Finding your own Dove Hunt
Ryan Barnes for SPLIT REED
Every September the ever-loved mourning dove hunt begins around the country. Wingshooters all over head to the hills, fields, and tree lines to try their hand at these fast-flying gray darts. It proves to be a task to kill your limit of birds without burning through a full box of shells. Especially when you’re shooting birds as they pass overhead at full speed. However, it never fails, each and every year you’ll see multiple comments all over social media with people asking for places to go, or any helpful hints to try to find a spot to hunt. Just like anything, most hunters aren’t so apt to give up their hunting spots, understandably so, and in most cases, the information given on where to look for a spot is vague and usually doesn’t lead to much success. Here are a few tips to try to help you find a successful dove hunting spot this year.
1. FIND THE GRAVEL
Some of my most successful dove hunts have happened at gravel pits, or along railroad tracks on gravel beds. The plants that grow from gravel usually contain small seeds that doves like to eat, as well as a plethora of bugs for them to use as a meal. There’s been multiple times when we’ve lined up a group of hunters along a gravel pit and have had some lights-out hunts. Another thing to look for along gravel is any surrounding fields. Fields and gravel are a lethal combo. The fields give the birds something to eat, while the gravel gives the birds something to put in the gizzard to help them break down and digest their food. One of the best tips I can give is by and far to find the gravel and move around once you’ve found it. The doves will be there.
2. HUNT THE WATER SHORES
Big water such as lakes, reservoirs, or even bigger ponds can be deadly for hunting doves. Like any bird, doves are attracted to bugs. Especially the bugs that emerge and hatch off of still water bodies. Some of the most popular hunting locations I know of are the shores of lakes. However, there is a catch. These shores MUST HAVE trees, bushes, and lots of green growth. If it’s nothing but a sandy shoreline, you might have a rough hunt. You’re wanting to find a water body that has lots of aquatic growth. A good tell-tale sign is the anglers. Do you think I’m crazy? Go and find a reservoir that has a high presence of fishermen, and you’ll find doves. I wish I could tell you the correlation between good fishing waters and doves, but unfortunately, all I can tell you is that anywhere that I or anyone I’ve talked to that has fished in the summer, has usually resulted in some top-tier dove hunts in September.
3. HUNT THE MOUTH OF CANYONS ON COLD DAYS
Doves are migratory birds, and when they migrate, it tends to be in big pushes. So on those colder days when birds push out, or new birds work their way in, the mouth of a canyon is a great option for doves. The old birds will be pushing out, and the new birds will be moving in. It can make for an all-day slugfest on the birds. This method takes a bit of practice, and some trial and error, but it can prove to be a fantastic way to kill doves when the birds start to get stale.
4. LOOK FOR THE TREES NEAR GRAIN FIELDS
Getting on a farmer’s property during the month of September can be difficult. However, if you can find some trees nearby it can be a great place to hunt. Birds will be moving back and forth from trees to feed throughout the day giving you an excellent chance to have an enjoyable day in the shade with some friends and enjoy some fun shooting. The doves will move into the trees after they feed, water, or move from area to area. By being underneath those trees, you give yourself a better chance of getting some shooting at some doves throughout the day.
These tips are all tricks and ideas that have proved to be successful for either myself or others who actively hunt doves. Obviously, none of these work if someone only puts in the bare minimum work necessary to have a good hunt. You still need to drive, scout and find birds. These are just some hints to help expedite the process. And with the dove hunt right around the corner, we hope it will help you put a few more mourning doves into your bag limit.
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