Dove season opens the first week of September for hunters across the eastern United States, and friends will gather around sunflower fields in pursuit of fun, fellowship, and filled dove limits.
Hunters should look to be adequately prepared before going hunting. Lack of efficiency getting to shells, poor seating arrangements, and shooting at doves that are too far away can cause you to fall short of your limit. If you’re headed out to the dove fields make sure you avoid these common mistakes.
Be Efficient
Leave the white grocery bags at home. Don’t put your shells in a grocery bag. Doves will see the grocery bag and fly away from your setup. Make sure you’re blending in with your surroundings. Camouflage is important, especially if you have several hunters in your group. Grabbing shells out of a grocery bag isn’t very efficient when you’ve got to move quick. You need shells to be accessible.
Don’t leave home without a shell belt. Shell belt can help increase your efficiency afield. You can put a box of shells on each of the side pockets on the belt, making them easier to grab when you’re reloading quick. When you pick up doves in the field, you can drop them in the pouch on the back of the belt and keep hunting. Both hands get back on the gun and you’ll be ready for the next dove that flies by.
Make sure you have a comfortable seat. Another reason why a shell belt comes in handy. If your shells are sitting on the ground and you have to bend over to grab more, doves are flying right on by why you’re digging bullets out of the box.
Have Good Shot Selection
One of the most common mistakes that hunters make is shooting at doves that are too far away. Stay disciplined. When you shoot at doves too far away, you can wound them and not be able to retrieve them. Don’t be irresponsible, don’t be wasteful. Shooting at doves too far away will also put unnecessary pressure on your hunting area. You might be hunting near others, it’ll ruin your hunt and theirs.
When you shoot a dove, keep your eye on the dove and watch where it falls. Don’t get distracted and start shooting at other doves before picking up the other one. You’ll lose track of it in all the commotion. Ideally, you might have a dog helping with retrieval, but if you don’t, just go get each bird that you knock down.
Use a modified or improved cylinder choke to widen your pattern for dove hunting. Tighter patterns make dove hunting more difficult and increase the chance of destroying the meat on a direct hit. Modified chokes and improved cylinders will do less damage to the meat. Consider using six shot over commonly used seven or eight shots. Six shot has larger pellets and will provide a little more knock-down power.
Remember, doves are crazy fast. When you are about to shoot, make sure you’re leading the bird by four to six feet. Leading the bird means aim the barrel out in front of the dove as you take the shot. As action unfolds, keep this in mind. Always be sure of your surroundings.
Be Prepared
Before your first day hunting, it is required that you completed the Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey. To complete the survey, you will need to log in to “My Profile” on the KDFWR website. Then write your confirmation number on your hunting license.
The HIP survey asks hunters about last year’s harvest, not necessarily to track the amount of birds harvested, but instead to determine the types of migratory birds being hunted.
On public land, such as WMA’s, leased fields, doves can be harvested from 11 a.m. to sunset on September 1 – October 26, 2020. The second and third segments of dove season, doves can be harvested one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Public Land Spots
Kentucky has an assortment of dove fields that are available for hunters. These are public land opportunities for dove hunting. and are scattered throughout the state. Some of these fields have produced better than others, but you should be able to find some doves on your trip.
There are Wildlife Management Areas in Ballard, Caldwell, McCracken, Barren, Breckinridge, Crittenden, Henderson, Union, Franklin, Grant, Harrison, Henderson, LaRue, Madison, Owen, Spencer, Bath, Fleming, Greenup, Morgan, and Pulaski Counties.
Have Fun
Dove hunting is a long-standing tradition, especially on opening day. It’s an awesome way to kick off the fall hunting season, and if you’re fortunate enough to bag a limit, you can run home and fire up the grill. Throw some dove breasts wrapped in bacon on the grill, add in some sweet heat jalapeños and call it a party. That’s what I’m talking about. Stay safe and good luck!
