Every September hunters take to hot fields in shorts, camo shirts and shotguns to fire the first salvos of the hunting season. But how many of those hunters have a fruitful hunt without any hiccups and take home a few doves?
Gear
The first few years after I moved back to my home state from military duty, I found the dove hunting to be less than stellar unless I had an invite from a generous acquaintance. My last duty station was on a major dove flyway and bagging ten doves on the way to work and cleaning them out back of my place of employment before hosing my hands off was a regular occurrence. So, when I did get the occasional unexpected invite from someone in my hometown to hunt a prime field, I was scrambling to grab gear and not look like an amateur on the field. I found that my dove vest was often hanging up under something since I did not use it that often and my stool was not to be found until I dug around in the shed or garage and un-piled duck decoy bags from over it.
Shells and gun I could find, but sometimes I forgot to check the choke to be sure it was what I wanted in it for that hunt. Was that why I was missing some shots? Where are my lightweight hunting shirts? Well, I had them somewhere! Somewhere is a place synonymous with the Bermuda Triangle if you know what I mean. So, I often was in a camo T shirt and faded camo cargo shorts when I could have had a button up, vented collared shirt to look a little more professional like everyone else and still blend in enough to bring down enough doves to get some admiring nods. The point of all this is that right NOW is the time to rustle up your attire, get your dove stool out, check the choke in your shotgun (has that been cleaned since last year?) and find your dove loads and plenty of them so you can lend some to friends if necessary.
Shooting Practice
Ah, but it is too hot outside to do any shooting! Yes, it is very hot out. But I suspect a shotgun barrel sitting in the hot September sun and having 25 rounds put through it without drawing more than a few feathers is pretty hot too. Take the time a few evenings and gather some of your closest friends (leave out the ones you want to make fun of for missing a lot of shots—just kidding) and shoot a few rounds of clays in the backyard. Be sure to have someone run the clay thrower from the left and right sides and crank up the arm power so I sends them fast. Doves fly up to 55 mph. Yes, that is no joke. Typically, they are cruising around 30 mph but we all know they seem to evade our shot patterns more often than not. So, either have the thrower maxed out on power or use the mini clays to really dial your shooting in and get some laughs in watching either other miss now, NOT on the dove field.
Scouting and Permission
Gaining permission to hunt should have been done in early summer but you still have a short window to take care of that now if you get after it. Approaching a farmer while they are busy is not the best time to ask such things so tread lightly and time your approach properly.
Scouting is key to getting the best shots at doves. For years I hunted public land when Virginia’s DWR planted fields in my area. DWR cut back on planting dove fields due to budget reasons, but I also hunted a few game preserves that allowed paying customers to hunt their fields. I soon found out that setting up on the main field might get a hunter good shooting opportunities. I later observed particular behaviors of doves that paid off for me. While watching doves fly to and from the field, they often follow a fencerow or a dip or rise in the field. I am not sure why those particular geographical characteristics are used by the birds but they are. Sometimes it could have been a water hole was at the end of the flight path. Other times I noticed a large tree back off the field edge was providing a rest stop or roosting spot for the birds. Whatever it was, I realized I needed to be along that path if possible. The more shot opportunities I would get the better my vest would feel at the end of the hunt. On one particular hunt there was a small field that had been simply disked but not much remained or so I thought. I noticed a bunch of doves randomly but steadily dropping into a “hole” which turned out to be that little field a hundred yards or so past the field we were sitting on getting a shot here or there. I told the guys I was with I was taking the dog for a walk. I left most of my gear but took a bunch of shells. When I got to that little field I was shooting regularly and then realized I should share when I approached my bag limit. A quick text had the boys moving over and they were very appreciative.
Scouting and paying attention can reap big rewards. Look for those little nuances of the birds and scout at the time of day when you plan to hunt. Pay attention during the hunt too. You might find yourself in a situation like I was in and can move to a better spot.
This season, have your gear staged and ready should a great opportunity arise and be one of the few people ready to go and actually shooting at and hitting doves!
