasons. Days get shorter and the night cooler. Doves begin to move about as the young of the year begin to build stamina for their migration south. Doves are everywhere. Soon so are the hunters. Doves are the most hunted and most harvested game bird in North America.
Hunters begin to sharpen skills dulled by inactivity from a summer of fishing. Dove season is their first opportunity to begin upland bird hunting before quail and pheasant season open. However, dove hunting can be a humbling experience for those who have not prepared for it.
Early in the season, hunter success is good. The opening day doves are loafers who dawdle along at half speed and are oblivious to the danger that awaits them. A few days into the season, the same bird flies like one possessed. He will dart and seemingly fly upside down and backwards. There is no way to predict what he will do in the millisecond after you pull the trigger.
Additionally, doves disperse rather than bunch together after a day or two. There are a few doves everywhere rather than many in one area. Heavy hunting pressure and cold, wet weather will cause them to begin their southern flight.
We need to make the most of the days of hunting we have available. All too soon hunting becomes somewhat marginal and most of us turn to other quarry.
Pre-season scouting by driving roads looking for land to hunt is highly recommended. The land should contain food, water, grit, roosting areas, and loafing spots. Doves require all whether local or transient. Read more from Don….