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Jesse's Hunting > Hunting Info > Dove Hunting
Dove Hunting
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Dove Scouting & Hunting
Tips
 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.
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.
U.S.
Dove Breeding Map
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.
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.
Dove
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, non-toxic lead shot alternative. With HEVI-SHOT™ shells,
you can shoot a smaller shot size with more lethality. More pellets at a
higher energy means more knock-down power. This 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 committed
to making this product as inexpensive as possible, and we'd like to be significantly
under the other non-toxic alternatives to steel," said Amick. "It's going
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 down range lethality required by dedicated
turkey hunters. These loads may be used in any Nitro-proofed shotgun without
fear of barrel or choke damage. Standard choke restrictions and lead shot
size recommendations apply, including X-full Turkey.
Remington ....
Guns and ammo.
Winchester Ammo .... Makers
of great ammo.
Chokes
Ballistic
Specialties .... Angle Porting chokes.
Briley Chokes
....
Carlson's
....
Gun
Docc. .... Custome turkey gun work.
Hastings
Chokes .... PH# 913-632-3169
Johnny's Shotgun Chokes and Forcing Cones ....
Kick's .... They
make the famous "Gobblin' Thunder" choke
Patternmaster
....
Seminole Gunworks .... Seminole specializes in the making of precision
choke tubes for most makes and model of shotguns.
Trulock Chokes
.... Manufacturers of superior shotgun chokes.
Dogs
Foothill
Brittanys .... Very Birdy, Natural Pointers and Retrievers (Land and
Water).
Gameland Kennels
Dog Training Center .... Patrick Callaghan specializing in Spaniels,
Retrievers and Pointing dogs. Rattlesnake avoidance classes, boarding, obedience.
5800 Bluff, Norco, CA. 91760-0458, PH# 1-909-735-3251.
High
Desert Kennels .... Bird dog training for 30 years. Family owned and
run. Jimmy Berneathy Owner/Trainer
Reibar Kennel .... Grady Istre's excellence in dog training. 7480 Domingos
Rd. Lompoc Ca. 93436, PH# 1-805-736-5309, e-mail reibar@impulse.net
Scott's
Dog Supply .... Quail calls and dog gear.
If you know of any other trainers, dog links or info please
e-mail me at and
I will update the listing.
Gear
Bass Pro
Shop .... One of the biggest hunting and fishing gear suppliers. Stop
by one of their 'Outdoor World' stores, you'll be amazed. They have calls,
decoys, shells, sights, blinds camo and tons more.
Brigade Quartermasters .... Outdoor
gear, military issue gear, GPS, everything you need.
Cabela's ....
One of the biggest retailers of outdoor and hunting gear. They have calls,
decoys, shells, sights, blinds camo and tons more.
Lacrosse .... Excellent
boots and waders.
Midwest
Turkey Call Supply .... Everything you need for turkey and
quail hunting.
Ranger Joe's
.... Military, Law enforcement and outdoor gear.
REI ....The biggest outdoor store
on the net.
Schnee's Boot's ....These guys
make the best cold weather elk boots I've ever owned. I like the 'air bob'
soles.
Shomer-tec
.... Law enforcement and military equipment. Box 28070, Bellingham, WA. 98228
ph# 360-733-6214. Call for free catalog.
Turner's Outdoorsman
.... Southern California's best hunting and fishing store.
Uncle
Lee's Wing Supply .... PH# 1-800-388-9464 for your free catalog.
They have GPS, clothing, and turkey and duck hunting equipment.
U.S. Cavalry .... World's
finest military and adventure equipment.
Guns
Beretta
....
Browning
....
Ithaca ....
Knight Muzzleloaders
....
Mossberg ....
Shotguns and rifles.
Remington ....
Ruger
....
Weatherby ....
Winchester
....
Hunting
Clubs and Ranches
Antelope
Valley Sportsman's Club .... Location: Roughly 15 miles west of Lancaster.
Acreage: 1,200 acres of farmland, natural upland and meadows. Hunts offered:
Dove, quail, pheasant and chukar. Memberships: Annual memberships start at
$650, which includes 20 pheasants; family memberships are available for $795,
which includes 25 pheasants. Corporate memberships are also available. Memberships
benefits: Access to hunting grounds five days a week from October to March;
access to clubhouse; dove, quail and chukar hunting limited to members only.
Day hunts: Open fields on weekends only where you pay $45 for two pheasants
and one chukar. Other hunts also available, including $100 for a private-land
hunt for three pheasants and three chukar. Camping: Allowed on club compound,
but no hookups or facilities are provided. Reservations: At least two days
before desired hunt. Contact: 1-805-724-1291
Fun In The Sun Hunting Club. .... Quail, chukar, dove and pheasants.
El Centro Ca. PH# 760-352-3648.
High Desert Hunt Club .... European
pheasant shoot, fashioned after the 18th century sport in Europe. P.O. Box
89, Gorman, Ca. PH# 888-425-HUNT.
Multiple Use
Managers .... Dove hunts at Dye Creek Preserve. P.O. Box 669, Los Molinos,
CA 96055. PH# 530-527-3588.
Rising Sun Hunting Preserve
.... Located in beautiful Siskiyou County, California. Pheasants, chukars,
quail, Hungarian Partridge, predators, bass trout. The Rising Sun Ranch is
proud to present to the Sportsman a family owned & operated hunting &
fishing preserve located at the base of the Cascade Mountain Range in extreme
Northern California with a scenic panorama, tranquility, peacefulness and
privacy. Take a look through our photo album to see some of the sights at
our preserve. We offer lodging, guides & dogs. Special packages to members,
family units & corporate hunts. This family-oriented preserve is run with
the highest standards. Serious inquiries only, please.
If you know of any other dove hunting ranches or clubs or info
please e-mail me at and
I will update the listing.
Organizations
Dove
Sportman's Society .... A division of Quail Unlimted for dove conservation.
National Dove
Association .... In order to ensure the survival of doves
as a game bird, it is the mission of NDA to provide for the conservation and
protection of dove habitats through out North America for this generation
and those to follow.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
.... Conserving the Nature of America.
If you know of any other dove organizations or info please e-mail
me at and
I will update the listing.
Publications/Videos
California Upland Game Magazine
.... new 16 page full magazine published
yearly covering quail, pheasant, wild turkeys, chukar, grouse, rabbits and
squirrels. Call PH # 916-653-4263 to receive it in the mail, or pick it
up at your nearest regional office.
California Game and Fish .... Excellent monthly
magazine for $14.97 yearly. PH# 1-770-953-9222.
Fishing and
Hunting News .... A Whole Year! (22 Issues) of F&H News only
$39.94. PH # 18004882827 Hours: Monday Friday
8:30 am to 5:00 pm PDT
Western
Birds .... A great 8 page newsletter published by
Jim Matthews, with maps and insider info on all kinds of upland birds. $100.00
per year. Get 2 or 3 of your buddies to split the cost and you're into the
birds. P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427-0007 or call Jim Matthews
at PH #1-909-887-3444. Email is  .
Western Outdoor News .... Fine weekly newspaper with maps and
tons of timely reports. $36.95 for 52 issues. Ph# 1-714-546-4370. Call the
'Hunter's Hotline' to give your story for publishing. Ph # 1-714-546-4370
ext. 48 or fax: 1-714-662-3486 or e-mail: wonmail@aol.com
SUGGESTED READING
Ecology and management of the mourning dove. Baskett, T.S.,
M. W. Sayre, R. E. Tomlinson, and R. E. Mirarchi, Editors. 1993. Stackpole
Books. Harrisburg, PA.
Mourning dove breeding population status, 1999. USFWS. Laurel
MD.
Mourning dove. In The birds of North America, No. 117. A.
Poole and F. Gill, Editors. Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences;
Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologist’s Union.
If you know of any other dove publications or info please e-mail
me at and
I will update the listing.
Dove Websites,
Talk Forums
California
Game and Fish.com ....This is the same magazine but online now.
Jesse's
Hunting & Outdoors Upland Game Forum .... Great place to ask and
read about outdoor California.
If you know of any other dove websites or info please e-mail
me at and
I will update the listing.
Dove
Hunting Shotguns and Shells
 The
best gun and ammo for dove hunting is a popular subject of debate among hunters.
Many of the reasons for choosing a particular set-up are based on personal
preference. Here are several things to keep in mind when making a selection:
1) The lighter the gun and smaller the gauge, the less weight
you will have to carry. Dove are relatively easy to kill, and all the gauges
- .410 bore, 28, 20, 16, and 12 - are successfully used to hunt them. However,
the smallest gauges, 28 and .410 bore, generally require more skill to be
used effectively. Because of their reduced shot capacity and longer shot strings,
tighter chokes (full) must be used to achieve sufficient pattern densities,
making it harder to hit doves.
2) The gun should be responsive. It should shoulder and swing
quickly. Dove move out like missiles and rarely fly straight.
3) In heavy cover, use an open choke: the shots are closer,
it makes it easier to hit the birds, and it does less damage to the bird.
Long shots in heavy cover usually result in lost birds
4) In open cover you can use either a tight or open choke. If
the dove are flying in close, and you are using a tight choke, let them get
a short distance away before shooting to avoid excessive damage to the bird.
#8 or #7-1/2 shot gives you plenty of killing power while still
providing good pattern density. If you are hunting on Federal Refuges you
will need steel shot. Check with the manager of the land you'll be hunting
in advance to make sure you are legal with your shot.
Publications
To receive the Region 2 ( Sacramento Valley) edition of Wing
Beat News please call (916) 846-3315 or write to Gray Lodge Wildlife
Area at 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley, CA 95948 and request to be placed on
the mailing list.
To receive the Region 4 (Central San Joaquin Valley) edition
of Wing Beat News please contact the Los Banos Complex at (209) 826-0463.
To receive the Region 5 (Southern/Eastern Sierra), this area
includes the counties of Mono, Inyo, San Bernardino, Riverside, Santa Barbara,
Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Imperial, edition of Wing Beat
News please contact the editor, Scott Harris, in the Long Beach, Region 5
Office at 1-562-590-5100.
Department of Fish & Game Upland Bird Hunting Publications
The following publications provide useful information for those
wanting to hunt game in California:
California Upland Game Magazine
.... new 16 page full magazine published
twice yearly covering quail, pheasant, wild turkeys, chukar, grouse, rabbits
and squirrels. Call PH # 916-653-4263 to receive it in the mail, or pick it
up at your nearest regional office.
Fishing
and Hunting News .... A Whole Year! (22 Issues) of F&H News
only $39.94. PH # 18004882827 Hours: Monday Friday
8:30 am to 5:00 pm PDT
Western Birds
.... A great 8 page newsletter published by Jim Matthews, with maps and insider
info on all kinds of upland birds. $100.00 per year. Get 2 or 3 of your buddies
to split the cost and you're into the birds. P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino,
CA 92427-0007 or call Jim Matthews at PH #1-909-887-3444.
Western Outdoor News
.... Fine weekly newspaper with maps and tons of timely reports. $36.95
for 52 issues. Ph# 1-714-546-4370. Call the 'Hunter's Hotline' to give your
story for publishing. Ph # 1-714-546-4370 ext. 48 or fax: 1-714-662-3486 or
e-mail: wonmail@aol.com
SUGGESTED READING
Ecology and management of the mourning dove. Baskett, T.S.,
M. W. Sayre, R. E. Tomlinson, and R. E. Mirarchi, Editors. 1993. Stackpole
Books. Harrisburg, PA.
Mourning dove breeding population status, 1999. USFWS. Laurel
MD.
Mourning dove. In The birds of North America, No. 117. A. Poole
and F. Gill, Editors. Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington,
D.C.: The American Ornithologist’s Union.
Back to Main Hunting Page
Tombstone epitaph of Harry Edsel Smith of Albany, New York:
Born 1903--Died 1942.
Looked up the elevator shaft to see if the car was on the way down. It was.
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