"WATERFOWL NOTES"

DOVE HUNTING

There are more shotgun shells fired at the 9 ounce fluff called the morning dove than all the total shells fired at all other flying game. More people hunt doves than any other type game. Unfortunately most dove hunters never have harvested a limit of doves.

It is impossible to over prepare. Start by studying the dove. Doves roost in trees, come out in the morning to feed, rest on fence lines, wires and trees. Feed in the afternoon and drink at ponds, rivers, streams, lakes and farm ponds. Male doves establish breeding territories. Doves become full-fledged flyers in just 13 to 15 days. The Female lays 2 or more eggs 3 to 6 times a year. Even at this rate less than 40% of mourning dove hatched in a given year survives until the next breeding season. Doves have many predators from egg eaters to bird eaters.

During July and August juvenile doves begin flocking together at feeding and roosting sites, peaking in numbers just in time for the opening of the fall dove-hunting season.  Doves are listed as a migratory bird but 60% of the birds killed in Texas are the local variety. This ratio appears to be about the same across the southern United States from the Carolinas to Arizona.

Dove fields can withstand one or two half days of hunting, and then they need to be left alone for a week or longer.

LOCATION

Doves are a “come-to-you” bird, not a “go-to-them” bird. A few days of scouting to see where they roost, travel, feed and water will be helpful, also make for a successful hunt. But if you are like 99% of the dove hunters the location is not optional. Its where invited, or which outfitter you trust.

Find a location at a grain field where doves have been landing. Find a spot that you can see doves in at least three directions coming and going, before they see you. A lone tree or telephone pole on the side of a field near the middle. Doves fly toward structure because they like to land where they can survey a feeding field.

A brushy fence row along a crop field that borders a pasture. Pattern the flight of doves for a couple of days. The day you are going to hunt set up early in the morning under the flight pattern.

Set up in a ditch just under head high (when you are sitting) beside a feeding field, pasture or running through the field. Under a lone tree or beside a telephone pole. Pick a spot with good all round visibility where sitting you can stand and ambush doves as they sweep by overhead.

In the evening a good hide is beside a tree or high bush at a watering hole. Doves float, so if they fall in the water they will float to the side or can be retrieved with a fishing pole and top water plug.

Use a camo or dark green bag chair rather than a dove stool. As easy to carry and much more comfortable

Whatever the location, pick a “harvest” area that the doves can be found. Ploughed ground, pasture or cut crop fields.  A watering hole with a dirt bank around at least half the hole.

DECOYS

There are several manufacturers of dove decoys that attach to tree limbs, fence lines or to stakes at ground level. The next generation of spinning wing dove decoys, based upon duck battery and wind activated decoys. A very good and inexpensive decoy is a “dove windsock.”

Dove Windsock – These will need to be hand made. A couple dozen take very little time, effort and expense. You will need a roll of Sandhill crane Texas Rags, a couple dozen 12 to 18-inch wire stakes and a few feet of gray Duct tape. Cut the 36x36-inch crane rag into 18x18-inch decoys. Tie rag on a wire survey stake (one used to mark underground utilities, peel off the plastic tag and tie on the dove rag exactly like a Texas Rag.). Use Duct Tape to seal the “head” to the wire stake. The rags by them selves will have doves fly low over a 12 to 24 “Dove Spread.”

So far the best results I’ve had have been make a couple dozen dove windsocks and place them 10 to 15 yards directly in front of the hunter. Place them 3 to 4 feet apart and two or three wide (6 to 9 feet) with an air operated spinning wing dove decoy in the center of the spread. 

Expedite Dove Decoys with clip – The Dove Decoys can be used by themselves by attaching to triangle pieces of wood driven in the ground about 15 to 20 feet in front of the hunter and 4 to 5 feet apart. The Dove Decoys can also be used with the “Dove Windsock Spread. Four (4) dove decoys clipped to stakes on the downwind side of the spread and four more on a “T” pole 10 to 15 yards up wind of the spread.

When using Dove Decoys on a fence,  place 2 decoys on the top fence strand about 4 feet apart and 2 decoys on the ground about 10 feet in front of the fence. Place the decoys about 5 feet apart.

When shooting over a waterhole place the decoys in a rough line (about 3 feet apart) along the water’s edge. The stake can be made from wire coat hangers, bend to form two horizontal runs and one foot vertical to place in the ground or a piece of wood cut on a triangle and driven in the ground.

Dove Spinning Wing – Air operated, place on a ½” metal conduit painted flat black or flat tan (it can be wrapped with wood grain plastic shelf paper) or a 45 x ½-inch graphite tapered pole, no paint required.

Place a spinning wing in an area 10 to 15 yards in front of the hunter. If the wind is blowing over 5mph an air driven spinning wing dove will work, on zero to low breeze a battery operated spinning wing dove decoy is required.

“T” Pole – These can be purchased for around $ 80.00 or you can make a “T” pole. Materials – 2 each 10 foot ½” metal conduit and 1 each PVC ½” Tee. One each ½-inch conduit coupler and 2 rolls of wood grain plastic self adhesive shelf paper. Equipment – hacksaw or conduit cutter, ¾-inch iron plumbing cap and hammer. Cut one piece of conduit into two equal (5-foot) pieces and the other into a piece 6-foot and 4-foot. Wrap the 2 pieces of 5-foot conduit and the 6-foot conduit with wood grain plastic shelf wrap. Paint or wrap the Tee with dark brown or wood grain plastic wrap. Slide the 6-foot conduit half way through the PVC Tee. The conduit is smaller than the hole, so additional tape will need to be wrapped at this spot to have a snug fit. Place one 5-foot conduit into the bottom of the PVC Tee. Add tape to conduit to make the fit snug. Transport the “T” Pole in 3 pieces, two at 5-foot and one at 6-foot.

When ready to use place two dove decoys on each side of the PVC Tee on the 6-foot conduit. Place the ¾” metal cap (to prevent damaging the end) over one 5-foot conduit and hammer into the ground 2 to 3 feet. Slide the second 5-foot conduit into the bottom of the PVC Tee. Using a ½-inch conduit coupler connect to two 5-foot pieces together. If necessary secure with electric tape or dark Duct Tape at the coupler.

The clip on decoys can be transported in a Dove Bag (up to a dozen). The spinning wing and dove windsocks in a plastic toolbox.

RETRIEVERS

First thing, get the name, address and phone number of the vet near your hunt. Heat exhaustion is easy for a dog on very hot days. Dogs wear their winter coat all year long. Signs of heat stroke (1) Weak condition, (2) staggering, (3) collapse (4) seizures. (5) excessive panting, (6) diarrhea and (7) possibly vomiting

When dogs appear to be coming down with heat exhaustion (the start of heat stroke) do not cover it with ice or ice water, the sudden change in temperature can shock its system and cause cardiac arrest. Step one: Instead, cover the dog with creek water – ditch, cattle tank or pond. If near a water hose pour water over the dog. Step two: take it to a vet immediately.

To prevent heat exhaustion, keep the dog out of the sun and under shade if at all possible. Never travel with the dog in its travel crate on hot days.

Overheating can cause damage to your dog’s internal organs especially his liver and kidneys.

Water and plenty of cool water. Freeze it before you go hunting and carry frozen water into the field. Rest the dog often and give it water every hour, even if it hasn’t retrieved a bird.

There is no reason not to take your dog hunting in hot weather, and, as long as you are prepared for it, there is no reason it should be anything but pleasant for both of you.

DRESS

The early season the weather is hot. Wear a camo cap or hat, preferably with a mesh top. A long sleeve light cotton camo shirt. Carry in your blind bag a short sleeve camo Tee shirt. Wear lightweight cotton camo, tan or dark brown  pants with leather snake proof boots or knee high rubber boots (if the ground is muddy).

Mosquitoes, ticks and fleas are prevalent at this time of year, hang your shirt and pants up the night before a spray with insect repellent, they should dry by morning.

My choice is even easier, a camo Tee shirt, kaki pants, camo knee high rubber boots plus the IT camo leaf poncho. Carry the poncho in its built-in bag to the spot to hunt, slip on and when you’re finished, take-off and place back in built-in bag. No matter what you wear, take and use sun tan lotion and insect spray. As soon as hunt is over check for ticks.

Remember, dress to become part of the landscape and light weight, with insect repellent (Deep Woods OFF is good) and sun tan lotion (sun block).

SHOOTING

Never move – remain motionless until you are ready to shoot. Stand, shoulder and fire all in one continuous motion. Any movement and you will see an unbelievable acrobatic act from the dove, one that can’t be followed with a shotgun muzzle.

A smooth gun mount is the single most important factor in game shooting. Gun to face rather than the shoulder and with identical motion each and every time. Mounting to the shoulder, then lowering the face encourages head lifting and shooting high or “aiming” with the barrel slows the swing that can lead to missing behind the dove.

“You’ve got a bit better chance of hitting by shooting a little too far ahead, because there’s no chance at all of shooting anywhere behind” said Bob Brister.

On shots to 25 yards keep your eyes fixed on the dove, shoulder and pull the trigger the moment the muzzle passes the bill and keep swinging. For longer shots swing past until you see daylight about the length of one to five doves (1 to 5 feet), then squeeze. Don’t glance at the muzzle, it slows down the swing and results in a miss. Anything more than 45 yards, do like Tom Stephenson, owner of World-Wide Blast & Cast outfitting service says, “Buy stock in Remington, Winchester and Federal ammunition companies”

Know the shooting distance - Place a decoy, or drive a stick in the ground 40 yards in front and at both sides. Your chance is good to fair if you fire off a shell only after the dove gets inside the 40-yard halo.

Don’t buy the cheap dove shells. There isn’t much difference in price in good quality and poor quality shotgun shells. Try# 7-1/2 or 8 shot 1 oz load at 1500 fps and the 1-1/8 oz load at 1465 fps.

The choke designation is improved cylinder or Briley’s light Modified choke (about halfway between improved cylinder and modified).

SAFETY

Know where the other hunters are in the field - in the front and on all sides. Don’t move around unless every hunter knows you are moving and the new location. At a minimum the hunters should be no closer than 80 yards - side to side and 200 yards - front to rear.

When the wind blowing at 30 mph it is doubtful that one hunter can hear another. Be sure that the hunters on all sides acknowledge you when you move. Don’t just yell and move, yell and get their attention then move.

Do not allow any hunter to shoot loads heavier than 7-1/2s.

If a father and young son are hunting, insist that they do not shoot at the same time. The father shoots to demonstrate, then watches and coaches his son when he shoots.

Safety glasses – Every hunter should wear hunters safety glasses, eyes are a very precious and easily damaged.

Hearing aids – Your hearing does not mend, once compromised your hearing is damaged forever.

BAGS & CASES

RECIPE

TUG’S DOVES

24 ea dove breast, deboned, skinned
1 btl (16-oz) Italian Dressing
1 ctn (pint) Cream Cheese
1 jar (8-oz) Jalapeno Kiwi Jelly
12 strip bacon , cut in half
24 ea wooden toothpicks

Wash off breasts, tenderize with a Jacquard Meat Tenderizer, place in a gallon zip loc bag, and pour in dressing. Refrigerate overnight. Remove, to a flat working surface, spread a layer of cream cheese over one side, spread jelly over the cream cheese. Roll up breast jelly roll style. Wrap with bacon and secure with a toothpick. Place dove roils in the basket. Over a gray charcoal fire cook on one side about 5 minutes, flip basket and cook second side until bacon is cooked. Stand back you might get run over by hungry hunters.

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