Dove hunting help

[srfishin15]

Looking to try dove hunting this year with a friend. I need help. Habitat, hunting style, dog or no? any advice is much appreciated.

SR

[x1957x]

1st have to find a small grain field with alot of trees and water around it. after that make sure it is not under planted and go for alot of cover to conceal yourself when shooting. whrer are you from ? my e-mail address is ([email protected]) I can give you some good pointers if you e-mail me.

[LandDr]

Scouting is a requirement...definately be driving around trying to spot travel routes, roosts, feeding areas, etc. Doves often travel the same routes...keep an eye out for a pass between trees, down tree lines, etc. where they will travel. Also look for the tree edges, etc. where they are coming back to roost from feeding or watering. Doves love water holes...gravel pits with puddles, cattle water holes, etc. are places I have hunted doves with good success. Small grain fields are the best food sources to target such as wheat, oats, sunflower or even the weedy edges of corn fields. A new CRP planting can hold hundreds of doves due to the new weed seeds.

I like to have a well behaved dog along that will sit by my side. Doves can be hard to find when knocked down so a dog can definately increase your bag. It is a good idea to shoot only one dove at a time unless you have a really clean area around you to find them. It is very easy to lose track of where the birds are and it is amazing how they blend in to the ground.

I have never used the spinning wing decoys but I have heard they are pretty good...I am just fine with a few foam decoys placed on dead branches or a string wire.

They can be a tough target so 7.5 or 8 shot with modified to improved cylinder for sure.

Grilling them has been my favorite...5 to 7 fit on a skewer very nicely.

Good luck and dove hunting is a great way to introduce a kid to hunting or sharpen a young person's shooting skills.

Land Dr

[srfishin15]

I'll have to write under my dads email seeing as mine isn't working just so you know. But I have a friend who has a corn field surrounded by woods, would there be ANY doves in this area? Can't do alot of scouting because i don't get my license til november. But thank you for all the tips! I keep seeing alot of them in my yard but i live in the middle of sauk rapids so i can't really shoot them. But agian thanks for the advice!

[x1957x]

land. Are you all set to go bust some doves? Just picked up about 180 acres of wheat that is underplanted with CRP. This is right next to a sand pit. Not even picked yet and there is already 100's of doves sitting around it. I will call you later and let you know. Have some DYNO spots for the 1'st. Cant wait. ----jeff.

[LandDr]

Invites going out and set to go.

See emails that I sent to you.

Thanks!

[LandDr]

I don't think the "corn field" is going to be a great option. North of Sauk Rapids you should be able to find some wheat or oat fields that would be much better. There are several smaller farms as well as farms with livestock which will have small grain fields...I would target those and get permission from the landowner. I would also scout in the early morning and evenings to watch dove traffic to see where they are coming from, going to and returning...you might be able to get on a good travel lane. There are also several creeks and ponds up that way that doves will target for water...those are good spots as well. Watch the power and telephone lines...birds will perch on these as the travel through areas. Don't hunt the lines of course but find out where they are coming from and going to from these lines for good spots to set up.

Doves are pretty easy to pattern, but it takes scouting and time to figure it out.

Land Dr

[srfishin15]

Thanks, i will definately try my best to do that.

[TylerS]

I've found that doves are remarkably similar to waterfowl, in some respects. For instance, if you find a bunch hunkered down in a tree. Walk up to them. Chances are they'll all spook. But get covered up behind some brush and weight. There is a great chance they'll return within a few minutes and you can pick them off. I've gotten quite a few birds doing this.

Also, I haven't tried it myself, but I have friends who own mojo doves and they absolutely hammer them. Find a dust wallow or shallow puddles in a harvested grain field and hang on! They don't use decoys, just the mojo. Haven't pulled the trigger and bought a unit for myself because I kind of like driving the back roads and walking treebelts, but it may come in handy (this, of course, is in North Dakota. I have no idea what the regulations are for motorized decoys and doves in Minnesota).

[eyeguy 54]

by some water by small grain fields. any millet around SR? I live in SR also. maybe yer my neighbor. lol doves go gaga over millet.

[srfishin15]

im like a mile away from pleasantview elementary.. up the hill from the school. Since you're from SR also.. any millet or small grain field close? Not looking for a spot really just a general direction out of sauk rapids to start looking.

[x1957x]

Tyler, you have the ticket on Mojo dekes. they are absolutely the key!! No way is there anything that is better. I have literally shot hundreds of doves behind these. They are well worth the 40.00 to use these, one time will make it worth that.

[x1957x]

landdr cant seem to get your e-mails. Try again at ( [email protected] ) thanks. These boys are really in for a treat!

[Rick]

mojo works very well.

If you live near picked sweet corn fields these can be very good hunted just like you would pheasant as long as the stubs of the stalks are still up. Tyler Holm took me out using this type of habitat and it was great for the dogs.

[srfishin15]

yeah i'm not sure they'll be picked by then but we will probably be going somewhere else if it's not out be the 1st. Hoping just to get some shots I don't even care if i don't hit one i just want to know I was in the right spot..

[BLACKJACK]

Are motorized decoys legal for doves in MN?? I'd like to try some dove hunting and might splurge on some decoys...

[x1957x]

Yes they are and can be found at cabelas and scheels and most hunting stores. ANd yes they DO WORK !-----57---

[chuckwagon]

I have heard talk about public walking trails that a guy or gal could do the walk and hunt thing. would these be the boone dock snowmobile trails made from old rail road tracks that you could legally hunt from? Any info on this topic would be great!