September 2022 - 22

HUNTING DOVES
Mourning doves love grasslands and
croplands, where seeds are plentiful and there's
open woods or shelter belts for roosting. They
need a water source, like a stream or a stock
pond, preferably in the open so they can see
if a predator approaches.
" They're not a wetland obligate, meaning
they don't use water constantly like ducks or
geese, but they like having water close by, "
Smith said. " They also like edge habitats,
like where trees meet ag fields, with places
to perch. You won't as commonly find them
out in dry sage or a thick forest. "
The next morning Jack, Zoe and I walked
through some shrubs, then broke onto a
patch of rolling prairieland heading toward
the sunflowers where Jack wanted to set up.
A barbed wire fence separated the meadow
of sunflowers from a stock tank, which
was surrounded by a barren swath of dirt,
pounded down by the cattle that sometimes
drank there. The spot looked dovey.
We set up low stools amidst the sunflowers,
which were intermixed with wild oats -
another dove favorite. We quickly got to work
clipping the paper decoys to sunflower stalks
and the barbed-wire fence. Fred, the robodove,
sat atop a 4-foot metal rod amidst the
sunflowers to our right.
Once the decoys were set we sat on our
stools, which were in a line about 30 yards
from the fence. With a fence for perching
spots, a stock tank for water and sunflowers
for food, it seemed to be the perfect dove set
up. The wind was calm. The decoys looked
The author waits for doves to come into range during a recent hunt. (Photo by Jack Ballard)
Tips to help you bag more doves
1. Go early in the season: Migratory mourning
doves continue south after the first cold snap.
2. Head to eastern Wyoming: Most doves are
harvested east of Interstate 25.
3. Elevation. Mourning doves tend to stay under
5,000 feet, below the elevation of many spots
across the state that might otherwise seem
dove-friendly.
4. Open your choke(s): With a single-barrel shotgun,
an improved or modified choke is preferable over
a full choke. With a double-barrel shotgun use an
improved choke for your first shot and a modified
choke for your second shot. The wider pattern
increases the chances of hitting the bird and helps
keep the breast meat intact.
5. Pick your pellet size: Size 7½ or 8 shot is
22 | September 2022
standard for dove hunting. Some hunters prefer
larger 5 or 6 shot, rationalizing that fewer bigger
pellets are less likely to damage the meat at close
range and have more punch at longer distances.
6. Lead the bird: Doves are fast, flying up to 55
miles per hour. On crossing shots, push your barrel
ahead of the bird at least one inch for each foot of
lead you need. For example, six inches between
the bead and the bird equals six feet of lead at the
bird itself, -and that might not be enough.
7. Shoot sitting: Most dove hunters sit, hidden
from sight. Doves often appear without warning.
Standing may make them flare before you get a
shot. Practice shooting from a seated position on
clay targets so you're proficient when it counts.
8. Pick a bird: Doves often approach in groups.
Pick one bird rather than flock shooting, which
rarely works.
9. Swing through the bird: Forget trying to follow a
dove's acrobatic flight path with your gun barrel.
Simply swing through the basic direction its flying,
and keep your gun moving after you pull the
trigger.
10. Set decoys: There's no magical pattern. Spread
them around in singles and pairs. You also can key
off your decoys to get a sense of distance to the
birds. At 30 yards or less, your odds of success
increase.
11. Sit still. After opening morning doves become
wary and key as much on movement as on sight.
- By Lisa Ballard

September 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2022