Seek and Ye Shall Find - The most valuable thing
you can do while dove hunting is to observe dove
flight patterns. The majority of birds will follow
patterns and use landmarks for navigation. Figure
out where they are flying and then move into their
flight line. Dove often fly along fences, ditches,
tree lines, rivers and sloughs. They loaf in trees
near water and have the same pattern day after day
while in an area. Scout every year before the season
opens as sometimes the flight paths change. Have
a plan "B" just in case of a road or land closure.
You don't want to be scrambling opening morning
looking for a place to shoot.
Make Like a Post - When doves are approaching
stand or sit still, movement will flare them. You
will have plenty of time to mount and shoot as the
dove comes into range. Stand behind a tree or bush,
not out in front to break up the outline of your
body. Stand in the shadows to stay hidden. Sit on
a stool to keep your upper body below the brush
line. You can wear camo to be harder to spot but
you can also be shot because someone didn't see
you. Make this decision depending upon how many
people are around you.
Suck em In - Doves like to perch in dead
trees. You can use dove decoys that have a clothespin
for attaching to fences or tree branches to give
the appearance of doves securely resting or feeding
. Decoys work good around waterholes, just remember
to pick a good hiding spot that is in range.
Now Where Did I Put That Dove? - Mark your
downed bird first before you you try to shot the
second dove, especially if you are without a dog.
Another trick when the shooting is fast and furious
is beforehand, gather a few small rocks and tie
about a foot of orange contractors ribbon to it.
When you down a bird throw the ribbon rock in the
area it fell then you can move to another bird and
do the same. If you are losing birds, forget trying
for a double and try just shooting one dove and
concentrating on marking it where it lands.
Keep it Cool - It's hot dove hunting anywhere
in California so take plenty of water and a cooler
to keep your doves cool in the heat. Take a stool
or bucket to take some load off your feet if you're
going to be out for extended periods of time. Take
some sunblock too if you don't want to burn and
a hat to keep the sun out of your eyes. If you are
hunting with a dog, make sure to carry additional
water for your dog. It also pays to avoid hunting
during the mid-day hours when it can be quite hot.
Be prepared for cold temperatures at night.
Buzzworms - Lots of good dove hunting areas
are good rattler areas too. Wear snake chaps and
watch wear you stick your legs and hands. If you
have a dog, there are snake avoidance classes that
will teach ole "Spot" what a buzzworm smells and
sounds like. It may save you a lost dog or huge
vet bill.
Good Shooting Form - Set up so that you
can take your best shot. Every wingshooter has a
favorite shot so use it to your advantage. Keep
your cheek down on the stock, pulling your cheek
off the stock will cost you birds. Find the best
lead method that works for you. You can shoot swing
through lead, sustained lead or spot lead. Make
sure you have good footing where you are set up.
Clear any rocks or sticks away that will cause you
to take an off balance shot. Use good footwork.
Take a half-step before swinging on a dove, planting
your foot on the line where you plan to take your
shot. Take a step back for a straight-on bird, a
step forward for a straight-away bird and a step
away from a bird crossing either right or left.
If a bird is coming from the right, take a short
step to the left slightly away from the bird. This
will allow a little more room to swing on the bird
and follow through.
Be Prepared - Try and get a few practice
rounds in at the range or throw a few clays to get
back in the swing of things before the opener. Break
out your gun a month before the season and make
sure it is functional and cleaned. If you have any
problems, you'll still have time to run it by the
gun shop and still make it for the opener.
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Dove Biology 101
Scientific Name:
Zenaida macroura
Physical Description:
The mourning dove is a member of the family of birds
called Columbidae. Male and female mourning doves
look very similar with pale buff-brown head, neck,
breast, and belly. Purple and green iridescence on
neck. Small black mark on lower neck. Medium brown
back and upperwings, with large black spots on coverts.
Long tail is pointed at tip. Dark brown tail with
white tips to outer four tail feathers, which show
during flight. Juveniles can be distinguished from
adults by light buffing on the tips of the primary
feathers which persist until the first molt. Dark
brown mottled head neck and breast. Scaly neck and
upperwings with numerous black spots on coverts and
scapulars. Pale belly. Medium length tail is pointed
at tip. Young are indistinguishable from adults by
the age of 3 months. Length: 10.5 inches. Long pointed
tail is distinctive for adults, while black spotting
on coverts and pale color help distinguish it from
White-winged and White-tipped Doves. Juvenile is easily
confused with Common Ground Dove and Inca Dove, but
is longer necked, shows a pointed tail with more white
at edges and lacks cinnamon in primaries. Juvenile
Mourning Doves are also scaly and tend to be more
extensively scaly. Inca Dove is longer-tailed, scaly
on the belly and back and lacks spotting on coverts.
Rare Ruddy Ground-Dove lacks scaliness and has black
underwing coverts.
Common Ground Dove Scientific name - Columbina passerina.
Length: 5.5 inches. Color - Black-tipped orange bill. Gray-brown
back and upperwings. Breast and head scaly. Black spotting
on wing coverts. Cinnamon inner webs of primaries visible
in flight, and occasionally at rest. Cinnamon wing linings.
Short tail is slightly rounded at tip. Tail is brown centrally,
with black edges and white corners. Juvenile similar to adult
female. Adult male: Pinkish-buff head, neck and breast. Pinkish
unscaled belly. Blue hindneck and nape. Adult female: Pale
gray head, neck, nape, and breast. Gray unscaled belly. Common
Ground doves can also be distinguished from Mourning doves
by their flight, they tend to hug the ground even lower than
the Mourning dove and flit about more like sparrows.
Productivity: Mourning doves are very prolific
birds. The nesting season runs from April to September;
peak nesting is May through August. Each pair produces
multiple broods each year. Mourning doves lay two
white eggs per clutch and raise between two and five
clutches per year. Both parents take part in incubation
and brood-rearing activities. Young doves, or squabs,
hatch featherless and grow rapidly, increasing their
weight by 14 times within 15 days of age. Young can
survive on their own 5 to 9 days after leaving the
nest and most leave the nest area within 2 to 3 weeks
of fledging. Doves build scant nests of twigs and
grass usually placed in trees or shrubs 10 to 30 feet
above ground. In open areas, coniferous shelterbelts
and windbreaks are preferred for nesting.
Habitat: Mourning doves are highly adaptable
to a variety of habitats including coniferous forests,
deciduous forests, residential, urban, and agricultural
landscapes. Habitat needs include trees for nesting
and roosting, a food source and a source of water.
Abundance: Mourning doves are one of the most
abundant and widely distributed birds in North America.
The breeding range extends from central Canada in
the north to southern Mexico in the south and encompasses
all of the lower 48 states.
Foods: Ninety-nine percent of the mourning
dove diet is comprised of weed seeds and grains. Preferred
weed seeds include pigweed, foxtails, wild sunflower,
and ragweed. Preferred grains include corn, sorghum
and millet. Insects make up a very small proportion
of the dove diet. Doves move an average of 2-8 miles
for food.
Effects of hunting: Continent-wide hunting
mortality is estimated at 10-15% of the fall population
annually. This mortality is believed to be below the
level which would significantly decrease long-term
dove abundance or hinder expansion of geographic area.
Hunting is monitored and managed by professional wildlife
biologists from the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service and state wildlife agencies.
Mortality: The natural mortality rate for
mourning doves is high; approximately 6 out of 10
birds do not survive from one year to the next. Research
indicates that mourning dove mortality is caused by
a variety of factors including predators, disease,
accidents, hunting and weather extremes.
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Dove Meat Care and Recipes
It is very important to cool bagged doves as soon
as possible and keep them cool. You should use a container
that will keep the doves cool and dry. Do not let
them get wet or sit in water because it promotes bacterial
growth, which increases the chances of spoilage. Keeping
dove cool is even more important during the warmer,
earlier part of the season.Marinate in Italian dressing.
Slice along breast (either side) and insert jalapeno,
onion, bell pepper, you decide. Wrap in bacon and
grill over mesquite. For 12 doves. Breast out the
doves. Mix some white flour with a little salt and
pepper, then dust dove breasts with the flour mixture.
In a pan or skillet, heat equal parts of butter and
olive oil (about a table spoon of each per dozen birds),
add a tablespoon (or to taste) of chopped garlic and
sauté garlic for a minute. Add the dove breasts and
sauté until browned. Do not let the garlic burn. Add
1/4 cup chopped onions and continue to cook. When
dove is browned, add 1 cup heavy cream, some sliced
fresh mushrooms, chopped parsley (tarragon is excellent
if you have it) and cook for a few minutes until cream
thickens, being sure to scrape up the bits on the
bottom of the pan. When cream is reduced, add a splash
of dry white wine or brandy,(bourbon is good in a
pinch). Serve over egg noodles or wide pasta with
a good crusty bread, green salad and a dry white like
Chardonnay. Then go get more dove! Enjoy. Fred.
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Dove Hunting Safety
Dove hunting is a relatively safe sport. However,
it is imperative that to remain a safe sport that
certain safety rules be adhered to without exception.
When you take a newcomer, especially children, into
the hunting experience, part of your responsibility
as a hunter is to teach that person proper safety.
The following rules are good ones to LIVE by:
THE ELEVEN COMMANDMENTS OF DOVE HUNTING SAFETY
1) Always treat the gun as loaded.
2) Never have a loaded gun except when hunting.
3) Always make sure that the barrel and action are
clear of obstructions.
4) Always carry your gun so dig you can control the
direction of the muzzle, even if you stumble.
5) Always keep the safety on until the gun is brought
to shoulder.
6) Always make sure your target is a dove and your
backstop is not a hunter or a dog.
7) Never point a gun at anything you do not want to
shoot.
8) Never leave guns or ammunition within reach of
children or careless adults.
9) Never climb trees or fences with a loaded gun.
10) Never shoot at a flat, hard surface or water.
11) Never drink alcohol or take other mood-altering
drugs before or during a hunt.
Always know where all members of your hunting party
are. The more members in your party the more difficult
this will be. It is recommended to keep hunting parties
as small as possible, preferably two, but no more
than three. If you are with a large party, try to
spread out or split into several groups of two. If
your party has found some dove, determine in which
directions it would be unsafe to shoot. Each person
should wear some safety orange, a little is better
than none. Also wear safety glasses to prevent an
eye injury from stray pellets.If you have to chase
down a crippled bird, make sure your gun is on safety.'
Almost all good dove country is good rattlesnake country.
Be careful around brush and water. When hunting always
be sure to carry plenty of water. If you are hunting
with a dog, make sure to carry additional water for
your dog. It also pays to avoid hunting during the
mid-day hours when it can be quite hot. Be prepared
for cold temperatures at night.
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Dove
hunting Links
Ammo
Active
Ammo .... is no longer in business. Kent
Cartridges bought the company in 1997 and Kent does not make
the nickel plated shells anymore, sorry.
Federal
Ammo
HEVI-SHOT™ .... Revolutionary,
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new shotshell pellet is actually heavier than lead with the
hardness similar to standard steel shot. It is made from a
tungsten alloy and the hardness and density allow hunters
to use smaller shot sizes to get equivalent energy as in larger
lead or steel pellets. Because the pellet is smaller, this
allows for more pellet to be in a shotshell cartridge which
makes for a denser pattern, increasing the likelihood of multiple
hits on the target. Both penetration and retained velocity
are also greater with these pellets. Darryl Amick, who holds
the patent on the tungsten-nickel alloy used to make this
new shot, said he set out to offer something heavier than
lead that would be even more effective for hunters. "My
passion for this product is that I hate the fact that we wound
these birds, that we have to shoot steel. I'm also absolutely
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and we'd like to be significantly under the other non-toxic
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to perform better. I don't think anyone can argue that. It's
just a matter of keeping costs down so guys can afford it,"
said Amick. You will be hearing more about Hevi-Shot in the
near future as it becomes available for both reloaders and
in loaded offerings.
Kent
Cartridge ..... IMPACT™ shot shells
are specifically designed to deliver the pattern density and
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These loads may be used in any Nitro-proofed shotgun without
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Remington
.... Guns and ammo.
Winchester
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